After 10 years of collecting bells, Bui Duc Tam in Ho Chi Minh City now owns more than 200 bells which come from various countries around the world.
Tam’s interest in bells originated from a business trip during which he bought an old bell from an antique shop. Tam then started collecting bells and now has a big collection of bells from different countries, including Vietnam, France, Spain, India and Japan.
The oldest bell in Tam’s collection, which was bought in Nha Trang, is a relic from the ancient Champa culture. Another old bell which has the size of one’s hand was found by Tam in the former imperial city of Hue. One of Tam’s favorite bells is the one he bought at an antique market in Ho Chi Minh City. This bell belonged to an American soldier who was in southern Vietnam in 1972.
Story: Ngan Ha – Photos: Nguyen Luan