French Experts Work On Long Bien Bridge Restoration Project
	Cultural Industry with Materials from Vietnam's Tradition

Landmark-shaped Ice Cream

Hanoi's famous landmarks, such as the North Gate of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and the Opera House, have been transformed into miniature ice creams, delighting young people and tourists alike. These unique ice creams were created by Ly Hai Hoang Tan, who resides in Hanoi, with the aim of promoting tourism in Vietnam, particularly the capital.

The Landmark Ice Cream project has been Tan's endeavor since 2023. After traveling to many places worldwide and being impressed by ice creams shaped like famous landmarks, Tan envisioned creating similar treats in Hanoi. He said, "To produce a perfect 3D ice cream for customers, many stages are required, such as designing the mold and developing the formula. I need to visit each location to observe, conceive design ideas, and then create the mold. This is the most challenging part of making landmark ice cream."

Ly Hai Hoang Tan and his landmark-shaped ice cream.

Tan said some landmarks, such as the Opera House, required meticulous drawing and repeated efforts. Additionally, removing the ice cream from the mold while keeping the details intact is challenging and demands precision and dexterity. These landmark-shaped ice creams have garnered significant attention from young people and tourists. Many are thrilled not only to enjoy the delicious ice cream but also to see miniature versions of Hanoi's famous landmarks.

Nguyen Thuy An from Ninh Binh said, "We not only enjoy the ice cream but also discuss the different famous landmarks depicted on it. Seeing the ice cream makes us all want to visit these places in the future." Many young people expressed that holding an ice cream stick in their hands feels like a mini-tour of Hanoi’s famous sites, providing cultural and historical insights. These small landmark ice creams aim to communicate the history and culture of the capital to both domestic and foreign tourists.

Hanoi's iconic landmarks demonstrated on ice creams.

Tan has so far modeled 13 famous landmarks of the capital on ice creams, including the North Gate of the Imperial Citadel - Thang Long, Hanoi Opera House, One Pillar Pagoda, and Long Bien Bridge. This project also serves as Tan's expression of his love for Hanoi, the city where he chose to settle and start his business.

Born in 1991 in Thua Thien - Hue, Tan spent a long time working in the food and beverage industry with his family in Ho Chi Minh City. After getting married, he moved to Hanoi.

With the aspiration to elevate the Vietnamese ice cream industry through creativity and innovation, Tan began creating artistic ice creams shaped like animals in 2021. In 2023, he introduced landmark-shaped ice cream to promote tourism in Vietnam, particularly in Hanoi. These ice creams not only replicate famous landmarks but also showcase innovative flavors. Tan has incorporated local agricultural products into each ice cream, such as snow tea and wind-dried persimmons from Da Lat.

Starting with a small production workshop in 2018, Tan now operates three production workshops in Hanoi, Hoi An (Quang Nam), and Ho Chi Minh City. Each facility can produce 1,000 ice creams per day, thereby creating employment for many people. He has also simulated many other landmarks across the country.

"What brings me the most joy is raising awareness of places in Hanoi and other provinces and cities across the country. Additionally, many locals have embraced and applied my concept of making landmark ice creams," said Tan.

Unique handmade products

Dao Thi Hien Thu.

With a passion for promoting the culture of the capital, Dao Thi Hien Thu, a young creative talent, has diligently crafted unique products that showcase the beauty of Hanoi from multiple perspectives. These handmade products, though not new to Vietnam, have gained significant attention not only from the local community, especially young people, but also on the international market.

After nearly 10 years of studying Architecture and being exposed to various cultural works, Thu was drawn to the jewelry industry. She now owns Nami Space, a jewelry store renowned for its products that delicately depict Vietnamese cultural patterns and motifs. Many of her items, particularly those representing Hanoi, are meticulously crafted. One notable creation is the Thang Long Dragon Ring, a unique piece Thu and her colleagues have worked hard to perfect.

The Thang Long Dragon Ring features a dragon from the Nguyen Dynasty and revolves around many famous landmarks and landscapes of Hanoi, such as the One Pillar Pagoda, Long Bien Bridge, Turtle Tower, and the Temple of Literature. The flying dragon symbolizes noble aspirations and reflects the sacred concept of the Dragon and Fairy origin of the Vietnamese people. Despite its small size, the ring carries profound meaning in promoting Hanoi's culture, and it has been warmly received by many, especially the youth.

Thu explained, "The Thang Long ring was created specifically for those who love Hanoi. The ring consists of five components: the dragon layer, the fire cloud pattern, the famous landscape layer, and two rotating support layers, allowing the three main components to rotate easily. It is made of silver, while the famous landscape component is made of copper to highlight Hanoi's renowned landmarks."

Creating products that represent Hanoi's cultural symbols requires extensive research by Thu and her colleagues. Some items take 2-3 months from concept generation, field trips, prototyping, and testing to completion. These products are designed with up to 90% detail similarity to the original prototypes.

Thang Long Dragon Ring.

In addition to jewelry, Thu and her team have introduced other unique products well-received internationally, such as buttons, camera covers, and computer buttons. Symbols like the One Pillar Pagoda, Dragon Seal, Bronze Drum, and lotus are particularly popular among young people, including many international collectors.

Customers who purchase products featuring her cultural symbols receive notes explaining their meanings and historical significance. Thus, customers not only obtain beautiful accessories but also gain insights into the history and culture of Hanoi and Vietnam.

"Since I started making jewelry by hand, I have always wanted to incorporate Vietnamese cultural images into my works. We regularly launch cultural projects to express national pride and spread the beautiful images of the capital and the country to young people and international friends," Thu shared.

Through creative initiatives, young people like Thu have contributed to promoting the beauty of Hanoi, presenting a friendly Vietnam with a rich culture, and making it an attractive destination for international tourists.

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