With a passion for elevating the value of bamboo, Vo Tan Tan and his team have created giant animal sculptures from the material, selling each for prices ranging from 30 to 140 million VND.

Located near Cua Dai Bridge in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, Vo Tan Tan’s workshop buzzes with visitors drawn to its unique bamboo creations.  

Born into a family of artisans in Cam Thanh Commune, Tan grew up learning how to make bamboo and coconut products.  

In 2001, he graduated with a degree in Electronics and Telecommunications. After trying various professions, Tan returned to his roots in 2012 to continue his family’s craft. Over the years, he has achieved significant success in producing bamboo souvenirs, handicrafts, and household items.  

In 2020, his workshop temporarily closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With newfound free time, Tan had the idea of creating giant bamboo animal sculptures for display. These works quickly captured public attention and drew orders from both domestic and international resorts and hotels.  

Initially, Tan faced numerous challenges, such as finding the right proportions, selecting suitable bamboo materials, and devising methods to connect parts seamlessly.  

Through perseverance, he developed techniques to make his creations lifelike. Familiar creatures like bees, shrimp, crabs, and fish are magnified up to 1,000 times their actual size, astonishing viewers with their intricate details and realism.  

"Depending on customer requirements and complexity, each piece takes 1 to 4 months to complete, with prices ranging from 30 to 140 million VND," Tan shared.  

 

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Tan and his team assemble a bamboo model of Da Nang’s Dragon Bridge.  

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Tan poses with a recently completed bamboo bee sculpture over 2.3 meters long.  

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Majestic Phoenix: After over three months of work, a 4-meter-long, 2-meter-high phoenix sculpture is near completion, commissioned for over 100 million VND.
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Glowing Firefly: A bamboo firefly with illuminated eyes and tail replicates its natural luminescence. 
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Giant Crab: Standing over 2.2 meters tall, this sculpture required meticulous crafting.  
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Massive Mantis: A striking bamboo praying mantis captures attention with its size and detail.  
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Bamboo Owl: Perched on a branch, this half-meter-tall owl is a study in precision. 
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Colossal Shrimp: Tan and fellow craftsman Hoang Anh Tuan pose with a giant shrimp sculpture.  
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Tan’s modular design approach allows the sculptures to be disassembled for easy packaging and transport. Customers can reassemble the sculptures at their location using provided instructions.  
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Flying Fish: This bamboo flying fish model is priced at 80 million VND.  
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Each bamboo sculpture is brought to life with built-in lighting to captivate viewers. 
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Tan enhances his bamboo sculptures by installing internal lighting, making each piece more striking and visually captivating, especially in low-light settings. These illuminated details add a magical touch, drawing the attention and admiration of all who see them.
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Artisan Vo Tan Tan has skillfully magnified the insect world, turning familiar creatures into intricate and life-sized bamboo sculptures. From giant fireflies to colossal mantises, his works capture the delicate details and lifelike essence of each insect, astonishing viewers with their craftsmanship and artistry.
 
 
 
 
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Tan’s workshop receives hundreds of visitors monthly, many of whom come to admire the sculptures, learn about the craft, and create their own bamboo souvenirs.  (Photos: Ha Nam)  

Ha Nam