Phuc Am, Duyen Truong and Van Hoi villages in Hanoi’s Thuong Tin district have produced votive paper products for several decades. Villages are very busy at the moment preparing for the Vu Lan holiday.

Vu Lan is a Buddhist holiday, held annually on the 15th of the 7th month of the lunar calendar for people to express their gratefulness and appreciation for their mothers.

Vu Lan holiday is the best time for Phuc Am, Duyen Truong, and Van Hoi villagers because this is when the demand for votive paper products is highest.

These villages specialize in producing votive paper products for séance and holidays, including elephants, horses, puppets, generals, gold bars, etc.

Most villagers earn their living by producing votive paper products. Each family is involved in a certain stage of production. For example, Mr. Nguyen Van Long, 82, and his family only make bamboo-made frames.

During their free time, kids also produce votive paper products.

A small bamboo frame is priced at 30,000 dong ($1.3) and 80,000 dong ($4) for a big frame.

Some families in Van Hoi village use machines to produce votive paper products.

Traders go to these villages to buy votive paper products.

Large-sized products are carried by trucks.