Đông Hồ Print “Mã Đáo Thành Công” – The Horse of Success | Artisan Nguyễn Hữu Đạo

A horse harnessed in gold and green, ready to set off: one of the most popular New Year images in Vietnam.

History and symbolism

The four characters 馬到成功 are read as “Mã đáo thành công”: “the horse arrives, success follows.” The expression wishes for swift success in an undertaking, an exam, or a new project. Proud, saddled, and ready, the horse embodies the momentum, endurance, and perseverance that lead to the goal.

Craftsmanship

Hand-printed by Nguyễn Hữu Đạo, an artisan from Đông Hồ who hid in 1990 and is the fifteenth generation of a family of printmakers, recognized as a master artisan by Bắc Ninh Province in 2024. A wooden block engraved by color, natural pigments, dó paper coated with powdered shell (điệp) for a pearlescent texture, and the artisan’s red seal. Hand-printed: slight variations from one print to another.

Decoration & gift idea

Ideal for an office, entryway, or workspace, it is a perfect gift for a new business, graduation, or new job.

Đông Hồ prints in brief

A Vietnamese heritage nearly five centuries old, the Đông Hồ folk print originated in the village of the same name in Thuận Thành (Bắc Ninh Province). Every image is made entirely by hand, from the drawing and block carving to printing, and its themes—wishes for happiness, scenes of daily life, history, and worship—have made it the traditional image of Tết, the Lunar New Year. In December 2025, UNESCO added this craft, which is still perpetuated by only a few families, to the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Specifications

• Size: 27 × 36 cm
• Orientation: Portrait (vertical)
• Technique: woodblock print (wood engraving), hand-printed
• Support: dó paper coated with powdered shell (điệp)
• Natural pigments
• Signed with the seal of artisan Nguyễn Hữu Đạo
• Sold unframed – the framing shown in the lifestyle photos is for illustrative purposes only
• Origin: Đông Hồ village, Thuận Thành, Bắc Ninh Province, Vietnam