Travel souvenirs made from recycled materials

With artisans’ skilled hands, recycled materials like beer and soda cans are expertly turned into valuable models and items, such as airplanes, sailboats, hats, and handbags.

A representative from Viet Legacy Gifts (far right) introduces products made from recycled materials at a tourism event in Dong Nai province. Photo: Ngoc Lien

These products are made by Viet Legacy Gifts Co., Ltd. (Viet Legacy Gifts), located in Tam Hiep ward, Dong Nai province. According to Luong Thanh Nguyen, the company's director, most of these distinctive objects are crafted by artisans at the Hiep Binh Chanh Support Centre for the Disabled (Ho Chi Minh City).

"Reviving" recycled materials

At the scientific seminar “Orientations for Developing Dong Nai Tourism in the New Context,” a small booth in the exhibition and promotion area, featuring local destinations, products, and local travel souvenirs, attracted attention as all displayed items were crafted from beer and soda cans.

The stories of these fascinating items came to life as Director Luong Thanh Nguyen excitedly introduced each piece on display. Every item, from airplanes, sailboats, and various vehicles to items such as hats and handbags, has a unique backstory. Among Viet Legacy Gifts' products, some are made in detail in response to orders from foreign partners. However, with a passion for "reviving" recycled materials, Luong Thanh Nguyen and his colleagues have produced many designs that have been well received in the market and have a stable presence.

Products are made from cans by Viet Legacy Gifts

Describing the journey to his passion for "reviving" recycled materials, Luong Thanh Nguyen said that 15 years ago, when he first saw a hat made from a can, he was captivated by the details and patterns on soda and beer cans, items that, by habit, would long have been thrown into the garbage after use. Realizing the potential in these seemingly useless materials, he started researching and learning can-making skills.

The first mentor he "connected with" was Nguyen Anh Thang, a can artisan from Ho Chi Minh City with more than 30 years of experience in metal handicrafts, specializing in souvenir products displayed at tourist sites and souvenir shops in major city centers. After going through many ups and downs in recycling beer and soft-drink cans, and from a household business specializing in souvenir products, Nguyen officially established Viet Legacy Gifts in 2023 with the ambition of bringing can-based souvenirs to the international market. To realize that aspiration, he built a team of workers to ensure he could fulfill orders in relatively large quantities whenever required.

In addition to pursuing his passion, Nguyen has also created distinctive value for his products through their humanistic and community-oriented character, choosing residents of the Hiep Binh Chanh Support Centre for the Disabled for training in handmade can crafting. At present, seven workers at the center have stable jobs, each assigned tasks suited to their abilities, such as making details, shaping products, and performing tasks requiring precision and balance. Today, dozens of Viet Legacy Gifts product designs are collective creations and are favored by foreign customers.

Speaking about the workers he personally trained, Artisan Nguyen Anh Thang said: With diligence, meticulousness, and skill, the workers can craft product details that ensure durability and high aesthetic quality. Over the years, every domestic and international shipment has satisfied customers and led to regular orders. This feature has created a stable working environment for employees while helping the business maintain stable outlets for its products.

Bringing recycled materials to e-commerce platforms

To turn cans into valuable products, Luong Thanh Nguyen said that Viet Legacy Gifts' products are not merely recycled items but also carry substantial practical value in environmental, economic, and cultural terms, along with creative and artistic value. Using beer cans sends a strong message in support of reducing metal waste released into the environment, helping curb pollution and conserve natural resources. Turning items that no longer have economic value into decorative items, models, and souvenirs for tourist-heavy destinations not only enriches the souvenir market but also creates jobs and increases income for individuals and households.

Over time, Viet Legacy Gifts' souvenir products have gradually become more sophisticated and artistic. Nguyen does not want to stop at the domestic market or rely solely on international orders, but also harbors the ambition of proactively conquering the global market through e-commerce channels. Model products and decorative items made from cans are gradually being embraced in the US and Australian markets. According to Nguyen, the company's products attract international customers and tourists due to their distinctive handcrafted character. International customers are looking not only for an item, but also for a story of turning waste into art and small dreams into a persistent green journey.

Reaching customers online

Luong Thanh Nguyen, Director of Viet Legacy Gifts, said that, through its presence on e-commerce platforms, Viet Legacy Gifts' orders have recently reached many markets, including the US, Australia, and the UK. In addition to the products the company has already designed, many partners also place orders for custom-made items, all of which are completed excellently by the workers, helping expand the market step by step.

Nguyen Van Hau, Deputy Head of the Tourism Management Division under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that in recent years, the tourism industry has consistently pursued green and sustainable values in building and developing tourism products and souvenirs. Therefore, souvenir products made from recycled materials are among the clearest messages for promoting green tourism and reducing waste.

Souvenir products made from cans will help spread the message of green tourism and create additional livelihoods for the community, especially for groups of manual laborers. Products made from scrap materials not only add economic value but also raise residents' and visitors' awareness of environmental protection, gradually shifting consumer behavior toward sustainability.

Dong Nai is stepping up promotion of its green tourism brand, drawing on its rich forest ecosystem and strong potential. Therefore, developing gift products aligned with green values will help build the Dong Nai tourism brand. "I hope there will be more companies and household businesses developing eco-friendly souvenir products, creating significant economic value, and becoming a unique message for the province," Hau shared.

By Ngoc Lien – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho