In a house at the end of a small alley on Pham Thi Lien Street, Le Phan Quoc is diligently finishing the paintings “Gateway to Dien Tho Palace” and “Hue Features” with Vietnamese lacquer. For him, Rhus Succedanea lacquer (hence forth, R.S. lacquer) has always had a strange attraction because it brings subtle and profound characteristics to a painting that no other material does.