The most popular exhibit is a 72-pound maitreya sculpture made of black sapphire which is listed at $300,000. The sculpture was made by two craftsmen and took nearly a year to complete using a machine from the U.S. with a diamond tip to cut through the sapphire.
Artisans are showing their talents through a collection of beautiful scupltures made of rare stones at the exhibition.
A raw, unpolished slab of sapphire was transformed into a $40,000 sculpture in the hands of an artisan.
An aquamarine piece shows entwined gourds with a cat climbing on top. It has the second highest listing price ($250,000) at the exhibition.
"Hue's culture" is made from tourmaline and carved with a dozen symbolic images of the old capital such as Truong Tien Bridge, Thien Mu Temple and the Noon Gate. It has a $50,000 price tag.
Duong Ba Dung, an expert on rare gems, said the artisans decide what products they are going to make based on the shape of each type of natural stone.
"Since these stones are worth a lot, they shouldn't be treated like wood. The carving should be based on each stone's natural shape to make the sculptures," Dung said.
"These works show that Vietnamese artisans are no less talented than any other country. A simple rock, in human hands, has great value," Dung added.
