Three years ago, Hoang Anh Tu decided to quit his office job at an interior design company to pursue a career in crafting ceramic art after visiting a pottery workshop.

“I chose to leave my office job and have now been painting ceramics for three years,” said Tu , a 24-year-old from the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong. 

“The office job was stressful, with long hours spent in front of a computer screen and occasionally all-nighters to meet deadlines. 

“And since I have always enjoyed handcrafting, I decided to work as a painter in a pottery workshop."

Tu is currently a painter at the over-40-year-old Vuong Xuan pottery workshop in Thuan An City, Binh Duong Province, just outside Ho Chi Minh City.

He visited it once and fell in love with the craft there immediately.

Recently, he has gained popularity among young customers for his self-produced ceramic items inspired by stray cats.

His current product line includes cat figurines, cat-shaped mugs, and pins. 

Tu said that his love for cats began in childhood, and he has a particularly big soft spot for stray cats. 

In fact, it is the stray cats in his neighborhood that inspire him to earn money so he can afford to feed them.

“I love cats because they are adorable and exude a relaxed demeanor. In a world where everyone is constantly busy with work, watching stray cats gives me a sense of peace and inspiration, helping me create better art,” Tu said.

When painting cat-themed products, Tu often pays special attention to their eyes, believing that their expressions bring his creations to life.

“I first started making these products because I wanted to earn enough to buy cat food, but they became more popular than I expected,” Tu said. 

“I try to infuse youthful energy into my work so that it resonates more with young people."

Tu's products can be found at 453/15 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Ward 5, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, or on his Facebook and Instagram page 'Tiệm Cải Cúc.'

Tu’s products are also sought after by shops on Nguyen Van Binh Book Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, where they are sold to both local and international customers.

On average, Tu sells about 10-20 items daily, with prices ranging from VND70,000 (US$3) to VND500,000 ($20). 

He also accepts custom orders.

Tu earns around VND20 million ($802) per month from his work at the pottery workshop and the sales from his cat-themed products.

Looking ahead, he plans to pursue advanced studies in ceramics so that he can create a more diverse range of products and tell stories, not just of cats, but also other animals like fish and dogs.

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