(QNO) - Two Quang Nam craftsmen (Vo Van Muoi and his son Vo Van Tan in Cam Thanh village, Hoi An city) and a foreign tourist have made the thin and rustic bamboos, symbol of Vietnamese soul become the main material in producing unique bicycles.
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| Bamboo bicycle – unique product of Mr. Muoi and his son |
Craft is the traditional job of Vo Tan Muoi’s family. In the past, they just made household furniture such as: beds, tables, chairs, baskets…But, the last 2 years, Muoi’s craft workshop has become famous for unique bamboo bicycles.
Mr Duong Anh, a tourist from Quang Binh province, said: “This bike is unique. It’s the first time I’ve ridden a bamboo bicycle. It’s a great product that help people more closer to nature and friendly with the environment”.
Muoi said, the frame and handles of this bicycle are made of thorny bamboo that is flexible, strong and quite rare in Vietnam. The chosen bamboos must be soaked in salt water for six to eight months, then exposed to the sun before being made into bicycle components. Mr. Muoi said that it takes at least 5 million VND and nearly a month to make a high-quality bamboo bicycle.
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| Vo Tan Tan grew up with bamboos and bamboo crafts |
Mr. Vo Van Tan, son of Vo Van Muoi hopes that bamboo bicycles will be new products to attract more tourists and make the town more eco – friendly. “The bamboo has been close to Vietnamese for generations. I don’t want it to be forgotten ” – Tan said.
He can’t give up bamboo handicraft – making because he grew up with the bamboos and bamboo crafts. They have become his friends. In the past, Tan studied to be an electrical engineer, worked at an electronics assembly factory in Da Nang before coming back to work for a tourism company in his hometown. Now, he spends most of time to make and develop bamboo bicycles.
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| Muoi’s workshop becomes famous for bamboo bicyles. |
In 2011, Tan met Alex Lakassen (a 45 year- old tourist from the Netherlands). They soon became close friends. After watching Tan’s bamboo bicycles, Alex were interested and decided to stay in Vietnam, helping Tan in making bamboo bicycles.
Based on Muoi’s experiences, Tan’s passion in learning technique and Alex’s enthusiastic help, they successfully created first bamboo – frame sport bicycles. “This bicycle can be sold at 25 million VND” – Tan said.
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| Muoi says the frame of bamboo bicycles are made of thorny bamboo that is flexible, strong and quite rare in Vietnam… |
Now, Muoi’s workshop has exported 2 bamboo bicycles to Netherlands market and had big order with different sizes of bamboo bicycles from a Netherlands company.
The success of “producing exported bamboo bicycles” not only makes Muoi’s workshop become a famous trade name but also brings more job opportunities for local people.
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| The chosen bamboos were soaked in salt water for 6 to 8 months then exposed to the sun… |
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| …before being made into bicycle components |
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| Mr Vo Tan Tan grew up in a bamboo handicraft – making family… |
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| …he spends most of time and his passion in make useful bamboo products. |
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| This bamboo telephone can be used as usual. He combined his knowledge of electronics and talent hand to make this great successful product. |
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| Mr Alex Lakassen, a close friend of Mr Tan |
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| Alex is also interested in making bamboo bicycles. |
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| He helps Tan’s workshop in selling bamboo bicycles in his hometown. |
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| The success of Muoi’s workshop has brought more job opportunities for local people. |
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| This bicycle can be sold for 25 million VND in oversea markets. |
HOANG LY - MINH HAI
