Truong Van Dao (born 1991) grew up in Huong Mac Ward, Tu Son City, a traditional woodcraft village. Speaking to VietNamNet, Dao recounted how he was inspired to craft wooden cars after noticing his son’s fascination with model cars during a park visit in late 2019.

“As someone passionate about cars myself, I decided to turn that passion into action,” Dao explained. In early 2020, he and his team began researching supercar models, sketching designs, and building their first wooden vehicle - a Ferrari.

The first creation, while visually impressive, could only be pushed along. “From that experience, I learned and later crafted another car that could steer and had an engine,” Dao recalled.

Dao primarily uses redwood, ebony, and oak for his cars, which take 3–5 months to complete, with daily work hours of 8–10 hours. Key components, such as engines, are repurposed from old cars, while other details, like gullwing doors or electric trunks, are meticulously handcrafted to replicate real vehicles.

The wood is dried for about 15 days before being shaped and assembled onto a frame. Each piece is then carved to replicate a car’s original design using machinery.

Dao documents the crafting process in videos uploaded to his YouTube channel, where his work has garnered widespread acclaim domestically and internationally.

In December 2023, after completing a wooden replica of the Audi Skysphere Concept, Audi’s headquarters in Germany invited Dao to visit. There, he exchanged creative ideas with the car’s original designer and experienced driving the real Skysphere Concept.

“The wooden car project has brought me unprecedented opportunities. That trip to Germany gave me new skills, ideas, and motivation to create even more unique and high-quality products,” Dao shared.

So far, Dao has crafted over 20 pieces, including cars, motorcycles, armored vehicles, and even trams. His creations range in size from small models to nearly life-sized replicas. While most are displayed online, some have gained significant international attention.

Recently, an American customer purchased three of Dao’s cars for display in a museum. However, Dao clarified that he does not sell replicas bearing brand names unless they are unbranded to avoid legal issues.

“We’re finalizing paperwork to ship the cars to the U.S., where they will only be displayed, not used for transportation,” he said.

Dao emphasized that the goal of sending these cars abroad is not financial gain but to showcase the craftsmanship of Vietnamese artisans to the world.

Dao plans to create more unique vehicles with his personal imprint to stand out from existing models. He also hopes to establish a showroom to display his creations, further promoting Vietnamese craftsmanship.

“I want to craft cars that are distinctive and make a mark while showcasing the talent of Vietnamese artisans globally,” Dao said.