The person who "breathes life" into the bamboo tree.

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - In Trung Chinh commune, there is a woman who daily "breathes life" into simple bamboo strips, transforming rough forest materials into exquisite handcrafted works of art. That woman is Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, director of Tan Phuc Handicraft Cooperative – a woman who not only revives the fading traditional weaving craft but also opens up new opportunities for hundreds of rural workers, especially the elderly.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, director of Tan Phuc Handicraft Cooperative (Trung Chinh commune), inspects the quality of handbags made from bamboo before they are shipped out.

Before becoming the director of the cooperative, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong went through a very difficult journey. Hailing from the poor rural area of ​​Trung Chinh commune (formerly Tan Phuc commune, Nong Cong district), Ms. Huong traveled extensively throughout the country to learn weaving and handicraft techniques. Those years of wandering not only helped her accumulate knowledge and skills but also nurtured a strong desire to develop handicraft products from the abundant local raw materials.

In 2017, with the support of the local government, Ms. Huong decided to establish the Tan Phuc Handicraft Cooperative – a major turning point marking her return and the beginning of her career of "breathing life" into the bamboo. The cooperative's bamboo raw materials are carefully selected from the mountainous regions of Thanh Hoa province. The bamboo chosen must be of medium age, neither too old nor too young, to ensure the flexibility and strength of each woven strand. Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong shared: "To create a complete product, the craftsman must skillfully perform a series of steps from selecting raw materials, splitting the bamboo, creating molds, hand-weaving, finishing the surface, to treating it to prevent mold and mildew." Not only does she focus on traditional products with classic designs such as baskets, trays, and plates, but Ms. Huong's Tan Phuc Handicraft Cooperative also constantly innovates and updates new designs to suit modern fashion trends, such as handbags, flower baskets, bowls, and decorative pots.

Besides producing for the domestic market, the products of Tan Phuc Handicraft Cooperative have been expanding into the international market. On average, hundreds of thousands of products made from bamboo are exported daily to European countries. These are demanding markets that highly value environmentally friendly products with traditional cultural value. In the first six months of 2025, the cooperative's revenue reached 1 to 2 billion VND per month, an impressive figure for a handicraft production model. Notably, the cooperative has now become a support system for nearly 1,000 local workers, mostly women and elderly people aged 50 to 80. Workers' income is calculated based on the products they produce, ranging from 2 to 6 million VND per month. Ms. Luong Thi Tuyet, a resident of Trung Chinh commune, said: “I have worked at the cooperative for 4 years. We receive raw materials to weave baskets during our free time when there is no other work. Although the income is not large, for rural people, especially the elderly like me, it is a stable source of income that helps my family a lot.” Besides providing income, the work at the cooperative also gives many elderly people the opportunity to work, socialize, continue to live useful lives, and preserve the identity of traditional handicraft weaving.

To ensure the sustainable development of handicraft products made from bamboo, Ms. Huong and the cooperative not only focus on production but also prioritize vocational training for the community. Many weaving and handicraft workshops have been organized free of charge or at low cost to pass on skills to the younger generation and create job opportunities for unskilled workers. Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong shared: “The Tan Phuc Small-Scale Handicraft Cooperative not only focuses on economic efficiency but also cares about the sustainable development of bamboo products and community engagement. With the support of the local government and the efforts of the workers, I hope that the Tan Phuc Small-Scale Handicraft Cooperative will contribute to improving the lives of the people and building a more prosperous and beautiful homeland.” Her efforts over the years have shown that, if resources are utilized rationally and creatively, each locality can build its own path to sustainable development, improving people's lives while preserving the greenery of the homeland.

From the forests of Thanh Hoa province, the seemingly ordinary rattan plant has been elevated in value by Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong and the Tan Phuc Handicraft Cooperative. Not only do they maximize the use of readily available local resources, but they also offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly development approach in an era where green consumption is becoming an inevitable trend. Handicraft products made from rattan contribute to preserving traditional crafts, spreading the message of living in harmony with nature, reducing plastic waste, and affirming the position of Vietnamese products in the international market.

Text and photos: Phuong Do

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nguoi-thoi-hon-cho-cay-song-259188.htm