A young man from Quang Ninh was left astonished and delighted by his 82-year-old grandfather’s extraordinary ability to transform old, broken household items into creative, one-of-a-kind pieces.

"During a recent visit to my grandparents' house, I was amazed to see my grandfather’s collection of innovative designs. Thanks to him, our family never has to take broken items to a repair shop. Here are just a few of his incredible creations," shared Huynh Van Duc (born in 1999, from Hai Duong) in a social media post that has captivated the online community in recent days.

Along with his post, Duc shared a series of photos showcasing his grandfather’s inventive recycled items, such as a fan made from an old TV, a charcoal stove crafted from a microwave, a lamp repurposed from a fan, and a plant pot fashioned from a TV.

Each item was uniquely designed, eye-catching, and highly functional. Remarkably, all of these creations were made from discarded and damaged household objects.

The post quickly gained traction, attracting nearly 15,000 likes, almost 2,000 shares, and hundreds of comments. Viewers were fascinated by the grandfather’s clever and adorable upcycling projects.

"I admire his creativity so much! These recycled pieces are mesmerizing," and "10/10 for the eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyle," were just some of the enthusiastic comments from netizens.

A passion for upcycling

Speaking to VietNamNet, Duc shared more about his grandfather’s talent for repurposing discarded items.

His grandfather, Do Ca Tung (82, from Quang Ninh), has been passionate about upcycling for years. During a recent visit, Duc was stunned by the array of handcrafted items scattered throughout the house, each one a testament to his grandfather’s ingenuity.

"Every corner of our home bears my grandfather’s signature touch. He has an endless collection of upcycled pieces, ranging from simple to wildly creative. I truly admire his talent and imagination," Duc expressed.

Previously, when Tung was still working, he would repair or repurpose broken household items whenever he visited his hometown. Since retiring, he has had more time to dedicate to this hobby, which has now become his daily pastime.

"My grandfather believes throwing away old or broken items is wasteful, so he enjoys giving them a second life. It also keeps him active and engaged," Duc explained.

On average, it takes Tung about two to three days to complete a project, with more complex creations taking up to four or five days. Some items are repaired and restored to full functionality, while others are transformed into decorative or practical household objects.

A labor of love, embraced by the family

Tung’s passion for upcycling is fully supported by his family. His wife, in particular, cherishes and carefully preserves each of his creations.

"My grandfather even gives some of his handmade pieces, like lamps, fans, and plant pots, to family members. I received a unique two-tiered fan from him, and I absolutely love it!" said Duc.

In addition to his creative projects, Tung often helps his family repair broken household items, and even lends a hand to neighbors by fixing their fans, TVs, and other appliances- always free of charge.

The item Duc treasures most is the two-tiered fan his grandfather made for him. "I’ve traveled to many places and seen many things, but I’ve never come across another fan like the one my grandfather made," he said with a laugh.

Beyond admiration, Duc has also learned valuable lessons from his grandfather: patience, perseverance, frugality, and environmental consciousness.