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Ho Chi Minh City
Monday, October 6, 2025

Last lantern makers in town

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By Ngo Vinh Phu
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For generations, the traditional craft of lantern making has lit up the streets of Vietnam during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which takes place on the 14th night of the eighth lunar month, when the moon is at its fullest.

In HCMC, a few dedicated artisans in Phu Binh continue this tradition. Phu Binh is a residential area on Lac Long Quan Street in Binh Thoi Ward (formerly part of District 11).

The story of this area goes back to the 1950s when migrants from Bao Dap Village in Nam Dinh Province (now Ninh Binh Province) settled in Saigon, bringing their cherished craft with them. During its peak, Phu Binh was a lively center of lantern production, with hundreds of households making thousands of lanterns for markets throughout central and southern regions.

Today, the craft faces a tough challenge from mass-produced industrial lanterns. Still, a few families keep the tradition alive. Despite obstacles, they find ways to earn a living, carrying on the legacy their ancestors passed down.

The entrance to Phu Binh residential area, a hidden hub of traditional lantern making
A craftsman carefully shapes the bamboo and wire frame for a lantern
The frames are meticulously crafted from bamboo and wire
Nguyen Trong Binh, a craftman in Phu Binh, continues the legacy of his late father

Each product is meticulously beautified with great care
A lantern design that customers highly favor
Lanterns fill every corner of the home, waiting to be delivered
Neighbors gather to help with piecework, earning extra income and strengthening community bonds

This year, many new miniature lantern designs have been introduced, adding a touch of charm
A customer places an order for 80 traditional star lanterns

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