Tuong Binh Hiep Lacquer Village – timely support needed

The signs of emergence of Tuong Binh Hiep Lacquer Village in Thu Dau Mot City have delighted craft-men. Some establishments have accepted large purchase orders from oversea. Many have ventured to invest into waste treatment system to ensure environment protection and meet demands of foreign nations.

Domestic customers taken care of

Talking to us, craft-man Hai Hong was so delighted to inform of his busy time crafting lacquer products to deliver to the customers who are mainly from Nha Trang and Vung Tau.

“Years ago, Russian visitors have been so fond of lacquer from Tuong Binh Hiep. However, economy downturn has reduced quantity of Russian tourists to Vietnam, affecting production of lacquer products. Domestic visitors have recently paid more attention to lacquer products of Tuong Binh Hiep producers,” said Hai Hong.

Craft-men are side by side with the works as the symbol of Tuong Binh Hiep Lacquer Village. Photo: Phung Hieu.

Currently, Tuong Binh Hiep Lacquer Village and the neighborhood have nearly 1,000 workers working in lacquer-related fields. However, locally, only 20 more or less enterprises and producers of household scale are present. Craft-man Le Ba Linh informed that the major customers of the village are from China and European nations. The bestselling products including lacquer picture, vases, jewel boxes, etc. however; sales of Tuong Binh Hiep lacquer products have been dependent on souvenir shops in provinces of Khanh Hoa, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, etc.

Craft-man Nam Dinh told us about major exportation of lacquer products in years ago. The tendency of more domestic buyers has been recently emerged; however, lacquer products are hotly sold during tourism peak. Thus, to maintain production of the whole year, the establishments are forced to aim to foreign customers. Tuong Binh Hiep Lacquer Village is in need of trade promotion programs to introduce their products to customers in and outside of the nation.

Handicraft village introduction strongly developed

Tuong Binh Hiep Lacquer Village has been the traditional cradle of Binh Duong Province. To support lacquer villages, Department of Industry and Trade and Department of Science and Technology have offered various programs to support lacquer production. Department of Industry and Trade has recently helped Tu Bon lacquer producer to construct waste water treatment system at the cost of up to VND 200, of which the enterprise has donated VND 100 million.

In fact, the offer of over VND 100 million for construction of waste treatment system is not always affordable by every enterprise. Many lacquer craft-men in Tuong Binh Hiep Lacquer Village stated that if a major wastewater treatment system is constructed for the whole village, they can save a lot of money to develop in the current integration stage.

Thai Kim Dien, the President of Tuong Binh Hiep Association of Sculpture and Lacquer informed that great efforts have been made to maintain the village. Of the efforts, tourism have been attached to those handicraft products; however, tourism in Binh Duong Province has not been of its most potentials, prompting the provincial products to be delivered to provinces and cities to promote domestic tourism. Besides, supporting policies should been available to all local household producers.

Craft-man Tu Bon informed that European customers would pay much attention to environment protection before the products are churned out. To facilitate sales, he stressed on the establishment of waste treatment systems at the producing sites. He asserted that the outreach of Tuong Binh Hiep Lacquer Village depends on the promotion and introduction of images for more visitors. Besides, the craft-men are in dearth need of timely support of the State to revive Tuong Binh Hiep Lacquer Village.

Reported by Xuan Vi – Translated by Vi Bao