Lại Minh Trí creates models of vehicles from discarded beer cans carefully and meticulously. VNS Photo Xuân Đăng

by Thiên Trang

A young man in Ô Môn District, Cần Thơ City has created hundreds of models of vehicles and iconic buildings from discarded cans.

Lại Minh Trí's house is decorated with unique models which have been meticulously assembled from empty beer and soda cans, all tightly packed on shelves and tables.

His collection of two-wheeled vehicles made of cans is plentiful, from common vehicles to large motorbikes, cyclos and carriages, as well as airplanes, helicopters, and boats.

The models are made of cans, foam board and other materials. Each is detailed and designed to look like the real one, and some have decorative decals for more realism.

“I typically find a lot of waste around me, so I wanted to do something to protect the environment. A good thing about recycling cans is that they can be colourful,” the 31-year-old man told Việt Nam News.

He has had the idea of waste recycling since young age, but he started working on the models in 2019.

Watching him lost in his work really shows just how meticulous and attentive he is to his craft. He uses his scalpel to carefully cut different shapes out of the empty cans, and then glue the pieces together, using a measuring ruler to make sure everything is in the right place.

A miniature Tuk Tuk vehicle made from empty Coke cans. All of his models are extremely detailed. VNS Photo Xuân Đăng

To make the models, he first researches objects such as cars and boats on the Internet to make 2D drafts, which he then uses to create 3D models with accurate proportions. Trí cuts out the top and bottom part of each can, then straightens out the middle metal sheets so that they can be used to craft the models.

According to Trí, this is a difficult and important step, because the laid out sheet of cans has to be completely straight for the models to look good.

“The process of gathering empty cans is quite easy because many people usually drink soft drinks and beers, so cans are abundant. I typically buy cans of Heineken or Coke from scraps dealers,” Trí said.

Trí has created hundreds of models for sale, with prices ranging from VNĐ50,000 to 400,000 each (US$2 to $16). Large scale models cost up to tens of millions of đồng, and are mainly sold on social networks.

Most models require only around one day to finish, but some items take much longer, such as his most outstanding work: a detailed model of the Hà Nội Opera House, made from Tiger beer cans.

The model is 1.68m long, 1m wide, and 0.81m high, displayed in a glass case, and took him one month to design and craft so that it resembles the real building as much as possible. It even incorporates small light bulbs so that the model can light up and be dazzling in the evening, much like its real Opera House.

For this one, he had to be even more careful in selecting the used cans to not have any wrinkles on it. He then had to find the most accurate picture of the Hà Nội Opera House on the Internet, in order to portray even the minutest details very accurately.

This model of the Hà Nội Opera House is the most outstanding out of all his products. VNS Photo Xuân Đăng

Passion for recycling, crafting

It is difficult to miss Trí’s enthusiasm and pride in his work when looking at him tinker with his models and play with his miniature cars and planes.

His work has garnered him plenty of compliments and positive feedback, especially from his parents who are proud of their son’s work.

“I create the models to sell to people who love vehicles, as well as to teachers who buy the products to teach students about recycling,” he said.

He even has his own YouTube channel where he makes video tutorials to teach beginners how to make models out of used cans and convey his message of recycling, which has been receiving plenty of positive reactions.

“My message is that we need to love the environment, so we need to recycle to make this planet greener, cleaner and more beautiful.” VNS