Locksmith turns beer cans into vibrant Mid-Autumn lanterns

From a small locksmith shop on Tran Quang Khai Street (Tan Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan (a locksmith with 30 years of experience) has become a "wizard" who turns beer cans, soft drink cans, etc. into lively and sophisticated Mid-Autumn lanterns.

Every Mid-Autumn Festival, Mr. Tuan’s locksmith shop becomes sparkling, attracting everyone’s attention with hundreds of unique hanging lanterns. They are made not from bamboo or cellophane, but from aluminum cans.

Unique locksmith with 30 years of experience 'turns' beer cans into vibrant Mid-Autumn lanterns.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan (56 years old) shared: "I came to the lantern making profession by chance. My main job has been repairing locks since 1994. During the COVID-19 pandemic, because of social distancing and not being able to go out, I went online to watch videos on how to make lanterns from cans. I found it interesting so I started to learn how to do it."

Cans are cleverly cut, bent and joined to create brilliant lanterns.

The first products were quite monotonous and the making process also encountered many difficulties. However, with the ingenuity of a craftsman and a sudden passion, he gradually mastered the technique. At first, he only made them to give to his children and grandchildren. Later, when he tried hanging a few in the shop, customers passing by saw that they looked beautiful and asked to buy them, so he started making them for sale.

The meticulousness is shown in every step, from cleaning the cans to bending and assembling them into a complete lantern.

"Gradually, I improved the designs, added star motifs and applied glitter to make the lanterns look more sparkling and eye-catching," Mr. Tuan shared.

The main source of materials for Mr. Tuan’s creations are cans that he uses from his relatives’ shops or collects after family parties. This not only saves on material costs but also helps reduce waste.

Mr. Tuan created more lanterns of different shapes and sizes, all of which can rotate when the wind blows.

To complete a lantern, Mr. Tuan has to go through many meticulous steps. A simple lantern takes about an hour, but for complex models such as a spherical lantern made from many star shapes, it takes 7 to 8 days. In particular, there are large works made from 40 small lanterns that can take him up to half a month to complete.

"This job requires passion, dexterity and a lot of time, so I have to do it all year round. Every time the Mid-Autumn Festival comes around, I start preparing for the following year. Many nights, after dinner, I sit and work until 10 or 11 pm. If I don't have passion, I can't keep doing it," Mr. Tuan confided.

It takes him half a month to complete large lantern models.

Mr. Tuan's can lanterns are also sought after by customers as decorations in homes, coffee shops, gardens, etc. Because they are durable, can withstand sun and rain, and are lit by LED lights.

Currently, each year Mr. Tuan produces about 200 large and small lanterns. The selling price ranges from 40,000 VND for a simple one to several million VND for complex products, the price of the products also depends on the number of cans, frames and decorative accessories.

Many locals and tourists passing by cannot help but be attracted by the colorful lanterns.

His customers are diverse, from cafes and restaurants buying them for decoration, to the elderly looking for a "ticket back to childhood". For them, these lanterns are not only a decoration but also an item that evokes memories of the old Mid-Autumn seasons.

Originally a long-time locksmith, Mr. Tuan accidentally took up the side job of making lanterns from cans.

With his creativity, locksmith Nguyen Van Tuan not only creates extra income but also brings joy to people and spreads a beautiful lifestyle: Turning waste into art, contributing to protecting the environment from the smallest actions.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/doi-song-van-hoa/tho-khoa-bien-vo-lon-bia-thanh-long-den-trung-thu-song-dong-20250930101548310.htm