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Fri, 03/22/2024 - 10:37
Submitted by nhathong on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 07:00
A story about a farmer making toys from dough in the US is often referred to by the people living in Xuan La village, Phuong Duc commune, Phu Xuyen district, Ha Tay province. The story is an inspiration for the locals to overcome their difficulties and hardships.

The home of “Thuan To he” (To he is the children’s toy made from dough) is located in a small lane in the middle of Xuan La village. The house looks very old, though it has been renovated several times.

Thuan is an old man with grey hair and suntanned skin. We visited him at his home just a few days ago. Our story starts during a trip to the US two years ago.

 

“Perform” in the West

In July 2005, both Vietnam and the US celebrated the 10th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

To mark the occasion, Vietnam sent an art troupe including traditional dancers,
Dong Ho painters and To he makers to the US in the hope of promoting the country’s image to the international community.

One day in late June that year, as usual he returned home at about 8 pm after his work. His wife’s younger brother rushed to his home and said “You’re lucky! You’ll go to the US to meet President Bush”.

Later he found out that he was chosen to go to the US with an art troupe on a tour to mark the 10th anniversary of the restoration of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations.


Upon learning the news, he was happy but a bit worried. It was the first time he had been abroad as a representative for the nation’s traditional culture.


“I couldn’t sleep for many nights” Thuan recalled.


On July 6, 2005 after a 23 hour-flight, the delegation arrived at New York airport.

“We were welcomed at the airport by some people from the Embassy in New York”, Thuan said.


He then took out some photos taken at the airport and explained to me in detail about each photo.


“At the time I had the feeling that I was the minister by the warm welcome given to me and the other members of the delegation by the embassy’s staff” Thuan said.


In more than 30 years of making To he, Thuan has traveled to almost every corner of the country- from north to south with a small and light bag. However, never before had he felt this nervous.


“My hands were trembling” Thuan confided. “Sitting on a big stage there, the first animal I made was a rooster, a symbol for the Year of the Rooster, 2005.”


“Normally it would take me less than one minute to make it. But on that day it took me more than two minutes. I couldn’t understand why I was so clumsy on that day, particularly when I made the rooster’s crest – a green crest!”


“Even now whenever I think of that day, I still break out in a sweat!” Thuan said.

During the tour, Thuan also performed in San Francisco, California and some other states. Wherever the troupe went, it received a warm welcome, particularly from the Vietnamese people living there.


Thuan’s To he came in different shapes, heroic figures in the country’s history or animals at the request of onlookers.


Thuan’s To he has reminded the Vietnamese living in the US of the home country where they were born and where their relatives still live and work.

For the American people, it was the first time they had seen with their own eyes the deft hands of a Vietnamese farmer.


“I have a fond memory of the trip to America. I presented all the To he I made to the audiences. When I gave the last one of my stock to a US police officer, the man said something to me but I didn’t understand, except the word “OK”. He then asked me to take a photo with him,” Thuan told us.


Thuan showed us the photo between him and the US police officer.


A music note

After the tour, Vietnamese and foreign reporters went Xuan La to meet Thuan to ask about his impressions of the trip. For him, this was an indication of the revival of the traditional craft which was initiated by the Ha Tay provincial leaders in 1992.


Two years have passed by since the July 2005 event, but Thuan’s life seems to remain unchanged – traveling from one place to another to earn his living. This is a problem that needs to be solved by the provincial leadership how to help farmers from the poor village of Xuan La start a new life from practicing their traditional craft – To he making.


Tran Viet Duc

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