"Standing out in the Chu Du collection - a novel demonstration of Hanoia’s journey to beauty, Thong Dong is a pleasing depiction of the streets of Hanoi, closely associated with the strolls and memories of the young artist Lys Bui. "

For Hanoia, the Chu Du collection symbolizes the free and adventurous spirit that immerses itself in the vibrant colors of distant lands. However, unlike the Tam Phuong collection that aroused curiosity and excitement with its grandeur of the faraway land, Thong Dong offers a simpler and more intimate approach, capturing the nostalgic charm of urban scenes. With the desire to portray the “soul” of Hanoi in the immaculate lacquer surface, Hanoia trusted and chose Lys Bui - an artist with youthful energy and creativity, hoping to bring a fresh breeze to the brand’s concept.

Hanoia: How do you imagine the beauty of Hanoi?

Lys Bui: To summarize, it would definitely be the vintage charm within the modern lifestyle. Because whether it’s the architecture or sound, everything in the capital seems so vibrant and leaves a lasting impression. I’m lucky to have had the chance to move between the North and the South since a very young age, so my love for Hanoi has gradually grown over the years. On every visit, I always wander through the small alleyways to observe the daily lives of the people here, which gradually deepens my affection and inspires me to express that love through my paintings. 

How did you feel when Hanoia offered to collaborate in the Thong Dong product line? 

When I received Hanoia’s proposal, my first feeling was happiness because I had been admiring the brand for a long time. Moreover, I was extremely excited because it was also a great challenge since I had never worked on lacquer before.

Could you share a little about the process of creating this painting?

Many years ago, I created a digital artwork about Hanoi, so I was delighted with Hanoia’s theme. It was an opportunity to bring evolution to my drawings, transforming them into daily decorative items such as flower vases and lacquer boxes. 

With enthusiastic support from Hanoia’s production team, I gained a better understanding of the working process as well as the materials and techniques applied to create the best rendition of the artwork. While studying the design again, I had to consider if it still represented the window, the tiled roofs, and the people of Hanoi before making any changes and simplifying the details. 

“As an observer, I have the responsibility to tell the story of Hanoi to everyone, even when I wasn’t born and raised there…”

Creating a perfect lacquer product requires the skilled hands of the craftsmen. That’s why during the production process, Lys Bui was accompanied by Ms. Y Chon, an artisan with extensive experience in lacquer. 

Hanoia: What difficulties did you face in crafting Thong Dong?

Ms. Y Chon: For me, the image of the old town seems simple on paper, however, it’s actually quite complex in the hand-painting process. The intricate patterns on the design were very small and dense, which posed many challenges during the process.

So, how did you solve these difficulties in production while maintaining the quality of the product?

After discussing with the artist, we all agreed to simplify the architectural lines (such as windows and tiled roofs), and then we studied and experimented extensively to harmonize the ẻngaving, coloring, and hand-painting techniques. The adjustment not only avoided risks and complications in the production process but also preserved the natural essence of the daily scenes. Especially for the large flower vase, we had to divide and engrave each block individually to bring vibrant movement and connect the authentic story of the old town. 

Thong Dong - A memory of the city

From the interesting choice of gradient yellow to the clever application of traditional and contemporary techniques, the painting of Hanoi has been portrayed with various familiar elements: whether it’s casual stories over a cup of coffee or the laughter on a motorcycle seat, all are closely intertwined with the carefree rhythm of Hanoi. The passionate dedication of the artists no only evokes each person’s memories of the city but also signifies the perfect consonance in Hanoia’s design language.