Broom making profession in Nghia Hoi

With a history of development of more than 50 years and currently having nearly 95 households, 200 workers out of a total of 130 households in the hamlet engaged in the broom making business, in 2007, Hoa Hoi hamlet was recognized as a craft village by the Provincial People's Committee. On average, each year, Hoa Hoi broom making village imports over 70 tons of dry broom, producing about 14,000 brooms of all kinds. Hoa Hoi's products are available everywhere, from inside and outside the province; with an average price of 20,000 - 22,000 VND/broom, brooms are sold immediately as soon as they are made.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Minh - a long-time craftsman, the broom making profession is done all year round, starting from December to February of the following year by purchasing the main raw materials of bamboo and rattan from Laos or Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa... drying them and then gradually making them. Currently, because the craft village does not have a drying kiln, households that buy bamboo must dry them themselves or buy dried bamboo, priced at about 18 million VND/ton, to store at home for use throughout the year.

After drying, the bamboo is broken into small clumps by each worker to tie brooms.

Not only elderly female workers but also students can participate in broom production.

The bamboo is tied into small bundles by the craftsman and tied tightly with rattan or stainless steel wire.

Mr. Nguyen Van Minh - the owner of a long-standing broom production household said that men are often responsible for splitting and whittling rattan fibers to prepare for their wives and children to make brooms.

To ensure the broom is sturdy, the craftsman meticulously threads each rattan fiber into each clump of bamboo to tighten it.

After tying the ropes tightly, the workers use hammers to lightly hit and spread the brooms evenly to ensure the ropes are strong. On average, each worker can make 12-15 brooms, equivalent to an income of about 300,000 VND/day.

The finished brooms cost an average of 20,000 - 22,000 VND/piece. Although produced in large quantities, Hoa Hoi brooms are always in high demand, selling out as soon as they are produced.

Thanks to being recognized as a Craft Village, Hoa Hoi hamlet received over 2 billion VND from the province to build 1.2 km of road into the hamlet.

It is known that currently, the Craft Village Management Board is proposing that the commune establish a cooperative to manage the craft village to invest in common straw drying machines for households; and at the same time, gradually build a brand for craft products.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Truc - hamlet chief and head of the craft village management board said: broom making is the hardest job on the occasion of the first and second lunar months; the job is very suitable for rural workers, especially female workers, children or the elderly, can do it in the sun or rain. While the other main production activities of the hamlet only bring in an income of about 4 billion VND per year, broom making earns 9 billion VND per year and a profit of 50%, so Nghia Hoi people often jokingly say that broom making in Hoa Hoi is a side job but brings in the main income./.