Tet vibes abound in Vietnam craft village that makes dragon piggy banks
Tet vibes abound in Vietnam craft village that makes dragon piggy banks
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 pair of dragons inlaid with the words ‘Tai’ and ‘Loc’ in Vietnamese which mean fortune. Photo: P.Q. / Tuoi Tre |
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.
|
|
| 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.
