Although it’s still months before the 2025 Solar New Year and the Lunar New Year of the Snake, businesses and consumers are already seeking unique and luxurious gifts, such as gold-plated artwork and snake-themed ornaments.

At a gift-making workshop in Tay Mo, Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi, snake-themed artwork began receiving orders as early as the ninth lunar month. According to the business owner, early ordering is common as customers aim to avoid the rush closer to the holiday season.

Nguyen Tung Lam, an artisan and representative of Act Gold Company, shared that his business has been offering gold-plated Lunar New Year gifts since 2019. Every year, they receive numerous large orders for Tet mascots and decorative paintings, with each order often consisting of hundreds of items.

In Eastern culture, snakes symbolize luck, prosperity, wisdom, and resilience. The snake is considered a representation of transformation, renewal, and strong growth.

The workshop offers unique creations, including a snake statue measuring 35cm x 55cm x 69cm, priced at 99 million VND, and a smaller piece measuring 19.5cm x 14cm x 25cm, priced at 8.8 million VND.

According to Tung Lam, the craftsmanship involves more than just aesthetic details on the snake’s body; it also requires careful attention to expressions and demeanor. For the Year of the Snake, the snake figures are designed with gentle eyes and mouths, with heads lifted upwards and no visible fangs, conveying a sense of harmony.

Each design concept is developed approximately six months before the New Year, ensuring ample time for refinement and production. 

Customers can also commission custom gold-plated paintings, with artisans turning personal ideas and photos into dynamic, three-dimensional masterpieces.

One standout creation, a gold-plated painting of a pair of phoenixes, takes approximately two weeks to design and produce. Priced at 250 million VND, the piece features delicately applied gold leaf on a black fabric canvas, encased in an elegant wooden frame.

Thach Thao