Woodturning began in the 16th-17th centuries, founded by a member of the Đoàn family who is honored in Khanh Van Village (Thường Tín District, Hanoi). The neighboring village of Nhị Khê (popular name: Làng Rũi, meaning “lathe village”) is famous for this profession. Woodturners from Rũi settled in Hanoi and opened workshops in Tô Tịch Street. The turner of the lathe pedals a wooden board which produces a rotating movement by a system of pulleys. The craftsmen produce ritual objects such as incense holders, candlesticks, plates, shutters (con tiện) for the windows of pagodas and communal houses, and also chess sets.
