Extremely cheap, extremely safe lanterns made from beer cans

For the past three years, Mr. Nguyen Van Duyet (70 years old), living in Linh Dong ward (Thu Duc district, Ho Chi Minh City), has been skillfully and meticulously cutting and shaping beer cans bought from scrap yards into beautiful and interesting lanterns.

At first, he only made toys to distract himself from his old age, hoping that his grandchildren and neighborhood children would have more toys during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Over time, seeing how much the children enjoyed them, he decided to make more to sell. The first year, he sold more than a thousand, the second year he sold double that, and this year he has sold nearly three thousand.

Mr. Duyet started his business making beer can lanterns at the age of 70.

“Selling more and more lanterns makes me very happy. Having a little extra money to spend, and seeing children, especially those from poor families, still being able to buy lanterns to play with, makes me very happy!”, Mr. Duyet shared.

At first, he used scissors to cut beer cans, but now his work has been upgraded with a homemade manual machine for cutting and chiseling. He said that since he got the machine, his work is faster, the lights are more beautiful, and his children can easily help him when they have free time.

Machine cut lanterns are more precise and have more even cuts.

He made the lanterns himself and also did the marketing and delivery himself. The first year, he sold them in 6 stores, this year it has increased to 19. Not only that, in his free time, he also brought the lanterns to parks, schools, children's houses... to sell. He offered them for 5,000 VND each, but he also sold them to children who were short of money, and sometimes he even gave them away for free.

Asked about his income from work, he smiled: "I work for a few months a year and sell at a low price, so each crop I earn five to seven million dong. It's a bit hard at old age, but earning money is fun." That joy is spread when children, especially those in difficult circumstances, get to play with lanterns on Mid-Autumn Festival.

Mr. Duyet makes lanterns with homemade machines.

Gradually, Mr. Duyet's beer can lantern "brand" became known and accepted by many lantern sellers. Ms. Lan, the owner of a large stall selling lanterns and moon cakes on Hiep Binh Street (Thu Duc District), affirmed: "Every Mid-Autumn Festival, I import many types of Chinese lanterns, but for the past two years, I have imported more and reserved more space to sell Mr. Duyet's handmade beer can lanterns."

According to Ms. Lan, lanterns made from beer cans are cheap, selling for only 10,000 VND each. When lit at night, the lamp has a beautiful color, and is safe, so many parents have chosen to buy this type of lantern for their children. There are people who want their children to "avoid" Chinese toys, so they have also chosen to buy Mr. Duyet's lanterns.

According to VTC News