Vietnam Bamboo Dragonflies

Bamboo dragonflies are a distinctive handmade toy associated with Thach Xa, Thach That District, Hanoi. Made from bamboo, these small dragonflies are especially interesting because they can balance on a very small point, such as the tip of a finger.

Bamboo dragonflies in Thach Xa

Thach Xa has long been associated with the making of bamboo dragonflies. Through careful shaping and balancing, craftspeople turn simple pieces of bamboo into colourful dragonflies that can rest steadily on a tiny support point.

One of the most interesting features of the toy is its balance. The wings extend forward while the body and tail extend backward. When the parts are properly shaped and their mass is correctly distributed, the centre of mass is positioned so that the dragonfly can maintain stable equilibrium.

A Vietnamese folk toy

Beyond the balancing effect, bamboo dragonflies are also interesting as a form of Vietnamese folk toy and handicraft. Their bamboo material, simple construction and colourful decoration make them a memorable example of how traditional materials can be transformed into playful objects.

Historical photographs and accounts from Thach Xa also document the making of bamboo dragonflies by local households and their introduction to visitors and markets beyond the village.

Today, these images and stories provide useful documentation of the bamboo dragonfly craft and its connection with Thach Xa.

This article has been edited and preserved as part of the Chuồn Chuồn Tre archive on Vietnamese bamboo dragonflies, folk toys and traditional handicrafts.

Official website: ChuonTreXinh.com

Making bamboo dragonflies in Thach Xa

Children love these colourful bamboo dragonflies

Vietnamese bamboo dragonflies