A set of traditional toy figurines celebrates Vietnam’s multifaceted national identity
Born in the early 1980s, my childhood memories are filled with folk games and toys. My favorite toys were tò he figurines, which, made from sticky rice dough, come in stunning colors, cute shapes, and can even be eaten! I looked forward to the Lunar New Year when I’d go to a Tet market to admire and choose lovely figurines that my grandma or mother might buy me.
Originally created as ritual items, these figurines later became a favorite children’s toy. Kids were fascinated by figurines of flowers, birds, buffalos, horses, etc. Over the years, these toy figurines have turned into vague and golden memories of childhood days gone by.
Some farmers make tò he figurines in their leisure time to earn extra money. They stand on street corners, in parks, and at festivals and fairs to mold the figurines and sell them on the spot. Their aim is to bring joy to people while making a little extra money.
However, some others consider this profession their life’s passion. One prime example is artisan Nguyen Van Thanh in Xuan La village, Phuong Duc commune, Phu Xuyen district, Hanoi. The Chairman of the Xuan La Traditional Toy Figurine Club, Mr. Thanh not only inherited sticky rice dough-making and natural dye techniques from past generations but also invented a steaming technique to make his products more durable and color-fast. They are less fragile than prior versions. He has always had passion for this craft, nurturing a dream that Vietnamese tò he figurines will be known and loved by international friends. He hopes these products will not only serve as children’s toys but also be recognized as a culturally important art form.
By a stroke of fate, Vietnam Lens, a club for those who love photography and culture, approached Nguyen Van Thanh with the idea of creating a set of tò he figurines to represent the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. Group members included those who had traveled to many regions, and met and lived among ethnic minority groups all over this S-shaped land. Therefore, they clearly understood the characteristics of each ethnic group, including their local cultural beauty. They wanted that beauty to be known rather than just confined to remote areas.
The two parties spent a lot of time discussing which details and shapes to highlight in the figurines. I was so excited to see 54 pairs of tò he figurines in national costumes brought to life.
Made with passion and dedication, every detail from hats, dresses, and headscarves to facial expressions and postures vividly depicts the unique appearance of each ethnic group. Bahnar, Ede, and Jrai couples look lively in colorful brocade outfits while playing gongs. A Tay man wearing an indigo shirt plays a flute while his girlfriend strums a gourd lute. A Thai girl wears a charming pieu head scarf, a cóm shirt, and a black dress, etc. Mr. Thanh explained that it took longer than usual to make these figurines. He had to experiment with the rice dough to get the right colors for outfits, then work out their postures, gestures, musical instruments, etc.
This collaboration between Vietnam Lens and artisan Nguyen Van Thanh has resulted in a set of figurines with graceful designs, excellent color choices, and attractive clothes. More than that, the set preserves traditions and cherishes cultural identities. Along with digitizing, painting, taking pictures, and other methods, this approach brings new possibilities for those who wish to preserve and develop our national culture
Article and Photos: Pham Thuy Dung, Heritage Vietnam Airline.