A woman from Vietnam’s Mekong Delta has created realistic miniature clay models of traditional dishes, snacks, and items that are often seen during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday in the country.

Pham Thuy Thanh Thao, 28, who resides in Can Tho City, has received a lot of likes and positive comments after sharing the photos of her works on social media.

In Thao’s memory, Tet is the taste of pistachio nuts and the sweet sour flavor of kumquat jam that she often enjoyed as a child.

A traditional Vietnamese meal during the Lunar New Year holiday. Photo: Pham Thuy Thanh Thao

She also recalled the distinctive taste of stuffed bitter melon soup and braised pork with eggs that her mother usually cook on Lunar New Year’s Day.

Thao started making miniature clay models of dishes a few years ago in an effort to retain the memories of traditional Vietnamese Tet.

From watermelons in the beginning, Thao eventually added more complex dishes and items such as yellow apricot trees, kumquat trees, banh tet and banh chung, bitter melon soup, braised pork with eggs, pickled scallion heads, fruit jams, and five-fruit trays.

A traditional Vietnamese meal during the Lunar New Year holiday. Photo: Pham Thuy Thanh Thao

Each set of items takes about one or two days to finish, Thao said, adding that it takes a lot of patience to pull off.

Making the details is the most challenging step, but it is very important to render the items as realistic as possible.

“Blending colors is also a difficult task, which took me quite a while to master,” she elaborated.

Thao added she had learned to create mini clay foods by just watching online tutorials.

A traditional Vietnamese meal during the Lunar New Year holiday. Photo: Pham Thuy Thanh Thao

A traditional Vietnamese meal during the Lunar New Year holiday. Photo: Pham Thuy Thanh Thao

Mini trays of Tet fruits, jams, and nuts. Photo: Pham Thuy Thanh Thao

A traditional Vietnamese meal during the Lunar New Year holiday. Photo: Pham Thuy Thanh Thao

Mini trays of Tet fruits, jams, and nuts. Photo: Pham Thuy Thanh Thao

A mini yellow apricot tree. Photo: Pham Thuy Thanh Thao

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