Rapid urbanisation has changed the characters of many Hanoi’s traditional handicraft villages, including Hau Ai, which specialises in making Mid-autumn toys.
Now in Hoai Duc District’s Hau Ai Village, only Nguyen Thi Tuyen’s family continues to pursue this type of work. When the Mid-autumn festival nears, she takes the traditional toys to local markets such as Nhon, Troi and Dam for sales.
In recent years sales of these toys have slowed, but many parents who live in the city still buy them to remind their children of the tradition.
She takes her products by motorbikes to downtown areas. Star-shaped lanterns, statues of scholars and a number of other her toys have been bought by Vietnam Museum of Ethnology as well as old exhibition houses in Hanoi. This helps her to continue the craft that existed in her village for three or four generations.
Mrs. Tuyen is one of the last preservers of the traditional work in Hau Ai Village
Her husband, Nguyen Duc Khoi, is devoted to making the toys for Mid-autumn sales
Mrs. Tuyen’s son completing the star-shaped lantern
Tuyen also teaches classes on making traditional toys in Hanoi
This big latern to be sold for VND120,000 (USD5.71)
Puppet faces made of clay
A puppet
Other toys
Orders from museums and exhibition houses help her income
Even during Mid-autumn the range of products is not as wide as other villages
Mrs. Tuyen’s showroom at Hong Lac Temple on Hang Dao Street