Toan has harbored a passion for musical instruments since childhood, fascinated by street artists who crafted music from discarded items.
In 2011, he discovered that blowing air into a papaya leaf tube produced melodious sounds akin to a flute. This sparked his curiosity, leading him to add more holes to the tube, which created unique sounds. This experience convinced Toan that discarded items could generate interesting sounds.
Toan began experimenting with broken items at home and waste from iron scrap landfills. He repurposed a broken stainless steel chair into a musical instrument, using one of its hollow legs as a flute. By cutting holes in the chair leg, he produced swishing sounds.
After the chair leg broke, Toan continued to transform various pieces of waste, such as old plastic tubes, microphones, and bike frames, into original flutes. Among his creations, his favorite is a wind instrument made from a motorcycle exhaust pipe.
“I bought an old exhaust pipe from a vehicle repair shop, hollowed it out, and created holes to generate sounds,” Toan explained. “The most difficult part was piercing the exhaust and making the holes correctly, ensuring each note was accurate to harmonize with other instruments in an orchestra.”
It took Toan three years to perfect this wind instrument, making it the only one of its kind in Da Nang. He often performs with it for relatives and friends, who are always surprised by the sound.
Toan has gained recognition in Da Nang but never considers selling his instruments. He creates them purely to fulfill his passion for music and serve the community. He once performed at the foot of Rong Bridge, impressing both locals and foreign travelers.
