Every year, Nguyen Van Quyen’s family in Dan Vien hamlet, Cao Vien commune, Thanh Oai district, Hanoi is busy making Den Keo Quan for the Mid-autumn festival. 

Quyen began his work in the 6th lunar month not as an occupation but only a hobby. 

To complete a Den Keo Quan, you should sharpen bamboo, make a frame and cut paper figures. 

It takes great efforts to make a frame of six edges. 

Paper-cut figures include the banian tree, the moon boy, the moon fairy, the buffalo boy, the kite, the rats from the story Rat’s wedding and others. 

 Quyen’s wife is an effective assistant

Quyen is teaching village kids to make Den Keo Quan. He hopes they will pay attention to preserving the traditional culture

Children are very interested in making the lanterns. 

During the mid-autumn festival, Quyen can make hundreds of lanterns of different sizes. This small lantern can be sold at VND100,000. 

Nowadays, the lanterns can be lit with battery. However, Quyen tries to light them with candles.