Woolen dolls preserve thread of ethnic minority customs
Update: Nov 27, 2008
Da Lat artist Nguyen Thi Thuc's display of 400 crocheted dolls at the Y Ngoc - Si Hoang Gallery include figures dressed in the costumes of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups.

Thuc, a former journalist at Lam Dong Province Television, who now works at the local SOS village for disadvantaged children, used Hoang's designs to crochet the outfits on the dolls.

During her years as a journalist, Thuc traveled the country and had an opportunity to observe different cultural customs of ethnic minority groups.

"This is a good way of preserving the culture of Vietnam and shows its beauty to both foreigners and Vietnamese. Many people do not know about the customs of rural people, who they rarely see," Thuc said.

She said many of the people drew designs on the dolls for her and she also studied books to learn about clothing and customs.

Besides the dolls dressed in ethnic costumes, there are nearly 300 crocheted dolls patterned after a variety of people, including cartoon characters.

The exhibit ends on Saturday, Nov. 29th 2008 at Y Ngoc - Si Hoang Gallery, 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, HCM City.

Thuc plans to start a company making woolen dolls and will employ deaf children who live in Da Lat City.
VietnamNews