- Preserving the essence of the countryside and elevating local specialties.
- Preserving the "soul of the countryside"
- Coconut fiber brooms - a sustainable livelihood from the soul of the countryside.
Amidst the increasingly hectic pace of modern life, Mr. Tran Vu Truong and Ms. Vo Thi Nha, a couple from Tan Nghia hamlet, Nguyen Viet Khai commune, have chosen a very unique profession: collecting memories of their rural village and recreating them through emotionally evocative miniature models.
Each month, Mr. and Mrs. Tran Vu Truong produce between 5 and 10 models, selling them mainly through social media.
The first sketches on paper and rough Fomex sheets – the beginning of a journey to revive memories.
From seemingly discarded, rudimentary materials like Fomex plastic sheets, beer cans, instant noodle boxes, or small wooden sticks, through the meticulous hands and creative minds of the artists, scenes of the countryside suddenly appear in a realistic way. These include moss-covered ancient roofs, pristine white salt fields, children playing on a monkey bridge, a riverside market, or a peaceful corner of a courtyard…
Mr. Truong meticulously and carefully attends to every step of constructing the frame and roofing to create the most authentic and sturdy representation of the traditional house.
Each brushstroke is meticulously crafted by Ms. Vo Thi Nha to infuse the model with the melancholy of time and the warm spirit of the land.
Mr. Truong shared: “To breathe life into the artwork, we personally handle every step, from brainstorming ideas, creating layouts, cutting frames to color coordination. The greatest value of each model lies not only in the technique, but also in the soul and the familiar, warm emotions it brings to the viewer.”
Before becoming "artists" recreating memories, Mr. Truong and his wife worked as factory workers in Dong Nai for many years. Four years ago, he saw a video online about making miniature crafts. That very night, he gathered some ice cream sticks, noodle boxes, and bamboo chopsticks to build his first miniature house model, excitedly showing it off to everyone in his rented rooming house. Although his first creation was clumsy, it ignited a passion for creativity within him.
The tranquil setting of the riverside houses, a quintessential example of the riverine culture of the Mekong Delta, is vividly recreated.
The corner of the countryside is filled with nostalgia, with the yellow apricot blossoms just beginning to bloom, the pile of dry firewood by the side of the house, and the image of my hardworking mother carrying her yoke on a shoulder pole.
The decision to "leave the city and return to the countryside" not only allowed Mr. Truong to live closer to his family and freely express his creativity, but also transformed him into a "keeper of memories" for countless people living far from home. Besides existing village models, Mr. Truong and his wife mostly "rebuild" old houses according to customer requests. Each model tells a story, a journey to rediscover distant memories…
Two rainwater jars nestled against the earthen wall, along with a peaceful bamboo bench under the eaves—the place where the grandparents spent their late afternoon tea.
The picture of a traditional Vietnamese village is fully captured with a shady riverbank, ducks bathing, and children shouting and jumping from bamboo bridges to swim in the river.
One of the most touching memories was the model of a childhood home in Vinh Long that a customer commissioned as a gift for her parents. From just a hand-drawn picture and a few words of description, Mr. and Mrs. Truong recreated every cherished detail: from the rainwater jar nestled against the earthen wall, the shady trees in front of the porch, to the bamboo bench where her grandparents used to sit and drink tea every morning…
The simple beauty of a miniature floating market in the Mekong Delta, with boats overflowing with local produce bobbing on the water.
A memorable moment for Mr. and Mrs. Truong was creating a miniature salt field model. This model was commissioned for display at the Vietnam Salt Industry Festival - Bac Lieu in 2025.
Ms. Nha shared: “When she received the house, she immediately video called us. Watching through the screen, seeing her whole family so emotional, my husband and I also teared up. That was also the moment we realized the value of the work we are doing.”
Mong Thuong-Phong Nguyen
Source: https://baocamau.vn/thu-nho-hon-que-a129018.html
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