Báo Đáp village, in Hồng Quang commune, Ninh Bình province, is one of the localities famous for the traditional craft of making star lanterns (đèn ông sao). The craft has existed for many years and has become closely bound up with the daily life of the villagers. Every Mid-Autumn Festival, the village grows lively as families busily prepare materials, make frames, paste on paper, and finish each lantern before sending it to market.
Making a star lantern may seem simple, but it requires skill and patience. Bamboo strips are carefully selected, split, and shaved, then joined into a well-balanced star-shaped frame. The frame is then covered with colored paper, decorated with patterns, and fitted with a handle. Every step is carried out meticulously so that the lantern is both sturdy and keeps its shape and attractive colors.
What makes Báo Đáp star lanterns special is their rustic yet evocative beauty. Through the hands of the craftspeople, bamboo strips and sheets of colored paper become a familiar childhood toy. The vivid reds, yellows, and greens, together with the five-pointed star shape, have become one of the symbols that recall the atmosphere of a traditional Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival.
Beyond star lanterns, villagers have gradually diversified their products into a range of sizes, styles, and designs. The lanterns are sold in many localities, helping bring Báo Đáp's handicrafts closer to consumers and making them gifts rich in traditional cultural character.
The craft village also has the potential to develop into an attractive cultural experience destination, especially for families and children, who can learn about the traditional trade, watch artisans make lanterns, and try some of the simple steps to create a lantern of their own. Such hands-on experiences help visitors better understand village life while adding value to the traditional handicraft products of Ninh Bình.