Toy figurine making in Xuan La village

Xuan La village in Hanoi’s Phu Xuyen district has long been famous for making To He, a traditional toy made of rice powder. This is the only village in Vietnam that makes the toy figurines.

To He (toy figurine) is a traditional toy for children. It is made of sticky rice powder, sugar and food colouring (Photo: VNA)

To He craftsman uses a comb to create beard or hair for toy figurines (Photo: VNA)

Young people are more interested in making the traditional toys (Photo: VNA)

The craft requires dexterity, creativity and precision in every detail to turn out quality products (Photo: VNA)

Colourful toy figurines attract foreign visitors (Photo: VNA)

Colourful toy figurines attract youngsters (Photo: VNA)

Toy figurines are sold on the Ho Guom pedestrian street during weekend (Photo: VNA)

Toy figurines are sold on the Trinh Cong Son pedestrian street (Photo: VNA)

There are competitions for To He makers to restore and preserve the ancient trade (Photo: VNA)

Toy figurines’ four basic colours are yellow, red, blue and black (Photo: VNA)

In the past, To He were usually familiar animals, fruits and national heroes. Now the figurines are created in a greater variety of imaginative forms (Photo: VNA)

Xuan La artisans use simple tools such as a comb, bamboo sticks and beeswax to create a toy figurine (Photo: VNA)

In the past, To He were usually familiar animals, fruits and national heroes. Now the figurines are created in a greater variety of imaginative forms (Photo: VNA)

In the past, To He were usually familiar animals, fruits and national heroes. Now the figurines are created in a greater variety of imaginative forms (Photo: VNA)

VNA