For many years, the piggy bank has been a beloved household symbol throughout Vietnam. More than just a simple toy, these charming clay banks act as a child’s first secure safe and help parents teach the values of thrift and patience. The origin of this craft is Lai Thieu in HCMC (formerly Thu Dau Mot Town, Binh Duong Province), the largest production center supplying these iconic items to the entire South.

In recent years, to safeguard the urban environment, traditional wood-fired kilns have been moved further away to areas like Thuan An. However, the core of the craft remains in Lai Thieu, where nearly a hundred workshops focus on the detailed stages of decoration and finishing. Here, dusty terracotta forms are turned into vibrant, sparkling symbols of luck and prosperity before being shipped to markets far and wide.