More than 10 years ago, bamboo trees in Tan Bang commune, Thoi Binh district (Ca Mau) were at the top of the list of “converted” species to make room for shrimp ponds. At times, growers burned bamboo gardens because the price was low and no one would buy them.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Dien, the longest-serving bamboo trader in Tan Bang, confided: “I grew up in this land. I have witnessed the destruction of bamboo to make shrimp ponds. But in recent years, I have been successful in the business of buying and selling bamboo to supply handicraft weaving establishments. They use bamboo to weave into blinds to create many sophisticated handicraft products. Each blind sells for about 1.5 million VND on the market, and the export price is much higher.”
In the same profession as Ms. Dien, Ms. Mai Thi Ba, a trader who buys hundreds of tons of bamboo each year in Tan Bang commune, said that bamboo, which has long been a secondary crop, has now become a valuable crop, and even small branches can be sold. Each kilo of fresh branches (after being cut into pieces) costs from 9,500 to 10,000 VND.
Looking back at her purchase and sale records, Ms. Dien calculated that each year her facility purchases about 200 tons, at a price of 9,500 VND/kg, she spends nearly 2 billion VND. This number multiplies many times at Ms. Mai Thi Ba's purchasing warehouse, because Ms. Ba's facility buys at a higher price because it does not go through an intermediary.
“At the beginning of the year, traders said that this year there would be a shortage of goods, so they suggested that I sign a contract to supply a few hundred tons and guarantee the purchase, but I did not agree. Because if I could not collect enough orders, it would be a problem. Therefore, I just bought as much as I could. Now my facility sells no less than ten tons each month,” Ms. Mai Thi Ba shared.
Mr. Le Tuan An, Vice Chairman of Tan Bang Commune People's Committee, added: "Bamboo branches used to be discarded waste, but now they are cut into pieces according to the needs of traders and are bought at high prices. Now, the bamboo trees, both trunks and branches, are sold, and the bamboo leaves are also sold to make tea."
Sharing the same joy, in Nga Bay ward, Nga Bay city (Hau Giang), people are also promoting the bamboo weaving profession. Mr. Pham Thanh Lap (51 years old), area VI, Nga Bay ward is known as the person who preserves and promotes the bamboo weaving profession.
Having started his career at the age of 12, he now has over 40 years of experience. Having witnessed the ups and downs of the profession, he has created many products that suit the tastes of consumers. What is special about him is that he changes and breathes life into the products. Mr. Lap said: “The golden age of Nga Bay bamboo weaving was around 2005 or earlier. At that time, the whole area developed fruit trees and crops. Bamboo baskets were used to store and transport agricultural products. When plastic products were introduced, lightweight and durable baskets gradually overwhelmed and replaced the dominant position of bamboo baskets. The Nga Bay bamboo weaving village also shrank and reduced in scale since then. Now the whole village has only a few dozen households following the profession.”
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Khanh, also from the bamboo weaving village in Nga Bay ward, also said: "My family still maintains the bamboo weaving profession, handing it over to traditional suppliers. Each month, we sell a few hundred bamboos, thereby creating jobs for local workers."
Having been involved in weaving for almost her entire life, Mrs. Bui Thi Lan (69 years old), Mai Dam Hamlet, Dai Thanh Commune, Nga Bay City, happily said: “Every day I can still weave 10 bamboo baskets, earning over 200,000 VND. The weaving profession in Nga Bay, whether in times of prosperity or decline, is a livelihood for the people, providing work and additional income. Like me, at nearly 70 years old, I can still do it and still have income.”
When the bamboo weaving profession in Nga Bay passed its heyday, Mr. Pham Thanh Lap cleverly improved the bamboo into a beam with the same shape and structure as the bamboo, but with more parts processed and improved. “The beam is as wide as the bamboo but lower in height. The bottom is processed with 2 more layers of bamboo, keeping balance when carrying without being weighed down. The mouth is processed with an iron hook, many times stronger than the bamboo. Each beam is sold for over 200,000 VND, almost double the price of the bamboo”, Mr. Lap added.
Not stopping there, in recent years, when the experiential tourism industry in the Southwest developed, Mr. Lap initiated a connection with tours and routes serving foreign visitors to experience the traditional weaving craft. Then he researched and invented “mini” bamboo sticks as souvenirs.
“Foreign customers, especially those from European countries, really like it. On average, my facility welcomes thousands of visitors each year. Each “mini” cane product sold as a gift is equivalent to the value of a traditional cane,” added Mr. Lap.
The application of science and technology to create household products made of plastic and metal still cannot replace products made from bamboo. Mats, bamboo baskets, bamboo slats, bamboo blinds, and handicrafts such as bamboo blinds still have a place to exist. That means many people like Mr. Lap, Mrs. Lan, and Ms. Dien still live a happy life with the bamboo trees of their hometown.
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Source: https://baodantoc.vn/tre-truc-khong-con-bi-bac-dai-o-vung-dat-tay-nam-bo-1725952835332.htm
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