Tan Thong Hoi bamboo blind craft village

(NADS) - Tan Thong Hoi bamboo blind craft village, a unique place in Tan Thong Hoi commune, Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City, still maintains its important value as a source of income and a representative of Vietnamese cultural image to the world, although it is no longer as bustling as in its golden age.

Bamboo blind making is not like other jobs that have few steps and can be done by one person, but this job requires many people to do it, so when the job develops, many people will come to work together, doing many different steps such as stringing, pulling the trellis, setting up the frame, painting the scenery...

Established for more than 50 years, this craft village experienced a period of strong development in the 80s. Tet is still the best selling time, causing many households to convert into bamboo blind production facilities. Exporting products to many countries, such as Japan, England, America, has created an important mark in this industry.

According to current statistics, Tan Thong Hoi bamboo blind craft village has 05 establishments producing and trading bamboo blinds and about 400 households processing bamboo blinds for these establishments. The blind makers are mainly elderly women, who combine bamboo blind production with housework.

*Making bamboo blinds seems simple but is not simple because even the smallest steps still require meticulousness of the craftsman in the rough processing stage.*

The bamboo blind production process in this village is completely manual, from cutting bamboo, peeling, stringing, weaving, painting, to drawing. The challenge comes from the shrinking market due to the appearance of plastic substitutes. But to adapt, the craftsmen have been creative in mixing paint colors, images and even adding details to create new, attractive and quality products.

To produce a bamboo blind that meets the requirements of demanding markets, it must go through dozens of complicated steps. Initially, bamboo branches are selected and cut into small pieces about 6 cm long, mixed with sand and put into a rotary kiln to remove the outer silk layer, then soaked in termite-proofing water, and dried in the sun or at a temperature of 70 to 800 C.

Tan Thong Hoi bamboo blind craft village flexibly adjusts to the market through creativity in paint colors, images and details. New products with traditional yet modern beauty are receiving favor from the market.

The dried bamboo will be strung together into strings with zinc wires and then hung to form a curtain. This is a very important step, requiring the craftsman to observe carefully so that the strings are sewn evenly. Bamboo weaving is a step that requires both the strength and dexterity of the craftsman. In this step, the craftsman inserts the woven bamboo curtains onto the shaft and then uses pliers to twist the zinc wires to make them as tight as possible. It must be done by someone who is familiar with the task and has experience, because if the strings are tightened too tightly, they will be stiff, and if they are too loose, the curtain will sag.

Despite challenges such as a shortage of young workers and rising raw material prices, the craft village still maintains its operations, providing stable income and job opportunities for the community. It contributes greatly to creating jobs for thousands of local workers and at the same time promoting the image of Vietnamese culture to the world.

To paint, the craftsman uses a sponge soaked in paint and shows decorative details on the bamboo blind. It looks simple but requires the craftsman to have skills, experience, and know how to handle each stroke in a delicate and vivid way... Bamboo blind paintings have many themes depending on customer requirements such as landscapes, portraits... but are delicate and no less vivid.

After the painting is finished, the paintings will be sent to the inspection area once more before being packaged and shipped. In the bamboo blind making profession, each worker will undertake a different stage. Therefore, many elderly women and housewives also participate in the curtain making process right at home.

The Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City highly appreciates the contribution of Tan Thong Hoi bamboo blind craft village, as well as other craft villages, in socio-economic development. It proves that the model of small-scale handicraft villages is effective in the community, from attracting labor to solving the problem of poverty.

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