Vietnamese toys are attracting Vietnamese children.

(Baonghean.vn) - Unlike previous years, with innovations in design, materials, and affordable prices, this year "made in Vietnam" toys have attracted the attention of Vietnamese children.

Around this time in previous years, warnings about the abundance of children's toys of unknown origin, questionable quality, and even harmful to children's health on the market caused great concern among consumers. However, they had very few other choices because Vietnamese products did not meet children's preferences in terms of design, color, and materials.

Vietnamese lanterns bearing messages of love and support for the homeland's islands and seas are on display at Thanh Vinh Bookstore.

An observation of the children's toy market in Vinh City during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival in 2014 reveals a significant improvement in the Vietnamese toy market this year. At Thanh Vinh Bookstore on Tran Phu Street and Nghe An School Books and Equipment Joint Stock Company on Le Hong Phong Street, many customers brought their children to choose toys. A positive sign was that most children focused their selections on the display of domestically produced toys.

At Thanh Vinh Bookstore, there's a display corner featuring domestically produced lanterns made from glossy cork paper, in a variety of animal shapes and characters from popular cartoons. This year, in particular, manufacturers have incorporated messages about the sea and islands printed on the lanterns, such as "I love my homeland's sea and islands," "Children look towards the sea and islands," "I love the Vietnamese Navy soldiers," etc.; or images of national heroes like Saint Giong and the Trung Sisters, aiming to instill patriotism in children. Prices are clearly listed on each product, ranging from 22,000 to 40,000 VND per item, making them affordable for most families.

Taking her child shopping, Ms. Le Thi Dung from Quang Trung ward said: “This year, domestically produced toys are very diverse and highly educational. I hope that manufacturers will continue to produce products that suit children's tastes so that they can access safe and beneficial toys.” Meanwhile, Nguyen Thi Kim Loan from Hong Son ward, who was choosing a lantern, said: “I really like Snow White from the fairy tale 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,' so I will choose a lantern with Snow White's image.”

Domestic wooden toys are a popular choice for children.

At the wooden toy display booth of ETIC Vietnam Production and Trading Joint Stock Company and Phu Bach Viet Joint Stock Company at Nghe An School Books and Equipment Joint Stock Company, products such as building blocks in the shape of animals and construction or transportation vehicles are products that promote creativity and concentration in children. Tran Khanh Chung, a student at Hung Dung Primary School, excitedly said: “I really like this wooden building block toy. I asked my mother to buy it so that both my younger sibling and I can play together.”

The child is delighted with the wooden vehicle toys at Nghe An School Books and Equipment Joint Stock Company.

At a stall on Dinh Cong Trang Street, holding two lanterns depicting a coast guard and a navy officer, Nguyen Tran Phat, a student from Le Mao Secondary School, said: “I like both of these lanterns, but my mother only let me buy one, so choosing one makes me feel bad about not being able to buy the other. When I grow up, I want to become a coast guard or a navy officer.”

Choose Vietnamese toys at the Tuan Ngoc stall on Dinh Cong Trang Street.

In addition to the products mentioned above, some Vietnamese businesses also offer paper lanterns that customers assemble themselves, such as those shaped like fruits or flowers, priced from 15,000 to 30,000 VND per item.

With the aim of "learning while playing," helping children develop their creativity and practice practical skills during the assembly process, domestically produced lanterns and toys are becoming increasingly popular and trusted by consumers. For Vietnamese children to have access to more creative, beneficial, and safe toys in the future, this depends on the dedication and continuous innovation of domestic manufacturers.

Le Hoa