Tet vibes abound in Vietnam craft village that makes dragon piggy banks
Monday, January 22, 2024, 16:40 GMT+7
The Lai Thieu piggy bank-making village in Thuan An City under Binh Duong Province, southern Vietnam is filled with a diversity of piggy banks shaped like dragons, the zodiac animal for the upcoming Lunar New Year, due in February.
A diverse collection of dragon-shaped piggy banks, including the Tai Loc (Fortune) Dragon, Gold Ingot Dragon, and animated dragon, is adding a lively and festive atmosphere to the ancient craft village.
These dragon models, crafted from clay or plaster, are traditionally displayed in homes during the Tet holiday to usher in fortune and luck for households.
They serve as symbolic containers for storing money as savings, too.
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| When the Tet holiday nears, the Lai Thieu piggy bank-making village is bustling. Photo: P.Q. / Tuoi Tre |
In Vietnamese culture, the dragon symbolizes luck, intelligence, nobility, and power.
In spite of the ongoing economic slowdown, artisans in the southern craft village remain to stick with the job.
They are busy creating unique models of dragon piggy banks to meet the needs of customers in the Year of the Dragon.
The half century-old village has seen the number of crafting households decrease year over year, but the beauty and value of making piggy banks have been kept alive and intact.
Operational households are resolute to maintain and promote the traditional craft.
As the 2024 Lunar New Year approaches, the village is busy making piggy banks.
Le Hoang Viet, owner of Hoang Thai Piggy Bank Facility, said that his products for the Year of the Dragon are diverse and ample, with dragon piggy banks in the shape of an ingot and an animated character being the highlights.
These dragon-shaped piggy banks will be shipped to several Mekong Delta provinces such as Tien Giang and An Giang, as well as to Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand, according to many workshop owners there.
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| Vuong Anh Dao persistently sticks with the traditional piggy bank making job at the Lai Thieu Craft Village in Binh Duong Province, southern Vietnam. The income from selling these piggy banks is sufficient to make ends meet. Photo: P.Q. / Tuoi Tre |
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| Dao’s piggy bank-making workshop specializes in baking and drying dragon-shaped models before sending them to other workshops for coloring. Photo: P.Q. / Tuoi Tre |
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| Thu Suong, an artisan making piggy banks in the Lai Thieu Craft Village in Binh Duong Province, southern Vietnam, says that she will continue following the craft to preserve the inherited career, and bring Tet vibes to everyone through sophisticated products. Photo: P.Q. / Tuoi Tre |
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| Piggy banks in the shape of an animated dragon are put on a shelf. Photo: P.Q. / Tuoi Tre |
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| Artisans in the village paint dragon-shaped piggy banks in yellow, making them suitable for display during Tet. The color symbolizes luck and fortune, enhancing the auspicious nature of these decorative items. Photo: P.Q. / Tuoi Tre |
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| Cam Ly, who has five years of experience in making piggy banks, is pictured drawing patterns on a yellow piggy bank, a favorite during the Lunar New Year holiday. Photo: P.Q. / Tuoi Tre |
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| A piggy bank decorated with patterns is priced at VND15,000 (US$0.6) or higher. Photo: P.Q. / Tuoi Tre |
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