Vu Linh skillfully transforms simple pieces of wood and leaves into handcrafted products.
From a young age, Linh was passionate about art and dreamed of attending university to study architecture or fine arts, but due to family circumstances, he had to put that dream on hold. He started working early in life, helping his family financially through various jobs. During his time serving in the local militia, a fellow soldier taught him how to assemble tiny houses using bamboo toothpicks. Unexpectedly, this pastime became the catalyst for his future career.
Initially, Nguyen Vu Linh built simple miniature houses, then gradually became fascinated with "building" houses of all shapes and sizes with more complex structures, including living rooms, staircases, and televisions. Not stopping there, he used toothpicks to create suspension bridges, temples, and towers. Tiny bamboo toothpicks, used for picking teeth, through clever design and a light coat of moisture-resistant paint, have been transformed into vibrant models suitable for display in living rooms or workspaces.
So, Linh started his business making miniature models from bamboo toothpicks, models not found in textbooks. Recognizing the limited investment capital suitable for his financial situation, he decided to open a retail store, sell online, and accept custom orders for miniature models of all sizes and styles. Each piece is meticulously crafted; some require 15-16 consecutive days of hard work, more than 10 hours a day, to complete.
Crafting models from bamboo toothpicks may seem easy and simple at first glance, but when you actually start, you realize it requires high technical skill, patience from the craftsman, and most importantly, an eye-catching design. With a stable market, in 2019, he opened Linh Handmade, producing handicrafts in his hometown. With limited capital, he only managed to save enough to buy a computer and a mini laser engraving machine.
Drawing on his existing experience, he tried his hand at using forest-grown timber – a common tree in mountainous regions – to create souvenirs. In the mountains, people mainly use this wood for firewood. Recognizing its high durability and beautiful natural color, he crafted a range of items such as nameplates, keychains, desk calendars, notebooks, logos, and wall clocks. These items, with their rustic, eco-friendly yet sophisticated design, were quickly embraced by customers.
However, Linh understood that, for long-term success, the finished product not only needed to be beautiful but also had to bear a unique mark, connected to the soul of the local area. Thoi Son ward, located in the Bay Nui region, has many palm trees. While admiring the tall palm trees, he came up with the idea of using the leaves of this tree to create art.
Palm leaves have long been used by locals for roofing, wrapping cakes and pastries, or creating enclosures to attract wild bats for their droppings. Linh learned the technique through self-study, initially stumbling due to lack of experience and discarding numerous technically flawed artworks. After months of perseverance, he finally succeeded in applying modern engraving technology to the leaf surface. Linh shared, "To create a complete palm leaf artwork, the craftsman must go through many elaborate steps such as selecting standard leaves, drying them, flattening them, assembling the pieces, laser engraving, and applying multiple protective layers."
Each step requires absolute precision and patience. Thanks to this, familiar images, such as portraits of President Ho Chi Minh , President Ton Duc Thang, General Vo Nguyen Giap, or the Dong Son bronze drums, the scenic Mount Cam, Nguyen Trung Truc High School... are vividly recreated on simple palm leaf backgrounds. The works not only possess aesthetic value but also reflect the culture and identity of An Giang province. Linh continues his research using palm wood to create calligraphy paintings, signboards, and paintings of the An Giang countryside.
Nowadays, handicrafts made from bamboo toothpicks, forest-grown palm wood, and palm leaf paintings from the semi-mountainous region have become widely known. The best-selling products currently are commemorative keychains, calendar paintings, calligraphy wood paintings, and handcrafted clocks made from forest-grown palm wood. Thanks to their reasonable prices, ranging from 180,000 to 250,000 VND, these items are purchased by young people, agencies, and departments inside and outside the province as gifts for delegates. In the high-end segment, paintings made from palm leaves, priced from 900,000 to 1,500,000 VND per piece, are considered elegant commemorative gifts.
To master the supply chain, the facility has flexibly operated production according to the seasons. They take advantage of the dry season to dry the wood used for making jam cages and palm leaves, reducing losses and simplifying processing. Having overcome a period of uncertainty, the current stable revenue stream has enabled the facility to maintain regular employment for two workers and 7-10 seasonal workers, with many young people receiving free vocational training.
Mr. Linh shared that, in addition to his own efforts, his success today is also due to the support and encouragement of many people. Starting his entrepreneurial journey was fraught with difficulties; defining his product and finding a market was a major challenge for him. However, a turning point came with the timely support and assistance of the An Giang Provincial Youth Union and local departments and agencies. In 2020, the Youth Entrepreneurship Support Center (under the An Giang Provincial Youth Union) helped Mr. Linh access loan capital to expand production. At trade events and fairs, the An Giang Provincial Youth Union promoted his products.
From simple materials, Nguyen Vu Linh has breathed new life into them with passion and creativity. His journey of overcoming difficulties is a vivid testament to the aspirations of today's young generation: daring to think, daring to act, and knowing how to leverage the advantages of his hometown to create new values.
According to Nhandan.vn
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/khoi-nghiep-tu-go-la-tho-so-a489412.html
