Interesting things about the village of Lang Cui Lu.

From driftwood scattered along the coast and riverbanks, craftsmen in Hoi An's driftwood village (Quang Nam) have "reborn" unique works of art, attracting domestic and international tourists to admire them. "The world has many beautiful waterfalls. I chose to recreate Ban Gioc waterfall in the South because, in the border province of Cao Bang, there is Ban Gioc waterfall with stunning natural scenery, a place of solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and China. I want to convey this idea to educate my children and grandchildren, and to serve tourists who haven't had the opportunity to visit Cao Bang...", Mr. Pham Viet De shared his initiative to create a rock sculpture simulating the "A Glimpse of Ban Gioc Waterfall" in the South. On the afternoon of March 16th, in Vinh Yen city, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his delegation worked with the Standing Committee of the Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee on the socio-economic situation, future directions and tasks, resolving proposals and recommendations from the province, and addressing difficulties and obstacles. (At the Community Center) The Đồng, a unique and useful project of the Bảo Yên District Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities (Secondary and High School level), in Lào Cai province, offers a space rich in the cultural colors of various ethnic groups, providing a place for boarding students to participate in experiential activities and group life. To foster love for the homeland and the awareness of preserving and promoting traditional cultural values ​​among young people, youth organizations in Gia Lai have implemented many tours and experiential activities in border areas and ethnic minority villages. Vĩnh Thạnh, one of the mountainous districts of Bình Định province, has great potential for tourism development, from the traditional culture of its people to its picturesque landscapes. In recent years, the locality has been organizing many activities to leverage its existing advantages to create distinctive tourism products to attract tourists. The whole country is celebrating – a festival to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses. In the spirit of sharing and responsibility, the head of the government conveyed a strong message: this program must be basically completed by the end of October 2025. That momentum and spirit have shaped the theme of 2025 - the Year of Settlement. The Harvest Festival (Lễ Cầu mùa) of the Dao Lo Gang people in Son Dong district (Bac Giang province) has a long-standing tradition, maintained and preserved through many generations. Currently, the festival is included in the district's list of conservation efforts to promote the beautiful traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities in conjunction with tourism development. The summary news of the Ethnic and Development Newspaper, morning of March 15th, includes the following noteworthy information: Bat Trang Village Festival is a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The unique beauty of Tay Ninh Holy See. An elderly farmer transforms barren hills into a prosperous farm. Along with other current news from ethnic minority and mountainous regions, the "Youth Joining Hands to Eliminate Temporary and Dilapidated Houses" movement has become one of the outstanding activities that Binh Dinh youth have carried out for the community in recent times. This activity has contributed to helping many poor people in remote, disadvantaged areas have stable housing. Recently, the Politburo decided to completely waive tuition fees for students from kindergarten to high school in public schools nationwide, starting from the 2025-2026 school year. This is a policy of great significance in implementing social welfare policies; especially for people in mountainous provinces like Lao Cai, where life is still difficult, having their children's education completely free of charge will help reduce the economic burden. Thereby, improving attendance rates and the quality of education. From driftwood scattered on the coast and riverbanks, craftsmen in Hoi An's driftwood village (Quang Nam) have "reborn" unique works of art, attracting domestic and foreign tourists to admire them... On the evening of March 16th, the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Kon Tum province solemnly organized the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Kon Tum province (March 16, 1975 - March 16, 2025). At noon on March 16th, during his working visit to Vinh Phuc province, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of social housing under the Nam Vinh Yen New Urban Area Project, phase 1.

The village of Củi Lụi is located in Cẩm Hà commune, Hội An city ( Quảng Nam province).

Recently, many domestic and international tourists visiting Hoi An often stop by the Firewood Village to take photos in an artistic space with hundreds of unique artworks. Most of the products displayed here are "recycled" from old pieces of wood and firewood that floated down the river and were collected by the locals.

A display space showcasing unique products at the Firewood Village.

The floating driftwood village in Cam Ha commune, Hoi An city (Quang Nam province), was initiated by Mr. Le Ngoc Thuan (45 years old). Mr. Thuan's connection to the floating driftwood village began in 2012 when, while running a homestay in the An Bang beach area, he noticed many pieces of driftwood floating ashore. Finding them beautiful, he collected them, rearranged them, and used them to decorate the rooms in his resort.

