At the height of  the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Nguyen Van Tuan, a 56-year-old locksmith in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City found himself stuck at home with little to do but scroll through YouTube videos. 

One of these caught Tuan’s attention. It was a clip of someone recycling used beverage cans and it immediately inspired Tuan to recycle his own beverage cans into lanterns for Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival.  

Tuan’s first step was collecting used cans from family and friends and experimenting with cutting and shaping each lantern. 

After gifting his first lanterns to his grandchildren, neighbors and friends began to show interest, prompting Tuan to turn his hobby into a side hustle.

Nguyen Van Tuan crafts beverage cans into colorful lanterns. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

A few tools are needed to transform a can into a lantern. 

Empty cans, a box cutter, makers, needles, and thread are enough to transform each piece of aluminum into a stunning Mid-Autumn Festival Lantern.

After cleaning the cans, Tuan sketches out designs on the cans and begins the cutting process. 

Tuan cuts an empty beer can to craft a lantern. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

Tuan cuts a star-shaped pattern out of a can to make a lantern. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre

The entire process can take anywhere from one hour to ten days, depending on the complexity of the design.

“During the day, I work in a locksmith shop. In the evening, I cut and shape the cans until I’m ready for bed,” Tuan said.

Creating these lanterns can be a long process, so as soon as one Mid-Autumn Festival ends, Tuan starts preparing for the next one.

“I don’t wait until the last minute because I wouldn’t have enough time,” Tuan said.

Ahead of this upcoming Mid-Autumn festival, Tuan has already made 100 lanterns, doubling last year's production numbers.

Tuan is seen in this photo with lanterns he crafts from discarded cans. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

“Handcraft requires patience, precision, and care,” Tuan said. 

“At first, I only made simple designs, but over time I’ve become more creative and my designs have become more complex and eye-catching.

“I’m happy that people appreciate my lanterns. I hope people will become more conscious about recycling beverage cans and reducing environmental pollution.”

The price of Tuan's lanterns range from VND40,000 (US$ 1.61) for simple designs to VND200,000 to VND900,000 ($8.04 - 36.2) for more complex models.

They are sold out of his locksmith shop at 113A Nguyen Phi Khanh Street in District 1.

Tuan shows off his lanterns as he poses for a photo at his locksmith shop in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month in some Asian countries such as Vietnam, China, and South Korea.

It is one of the biggest child-oriented holidays in Vietnam. This year’s Mid-Autumn festival falls on September 17.

Lanterns are an indispensable symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival and it is common for children to craft their own lanterns out of paper and other materials.

Crafting simple lanterns out of discarded cans has also been a sweet childhood memory for many generations in Vietnam, especially those who grow up in the countryside.

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