The Bamboo Craft Village
With assurances of bamboo shops, we were directed towards the high school. Children on bicycles and motorbikes indicated we were close, but we were distracted by a ghost housing development in the distance, drawn to streets full of houses that had never been finished. It was a photographer’s dream; all urban decay and overgrown vegetation. The overcast sky and cool humidity contributed to the eerie feel. The development could have been used as the set for a zombie apocalypse movie and I was on high alert for signs of the undead.
The Kindness of Strangers Heading back towards the high school, we drove slowly through the streets, finding long bamboo poles stacked in tepee formations or in rows, but little activity. We
were about to give up, when we glanced up an alley to see three women sorting bamboo strips into neat piles. After watching them, we were ushered into a large workroom and were given a demonstration of bamboo blind making by the women. This demonstration was a festive affair, and a small group of men and women, young and old, gathered, keen to impart the techniques of blind-making. I was reminded of weaving, as twine on heavy stones was flicked over and under strips of bamboo, hands a flurry of action. The group chatted and cheered as we watched on. By this time, it was lunch, and looking for somewhere to eat before heading back to Hanoi, we were invited into the home of one of the men in the group. Of course, we couldn’t say no, and the family was happy
to feed a couple of wandering, curious westerners — even with my fussy “no meat” request. We exchanged pleasantries, and promised to return after Tet. And that’s the thing about Vietnam; it surprises and delights you in ways you could never imagine. Phu Vinh, despite being closed for the New Year, was open in other ways.
Getting There Get to Dai Lo Thang Long Highway and drive west for around 10km. Turn past Splendora Housing estate onto Cau Vuot An Khanh Road. Drive a short distance, and you will find Phu Vinh Village on the right.
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