Few people believe that from a weed, growing wild everywhere from hills, cliffs, to riverbanks, the reed grass (reed flower) can now be an export product, bringing income to those who know how to seize business opportunities...
On an area of 3,000m2 of rice fields in Bo Vi 2 residential group, Yen Thinh town (Yen Mo) of Mr. Luong Van Tue's family, there are vast white reed branches lying neatly under the hot mid-winter sun waiting to be dried and processed to keep their natural pure white color, beautiful fluffy flowers, and moderate length.
Regardless of hot or cold weather, workers still diligently select and bundle reeds according to the right standards to prepare for delivery to customers. Ms. Hong Tham, Mr. Tue's wife, while directing the workers to quickly bundle reeds, told the story of her dedication to the job.
Once by chance, knowing that a relative in Lao Cai specializes in collecting reeds for export to China, Mr. Tue and his wife researched the market and started a business collecting reeds. It is called a profession, but in fact, the work of collecting, processing and selecting reeds only takes place for about 2 months each year. Every year, around October, when the reeds bloom white on hillsides, valleys, riverbanks... is when people eagerly go to harvest reeds.
The reeds in Trang An, Ninh Binh are beautiful, attracting many young people to check-in, take photos, and preserve beautiful memories of the peaceful, simple countryside, typical of flowers when winter comes. As for business people, the reeds are at their most beautiful at this time, the reeds have bloomed in the season from October and November, the upper part of each plant is cut, then brought back to be processed and dried. The finished product is the reeds blooming with fluffy, pure white flowers, preserved in packaging and plastic bags for export to units specializing in organizing events or selling accessories.
To have raw materials, Mr. Tue had to go to many provinces in the North and Central regions to buy and transport them to Ninh Binh. Reeds from Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa... were gathered in the family's fields, went through the process of selection, processing, and drying before reaching the standard for customers.
In the first two years of implementing the model, Mr. Tue's family's mop products were mainly exported to China through a relative's company. At peak times, his family had to hire up to 40 seasonal workers. This year, the products could not be exported, so Mr. Tue's family changed direction to offer products to customers who are event organization companies and accessory businesses in provinces and cities in the country such as: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City...
Currently on the market, mop flowers are sold for 10,000 VND - 15,000 VND/flower. Mop flowers are harvested and collected in just about 2 months. When collecting mop flowers, the biggest fear of collectors is humid weather and rain. If they get wet in the rain, the mop flowers will quickly deteriorate and will almost certainly have to be thrown away and not used...
Having been attached to this wild flower for 3 years, it is one of the many jobs of the family to earn a living. Although the income is not long-lasting and not really stable, for Mr. Tue's family, contributing to bringing wild flowers to the city also sparkles with joy. Because the reeds are now widely used in life: using reeds to decorate wedding tents, arrange vases, decorate events... has contributed to bringing to life the beauty of a peaceful, simple countryside picture in the midst of urban bustle.
Besides, on the days when the reeds were gathered in the fields, many photographers and people came to take beautiful pictures with the reeds. Mr. Tue's family always happily welcomed them and created all conditions for them to have beautiful memories of the white reed season.
Article and photos: Bui Dieu
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