Promoting the value of antiquities during the Year of the Fire Horse 2026

As the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 approaches, the Bien Hoa Relics and Antiques Club, located in Binh Thanh quarter, Tran Bien ward, is emerging as an attractive destination for heritage enthusiasts and those passionate about cultural preservation.

Members of the Bien Hoa Relics and Antiques Club visit and learn about antiques on display in celebration of the Communist Party and the Year of the Fire Horse 2026. Photo: My Ny

Hundreds of unique artifacts, most notably antiques featuring the horse as a symbolic “spirit animal”, are being displayed to the public, enriching the community’s spiritual and cultural life, preserving heritage values, and fostering pride in the traditional culture of the Tran Bien–Dong Nai region.

Imprints of the Year of the Fire Horse on antiques

In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, the exhibition space of the Bien Hoa Relics and Antiques Club has been neatly renovated. Ceramic wares, ritual objects, and everyday household items from the past are carefully cleaned and meticulously inspected before being displayed to serve antique enthusiasts and visitors. The focal point of this year’s exhibition is the collection of horse-themed spirit artifacts - a symbol of endurance and the aspiration to reach farther - painstakingly gathered and presented by club members.

According to Nguyen Duc Dien, Head of the Bien Hoa Relics and Antiques Club, the artifacts on display during the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 are mainly Bien Hoa ceramics, a prominent ceramic tradition closely linked to the formation and growth of the Bien Hoa–Dong Nai region. The collection features numerous ceramic vases, ritual objects, and household items that showcase the distinctive cultural identity of southern Vietnam, with many dating back to the 1920s.

Notably, the collection of horse-themed spirit artifacts, painstakingly assembled by club members, is presented in a wide variety of forms. Ceramic horse figurines featuring distinctive copper-green and reddish-brown glazes, along with refined relief and intaglio carving techniques, vividly reflect the high level of craftsmanship and aesthetic sensibility of past Bien Hoa ceramic artisans. In addition, the club is showcasing several valuable artifacts repatriated from overseas collections, most notably a large-scale oil painting titled  Vinh Quy Bai To (returning home to pay tribute to ancestors after achieving academic honours), which serves as a striking highlight of the exhibition space.

“The display of antiques in the days leading up to the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 is not only a source of joy for antique enthusiasts in the Tran Bien region, but also an opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed and to welcome the new year with deep respect for the past and enduring cultural values,” Dien shared.

The presence of valuable artifacts repatriated from abroad on this occasion also attests to the dedication and commitment of those engaged in the preservation and promotion of Vietnamese cultural heritage in general, and that of Dong Nai in particular. Beyond serving as a platform for exchange, the exhibition offers visitors, especially young people, an opportunity to reconnect with their cultural roots through the stories embodied in each artifact.

Hoang Ngoc Hien, a member of the Bien Hoa Relics and Antiques Club, remarked: “To us, each antique is not merely clay, glaze, or lifeless pieces of metal, but a vivid witness to history. Through the exchange and display of antiques, particularly the collection of horse spirit artifacts alongside various ceramic and historical objects, we hope to introduce to the public, especially the younger generation, the values of labor, creativity, and the spiritual and cultural life of our ancestors, thereby helping to nurture love and pride for the nation’s heritage.”

Connecting heritage, fostering a community of antique enthusiasts

A notable highlight of the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 celebrations is the strong emphasis on promoting heritage values. Instead of limiting activities to a single, private space, the Bien Hoa Relics and Antiques Club has actively partnered with the Dong Nai Provincial Museum to gather artifacts, organize exhibitions, and engage visitors. Bringing rare and valuable antiques from private collections into the museum not only helps to “identify” and elevate the significance of these artifacts but also reduces the gap between heritage and the public. This endeavor represents a vital step in bringing cultural “treasures” closer to the community.

Beyond on-site exhibitions, the vitality of relics and antiques from the Tran Bien region is further sustained through the rejuvenation of the club’s membership. With nearly 30 dedicated members, the club has become a “shared home” where generations come together to share their passion for antiques and knowledge of artifact appraisal and preservation. Notably, in the context of digital transformation, these heritage values are also being widely disseminated online. Documentary footage and images of antiques, particularly Bien Hoa’s traditional ceramic products, are actively shared by members, enabling antique enthusiasts both at home and abroad to explore and appreciate this cultural legacy.

Commending the club’s efforts in connecting and spreading cultural values, Hoang Anh Tuan, Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Division of Tran Bien ward, remarked: “In recent times, members of the Bien Hoa Relics and Antiques Club have shown great dedication and initiative in bringing antiques closer to the community through exhibitions, exchanges, and online sharing. This approach not only contributes to the preservation and promotion of heritage values, but also helps antiques move beyond the confines of a niche pastime, making a positive contribution to preserving and enriching the identity of the Tran Bien region in contemporary life.”

During the spring days, relic and antique enthusiasts in Bien Hoa remain dedicated to their work of collecting and preservation. They believe that when memories are preserved with respect and shared with others, the cultural soul of the Tran Bien - Dong Nai region will continue to be passed down, so that today's spring is not only radiant with blossoms but also rich in depth and filled with national pride.

Nguyen Duc Dien, Head of the Bien Hoa Relics and Antiques Club in Tran Bien ward, emphasized: “For antique collectors, value lies not only in rarity, but in understanding artifacts correctly, preserving them properly, and transmitting their true spirit. Each antique preserved and shared today serves as a bridge linking the past with the present, and as a cultural messenger telling its story to future generations.”

By My Ny – Translated by Hong Van, Minho