Art of Bookmaking: Exhibition of 30 Exquisite Handmade Books in HCMC

Celebrate the exquisite craftsmanship of fine bookbinding with the exhibition of 30 beautiful handmade books published by Dong A over the past three years. Held at the Ca Chep Bookstore on Vo Van Tan Street, District 3, from January 25 to 28, this unique event showcases limited-edition literary masterpieces crafted using advanced, high-precision manual techniques. From premium leather covers to hand-gilded edges and traditional marble paper, each volume on display is a unique work of art, celebrating the rich history of literature and book design.

Among the highlights of the exhibition is the magnificent translation of 'Dai Viet su ky toan thu', a historical chronicle compiled during the Le Son and Le Trung Hung dynasties. Released in 2020 after a year of meticulous crafting, this monumental two-volume set weighs 12 kg (excluding its box) and features a triple-layer cover made of carton and MDF wood, wrapped in luxurious yellow French goat leather. The book's edges are beautifully gilded with intricate gold leaf patterns, and the endpapers feature exquisite 'thuy an hoa' (water marbling) designs—a traditional 9th-century Chinese technique that creates one-of-a-kind patterns on paper.

Another masterpiece on display is Vu Trong Phung's classic novel 'So do' (Dumb Luck), which took nearly two years to complete. This edition features a hand-stitched cowhide cover with raw spine detailing, housing over 300 pages of traditional Do paper from Bac Ninh province, complete with modern illustrations by Thanh Phong. Visitors can also admire Nguyen Dinh Dang's 'Nghe thuat dessin' (winner of the 2023 National Book Award) bound in blue Italian cowhide, 'Tet Giap Thin 2024' housed in a lacquer box, and Dao Duy Anh's 'Viet Nam van hoa su cuong' in blue British goat leather. International classics like 'The Little Prince' with gilded leather covers and 'La Fontaine's Fables' featuring Gustave Doré's woodcuts are also on display, with select editions featured at the Tet Book Street Festival on Le Loi Street from February 7 to 14.

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