VietNamNet Bridge – In a five-storey house, Mr. Hung is passionately making iron-made toy boats. This is the only remaining family that makes toys for Mid-autumn Festival in Khuong Ha, Hanoi.
Khuong Ha village in Thanh Xuan district is a craft village specialized in making toy boats. However, this traditional job is disappearing. Nguyen Manh Hung, 47, is now the sole producer of this toy.

Hung said all eight brothers in his family did this job but at present, only Hung pursues the job. “They gave up this job because traditional toys could not compete with dirt-cheap toys from China,” Hung explained.

Khuong Ha’s traditional products--iron-made boats powered by kerosene, has gone behind the times since they cannot compete with modern, colorful toys. “I still pursue this trade because I love it,” Hung said.

Hung’s enterprise produces toy boats of two sizes, pricing VND60,000 ($2.8) and VND200,000 ($9). “Previously, this toy was not for the poor. The current prices are low. I do not earn much profit,” Hung said.

Hung makes toy boats powered by kerosene and batteries. The biggest boat is over 1m long, pricing VND7 million ($320). These boats can run in basins or ponds.

Hung uses used milk cans and barrels as materials to make toy boats. All products are hand- made. He can make 6-7 boats a day.

People think that this kind of toy is favored by rural kids, but the major outlet for this traditional toy is big cities like Hanoi, HCM City and Hai Phong. According to Hung, foreign visitors like this product very much.

In Hanoi, this toy is available at some shops in Hang Thiec Street or souvenir shops in Hanoi’s old quarters.

Making toy boats:


VNE