The Journey of a Woman from Duong Hong Village: Rising from TYM’s Loan to Become a Major Piggy Bank Manufacturer

This is the story of Ms. Tran Thị Toàn, a member of Center 12 under Transaction Office No. 02, TYM – Me Linh Branch, Hanoi.

Duong Hong Village (Thanh Da Commune, Phuc Tho District, Hanoi) is known for its famous piggy bank craft. As the Lunar New Year approaches, the atmosphere in the village becomes bustling as preparations ramp up to meet the demand for the festive season. When I visited Ms. Tran Thị Toàn’s piggy bank workshop, everyone was busy preparing new orders. Few would know that many years ago, Ms. Toàn’s family, like many others in the village, was solely dependent on agriculture. Despite working hard, their economic situation remained unchanged, prompting Ms. Toàn and her husband to seek ways to improve their finances.
In 2020, through an introduction from the local Women’s Union, Ms. Toàn joined TYM and boldly took a loan to invest in a home-based piggy bank workshop. Her family diligently learned from local producers and applied these lessons to their model. With determination and effort from all family members, their piggy bank project thrived. It not only provided a stable income but also created jobs for many workers both inside and outside the province. With a VND 50 million loan from TYM, Ms. Toàn invested in plaster and paint, rotating the capital to expand her workshop.
By the end of 2022, Ms. Toàn became the first member in her commune eligible for TYM’s job creation loan. This support enabled her piggy bank workshop to expand further. The charming piggy banks from her workshop are now sold in various provinces and featured in the “TYM Member Product Display and Introduction Room”.

Ms. Toàn’s face lit up with joy as she welcomed me to her workshop. The space is now more spacious and modern, providing employment for numerous employees. Ms. Toàn shared that piggy bank production is a year-round job, but the period leading up to Tet is exceptionally busy. They have to hire additional workers and work overtime to meet market demand. During this peak time, bulk orders increase, necessitating significant capital to prepare goods and other needs. Fortunately, TYM’s timely loan has been a great help.

They are then base-coated with paint and left to dry again. Skilled workers meticulously spray-paint intricate details, creating vibrant patterns. Final touches, such as painting eyebrows and pupils, bring the products to life before they are shipped.

According to Ms. Toàn, the craft is not difficult but requires meticulousness and patience to produce quality products. Each piggy bank goes through many stages, demanding attention to detail and a touch of artistry to imbue the items with character.

During the days of waiting for the “piggy herd” to be packed and shipped, her family closely supervises each stage to ensure the products do not crack, fade, or suffer moisture damage, which could affect the money saved inside.

While the primary product is piggy banks, her workshop also produces various other figurines in different sizes to meet market demands.
Seeing Ms. Toàn’s family’s success and joy fills me with gratitude for TYM. It reminds me to appreciate my work and strive to help more women benefit TYM’s support, empowering them to improve their economic situation and thrive in life.

Kim Oanh

Transaction Office No. 02, TYM – Me Linh Branch, Hanoi