Hanoi’s golden horse ushers in fortune for Lunar New Year 2026
In the lead-up to the Year of the Horse, local artisans spend months refining posture, spirit, and symbolism, turning precious metals into cultural icons of luck and ambition.
THE HANOI TIMES — As the Lunar New Year of the Horse approaches in 2026, Hanoi is welcoming the golden horse as a symbol of fortune and renewal.
Long associated with bravery, agility and resilience, the horse embodies forward momentum and prosperity, reflecting hopes for growth and optimism at the start of the new year.
This horse-themed gift item, noted for its craftsmanship, make distinctive souvenirs from Hanoi. Photos: Duy Minh/ The Hanoi Times
In East Asian culture, the horse symbolizes good fortune, prosperity and swift success, while also representing strength and vitality as families and businesses look ahead to the new year.
Surging demand for Feng Shui items and gold-plated gifts during the Lunar New Year has pushed Hanoi artisan workshops into peak production, with craftsmen introducing new high-end zodiac pieces, including the Tuan Ma Bach Ngan (Silver Horse) set finished with 24K gold.
The Tuan Ma Bach Ngan (Silver Horse) mascot set, noted for its design.
Hanoi artisans spend nearly four months shaping each horse, with much of the process devoted to refining form, posture and symbolism.
Conceptual design and casting take weeks, followed by painstaking hand-finishing that gives each piece its final character.
For master craftsmen, sculpting a horse is about capturing spirit rather than anatomy, with special focus on the eyes and hooves.
Raised heads and front hooves symbolize courage, resolve and forward momentum for the Year of the Horse.
Finished works range from freestanding statues to 24K gold-plated relief paintings, blending tradition with contemporary design.
Prices for 24K gold-plated mascots range from a few million dong for smaller models to tens of millions of Vietnamese dongs for larger, more intricately crafted pieces.
Bespoke services allow personal photographs to be transformed into embossed, three-dimensional gold artworks.
Gold detailing set against deep black backgrounds has become a popular choice, offering a modern contrast to traditional symbolism.
Beyond horse motifs, workshops also produce zodiac mascots aligned with individual Feng Shui profiles.
More than decorative objects, these gold-plated creations serve as cultural artifacts reflecting expressions of hope, prosperity and renewal for the Lunar New Year.
