"Picking up" money during Tet with the job of splitting areca nuts and making chopsticks

(Dan Tri) – People in a rural area in Ha Tinh have been making chopsticks from wild areca trees for decades. Tet is also a happy season for those who make the craft because orders keep popping up.

The “areca chopsticks” village is located along the railway running through Phuc Trach commune (Huong Khe district, Ha Tinh), most households have the chopsticks-making profession. This is a traditional profession that has existed in the locality for decades.

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, Mr. Doan Vuong Hai (45 years old) and his wife, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu (45 years old), are busy working from 5am to 9pm every day.

“During Tet, the demand from customers inside and outside the province increases. Customers often order areca chopsticks for their families and as gifts. There are days when my family works until late at night but still cannot meet the orders,” Mr. Hai shared.

According to Mr. Hai, the main material for making chopsticks is the trunk of dozens-year-old areca trees growing deep in the forests of Ha Tinh and Nghe An. People often go into the forest to cut areca trees and then bring them back to divide them into 20-25cm long pieces.

After that, Phuc Trach people will meticulously perform many manual steps, from splitting, shaving, rough planing to smooth planing.

The areca planer is homemade and has a compact shape, with a small groove in the middle to remove excess wood.

After the chopsticks are shaved and planed to the correct standard, the craftsman uses dried banana leaves to polish them.

Next, the worker takes the chopsticks out to dry in the sun to prevent termites and mold.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien (56 years old, living in village 1, Phuc Trach commune) said that wild areca chopsticks only need to be dried in 2-3 suns to be good.

“If exposed to sunlight for too long, chopsticks can warp, affecting their quality,” Ms. Lien revealed.

Phuc Trach people make chopsticks in both round and square shapes. In the finished stage, the chopsticks are tied into bundles, waiting to be delivered to customers.

Currently, Phuc Trach areca chopsticks cost 50,000 VND/10 pairs, the special type costs 70,000 VND/10 pairs. During the Lunar New Year, after deducting expenses, many households earn from 500,000 VND to 2 million VND per day.

According to the leader of Phuc Trach commune, there are many different types of chopsticks on the market, but areca chopsticks are still chosen by many people. Because this product is handmade, it has its own unique features, is very durable, non-toxic and has the characteristic aroma of areca.

For decades, about 20 households in village 1 and village 3, Phuc Trach commune have maintained the traditional chopstick-making profession to make a living and send their children to school.

Dantri.com.vn

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/lao-dong-viec-lam/hai-tien-dip-tet-voi-nghe-che-cau-vot-dua-20250107135413859.htm