A diverse range of works created by talented hands.

“Initially, I just thought about cleaning up the beach and using the wood to beautify the homestay. Guests staying at my villa saw the beautiful decorative items, asked about them, and I told them about the process of collecting firewood to make those products. They found it very interesting. Gradually, I had the idea to make more products, not just limited to decorating my own room,” Thuận shared.

Each product contains an interesting story.

Without hesitation, he began creating his first works from pieces of wood salvaged from the beach. The entire process of creating a product is done by hand, from carving and sculpting to shaping. Depending on the size, shape, and concept, the time to complete a piece can range from a few days to over a month.

The artworks displayed at the Firewood Village are closely linked to the culture, landscapes, and people of Vietnam.

According to Mr. Thuan, it only takes about 3-5 days to complete the shape of a snake, a fish takes a little over a day, while larger sculptures such as Central Highlands wooden statues, octopuses, and dragon mascots take more than 10 days to a month to be "unveiled". Therefore, the selling price to tourists and those interested varies, from a few hundred thousand to thousands of dollars.

Mr. Le Ngoc Thuan shared his idea for creating an art space at the Flood Firewood Village.

"It's not about bringing a piece of wood home to display and then reviving it, but about giving the artwork a soul. What we bring to tourists and users is a story, not just simply selling a carved piece of wood. Each artwork tells a story," Thuận said.

The dragon mascot figure was created from old wood.

As the number of artworks increased, Mr. Thuan had the idea of ​​creating an art exhibition space and developing a business concept. He said that the exhibition space at the Firewood Village started operating in 2022, featuring hundreds of unique and eye-catching works. Since then, it has become increasingly well-known to tourists.

The atmosphere of Hoi An is vividly recreated using wood.

Alongside his business, through the exhibition space at the Firewood Village, Mr. Thuan tells visitors stories about Vietnamese culture and people, and the message of protecting a clean environment. “Initially, the Firewood Village only had me and one worker. But seeing the great idea, I recruited more workers with the same passion, and today the facility provides stable employment for over 20 people.”

Familiar animals such as chickens, cats, and buffaloes are displayed at the Firewood Village.

In his story, Mr. Thuan further shared that he is not an artisan, nor does he follow the hereditary tradition of wood carving in the village, but with a passion for art and creativity, he has pursued it to this day. "What's important is the idea, the stories about culture and art that leave an impression on each visitor. They appreciate the value of the story surrounding the artwork," Mr. Thuan said.

Through this project, the owner of the Firewood Village wants to spread the message about environmental protection to locals and tourists.

For example, he thinks about where this firewood comes from, perhaps in the mountainous region of Quang Nam. Therefore, it will be connected to stories about the culture of the Co Tu people. When tourists admire a wooden statue, or a statue of a traditional house, he will tell them stories about the culture of his people. There are festivals, artisans, and the rhythmic sounds of gongs and drums echoing amidst the blazing fire.

The atmosphere of the Central Highlands is recreated at the Firewood Village.

For example, in landscape paintings of the Japanese Bridge or Hoi An market, I'll tell them about the beautiful scenery of Hoi An, about the people of the ancient town with their unique cultural characteristics. Each item I create is no longer just a simple piece of wood, but is infused with soul and interesting stories. "When tourists hold a product, they feel very 'happy,' and when they hear the story of its creation, they want to buy it as a gift or souvenir," Thuận added.

The village, which is currently a firewood collection point, provides employment for 20 people with a stable income.

After nearly four years of establishment and development, the Firewood Village has become well-known, and many customers have started ordering products from his business. Many hotel and homestay owners in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, etc., have ordered products from his business to decorate their rooms.

In the long term, he hopes to bring his artwork to many countries around the world. Currently, he hopes his art space will increasingly cater to the tastes of visitors, thereby spreading messages about culture and environmental protection.

In the future, Mr. Thuan hopes that the unique items from the Cu Lu Village will reach international markets.

"I hope that in the future, our craft village will develop sustainably and be able to export our products. To achieve this, we are focusing on building production processes and sourcing raw materials that meet standards, improving quality to serve the needs of tourists," Mr. Thuan further shared.

Quang Nam: A bustling opening ceremony for the Kim Bong carpentry village festival.

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/nhung-dieu-thu-vi-o-lang-lang-cui-lu-1742129107080.htm