Unique gold laminating craft village in Vietnam

Kieu Ky village in Hanoi’s Gia Lam district is renowned for its unique craft of gold leaf making, where just 3.75 grams of gold are beaten into 980 thin leaves that can cover over one square meter—a skill unmatched by modern industry.

Artisan Nguyen Van Hiep has devoted more than 40 years to the craft of gold laminating. His family has preserved this unique tradition for five generations. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The steady hammering from the strong yet meticulous hands of Kieu Kỵ artisans can flatten about 3.75 grams of gold into a gold leaf covering more than 1 sq.m. To create one gold leaf, an artisan must hammer continuously for about an hour. (Photo: Vietnam+)

This step requires great patience, as the gold must be hammered evenly without tearing, and even a slight lapse in focus could result in the hammer striking the artisan's finger. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The gold leaf, with edges 4 cm long, is made from thin, durable poonah paper. This paper is coated multiple times with a special homemade ink made from soot and mixed with buffalo-hide glue, giving the paper strength and durability. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Kieu Kỵ is known as a "one-of-a-kind" craft village because no industrial process has been able to replicate its unique technique. In Kieu Kỵ, about 3.75 grams of gold can be hammered into 980 thin leaves, covering an area of over 1 sq.m. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The processes of arranging the gold in preparation for the hammering and creating the old gold leaf require high levels of patience and precision. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The processes of cutting the gold leaves and transferring them must be carried out in a closed room without the use of fans. This is essential because the gold leaves become extremely thin after being hammered, and even a light breeze can cause them to fly away. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Cutting the gold leaves is one of the steps involved in the process of rolling gold and silver. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The exquisite craftsmanship of Kieu Ky artisans was used for applying red lacquer, gilding, and silvering to architectural works for royalty, as well as to temples and shrines in the capital. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Today, the gold leaves from Kieu Ky continue to be used in many aesthetically significant projects across the country. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Exquisitely gilded Buddha statues are among the products crafted with the gold leaves from Kieu Ky. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The gilded products displayed in the ancestral workshop serve as a reminder to cherish the traditional craft passed down from ancestors. (Photo: Vietnam+)