Vietnamese craft village enters busy season making piggy banks for Tet
Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 13:43 GMT+7
As Tet (Lunar New Year) is two week away, the Lai Thieu Piggy Bank Craft Village in Binh Duong Province, southern Vietnam is bustling with demand for Tet-themed products.
Nguyen Thanh Tam, 47, a resident of Lai Thieu Ward in Binh Duong’s Thuan An City, said in addition to the traditional production of piggy banks in diverse designs, his workshop has also been making money-bag shapes believed to bring luck in the new year, along with trendy creations inspired by cartoon characters.
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| Nguyen Thanh Tam, owner of a workshop in Binh Duong Province, southern Vietnam, dries the painted piggy banks under the sun. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News |
"These piggy banks serve not only as a means to save money but also as thoughtful gifts and charming Tet decorations," Tam explained.
Tam is one of the long-time artisans who is determined to preserve the craft passed down by his ancestors, despite the challenging business conditions in recent years.
“Making piggy banks is deeply rooted in my family’s heritage and is a traditional craft that must be preserved and passed on," Tam said.
"The local government also supports households like ours to sustain and develop this craft."
Crafting a complete piggy bank involves a series of steps, beginning with molding the clay or plaster into shape.
Next comes trimming to refine the form, followed by painting to add color and character.
Finally, the piggy bank is packaged, ready for use or gifting.
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| A worker pours plaster into molds to shape piggy banks. This material allows faster production and will set in 10-15 minutes. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News |
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| A worker sprays a golden shimmer onto traditional piggy banks, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News |
According to Tam, production has picked up with his workshop churning out about 2,000 piggy banks of various sizes and designs daily.
Tet, which falls on January 29 this year, is a bustling production season when workers and workshop owners dedicate themselves tirelessly to the craft, he said.
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| Piggy bank workshops in Lai Thieu Ward, Thuan An City, Binh Duong Province, southern Vietnam bustle with activity ahead of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year). Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News |
Ngoc Chung, 60, who has been painting piggy banks for nearly 40 years, expressed her deep love for the job.
“It’s an intricate work to transform a lump of clay into a colorful piggy bank,” she shared.
“My role is to paint the piggy banks, which is not physically demanding, so I really enjoy it.
"My daughter and I are keen on preserving this traditional craft handed down by our ancestors.”
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| Ngoc Chung, 60, paints piggy banks at a workshop in Binh Duong Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News |
Piggy banks start at VND28,000 wholesale, while the retail price at the workshop is VND30,000 per piece. (US$1 = VND25,399)
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| A worker paints a piggy bank of a cute cartoon character. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre News |
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