Picture frames of all sizes and styles can be found on Nguyen Thai Hoc street. (Photo: The Hung)

Long famed as Hanoi’s center for picture framing, Nguyen Thai Hoc street is lined with dozens of frame shops standing shoulder to shoulder. The street resonates daily with the sounds of cutters, presses, and the chatter of customers and craftspeople bargaining.

Each shop has its own “secret” to charm customers. Some specialize in calligraphy frames, others in classic European-style oil painting frames. More modern shops offer framing services including printing and laminating completed in as little as an hour.

Nguyen Thi Dung visited the street to find a frame for a painting her daughter recently drew. She also picked up frames to display family awards and keepsake photographs.

“As these items are precious memories, I want high-quality frames to keep for years. The shops offer a wide variety of sizes and styles. Everything I need is available here,” said Dung.

Tran Duc Son returned to Nguyen Thai Hoc this time to find a painting and frame to hang at his business office.

“A painting only looks complete with the right frame. I needed something that fits the atmosphere of my restaurant. Paintings on sale in this street are affordable but tasteful. Anyone can afford to buy a frame here,” Son noted.

Nguyen Thi Kim Thoa, a longtime customer, said, “I always come here whenever I need a frame. They have a beautiful color selection, and the craftsmen are very precise.”

Nguyen Thai Hoc is also popular for paintings. (Photo: The Hung)

What Hanoians appreciate about these shops is the diversity of materials and styles. Wood makes the frames elegant, durable, and moisture-resistant – perfect for oil paintings or traditional calligraphy.

Composite frames made from high-tech plastics are lightweight, termite-resistant, warp-free, and can be finished in just 15 to 30 minutes. Ornate carved frames are crafted in European classical or contemporary style. There are smaller frames for calligraphy, wedding photos, certificates, and medals.

Frame-making on Nguyen Thai Hoc street dates back hundreds of years. In the past, frames were usually simple and made only of wood. Today, design, materials, and methods have evolved dramatically to keep up with consumer demands.

“The frame and accessories make a picture more beautiful and valuable. We have two main types: plastic and wood. Plastic frames offer more variety, while wooden frames are more expensive but of higher quality,” said Pham Thi Huyen My, a frame workshop proprietor.

Whether it’s a wedding portrait, a child’s drawing for her parents, or a simple wall decoration, everything can be framed stunningly on Nguyen Thai Hoc street.