Witnessing the carpenter making wooden clogs
Knowing about the store through social networks, many tourists, especially international tourists, have come to Tan Dinh market to see firsthand the craftsman making clogs, choosing the sole, straps and patterns according to their preferences.
Holding nearly 10 pairs of shoes she just chose to buy, Ms. Rih - a Japanese tourist said that she used to come to Vietnam when she was young and still remembers the images of traditional shoe stores.
In Japan, there are no design shops like this. I really like it because everything is handmade. Everyone can choose a different design style, so the shoes I bring home will be very special" - Ms. Rih shared.
Returning to Vietnam after 20 years, Ms. Triniti - a Vietnamese-American also came to the wooden shoe store after watching videos on TikTok. She and her grandmother chose to buy a pair of shoes as a gift for her mother living in the US. What impressed her the most was being able to see firsthand the craftsman complete each detail by hand.
There are almost no stores like this in the US. A pair of similar shoes can cost about 60 USD, while here it is only about 10 USD" - Ms. Triniti said.
Small traders expect traditional crafts to spread
Attached to the craft of making and selling wooden clogs for 37 years, Ms. Ma Thi Hong Ha - a small trader at Tan Dinh market said that in the past 2 months, the number of international customers coming to the store has increased significantly thanks to the spread of social networking platforms.
According to Ms. Ha, most tourists will choose the sole and strap style and then ask the store to coordinate according to their preferences. Many people like to stand and watch the shoe making process, take photos and try hammer and nail to experience, but completing a pair of shoes requires technique and many years of experience.
Sharing the same opinion, Ms. Phan Thi Mai Thanh - a small trader at Tan Dinh market said that this year the number of international tourists coming to the store is more vibrant than in previous years. What makes tourists excited is not only the reasonable price but also the opportunity to witness firsthand artisans creating each pair of handmade clogs.
According to small traders, the price of boots ranges from under 300,000 VND for popular models to about 800,000 - 900,000 VND for elaborately carved and hand-painted products.
They expect the interest of tourists to contribute to bringing the traditional wooden clogs craft closer to international friends. At the same time, creating more motivation to preserve a handicraft that has been associated with many generations of Vietnamese people.
