Each figurine is only 2 inches tall, exquisitely detailed

Going to Vietnam and want to bring back something truly unique? And inexpensive, too? We were thrilled with the exquisitely-crafted tiny ceramic figurines detailing each of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, crafted by the Minh Long 1 company. Each figure, which is 2 ½ inches tall by 1 inch wide, details a female representative of her group in traditional tribal dress, often depicted carrying items such as baskets and drums. They come packed in individual boxes of 5 figurines each, and you can buy them at Minh Long’s shop in Saigon, where they’ll pack all of them in a box measuring 10” x 7” x 7”. They’re unique, beautiful, and inexpensive. We here at WoWasis paid something like $50 USD for the entire collection. They also make a tinier collection, but some of the detail is lost, so we suggest the larger figures.

Minh Long 1 was founded in 1970 by Ly Ngoc Minh, and specializes in ceramic supperware (they make over 15,000 items). The ethnic collection seems to be a labor of love, since these figures aren’t distributed to traditional worldwide outlets. The Minh Long store is easy to find in Saigon, so if you’re looking to buy a gift for someone that is truly different, inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to pack, we can’t think of anything better. They’re exquisitely detailed, right down to footwear (or lack of it). 

Minh Long 1 Co. Ltd
92 Tran Hung Dao St., Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
Tel: 84 8 38368265 – 38361193 

Five of the 54 figures in the collection

 Roughly eight million of Vietnam’s current 86 million population comprise 54 ethnic groups, divided into dozens of subgroups some with a mere hundred or so members. Each of the following groups is represented in Minh Long 1’s collection.

1.Ba Na (Bahnar)
2.Bố Y (Buyei)
3.Brâu
4.Bru-Vân Kiều
5.Chăm – Descendants of the Champa kingdom in southern Vietnam
6.Chơ Ro
7.Chu Ru (Chru)
8.Chứt – related to Vietnamese, only 2000-4000 people
9.Co
10.Cờ Ho
11.Cờ Lao (Gelao)
12.Cơ Tu
13.Cống (Cong)
14.Dao – Yao people, also known as Mien, many speak Iu Mien language, distant relatives of Hmong
15.Ê Đê (Rhade)
16.Gia Rai (Jarai, J’rai)
17.Giáy
18.Giẻ Triêng
19.Hà Nhì (Hani)
20.H’Mông (Hmong, Hơ-mông, Mong; formerly known as Mèo) – Also known as Miao in China
21.Hoa (Chinese)
22.Hrê (H’re)
23.Kháng
24.Khmer Krom (Khmer, Khơ Me Crộm)
25.Khơ Mú (Khmu)
26.Kinh (also called Viet, the largest ethnic group in Vietnam)
27.La Chí
28.La Ha
29.La Hủ
30.Lao – People from Laos
31.Lô Lô (Lo Lo, Yi)
32.Lự
33.Mạ
34.Mảng
35.M’Nông
36.Mường – Closest to Kinh Vietnamese, the other main part of the Viet-Muong branch of the Vietic sub-family
37.Ngái (Chinese, separately classified from Hoa)
38.Nùng
39.Ơ Đu
40.Pà Thẻn
41.Phù Lá
42.Pu Péo
43.Ra Glai (Raglai)
44.Rơ Măm
45.Sán Chay (San Chay, Cao Lan)
46.Sán Dìu (San Diu, Chinese, separately classified from Hoa)
47.Si La
48.Tà Ôi (Ta Oi)
49.Tày (Tay) – The largest minority in Vietnam
50.Thái (Thai)
51.Thổ (Tho) – Related to Kinh Vietnames
52.Xinh Mun (Xinh-mun)
53.Xơ Đăng (Sedang, Xo Dang)
54.Xtiêng (Stieng)