A long-standing craft village in Lai Thieu Ward, Thuan An Town, Binh Duong Province, approximately 30 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, has churned out myriad earthen piggy banks over the past decades.

The nostalgic crafts have long been a fixture in Vietnamese families and a source of thrill for children delighted at their savings after finally smashing open the clay pigs, particularly at year's end.

In the past, households in the village would operate private furnaces at home and perform each phase in producing gaudy, adorable pigs that fascinated kids and adults alike.

The craft, however, has undergone considerable changes due to environmental issues and shrinking incomes that have hit the area in the past few years.

Though the glory days of the craft seem to be fading away, it still lives on in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.

Below are a series of photos by Ngo Cong Hoang featuring the craft village.

These photos were one of the entries to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper's year-long competition themed “Vietnam – Country – People" concluding in October last year.

A male worker kneads clay to make the earthen pigs.

A woman removes the pigs from their molds.

A worker is delighted at her finished product.

Two workers pour the mixture into molds.

Two male workers take freshly baked pigs out from the furnace.

An artisan paints the finishing touches on the pigs.

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