Thuy Ung Handicrafts Exported Abroad

Thuy Ung commune in Thuong Tin district, Hanoi, is renowned as the only village in the country specializing in crafting combs from buffalo and cow horns. These durable, aesthetically pleasing combs are not only convenient but also highly profitable, making them sought after for export.

The local horn combs are stylish, durable, and eco-friendly, unlike plastic items

Thuy Ung is an affluent craft village of Hanoi City. Its handicrafts are built on the diligence and expertise of craftspeople. To make a beautiful, complete horn handicraft, the craftsman has to do a lot of things, from preliminary horn processing, drying, grinding, cutting and shaping to polishing. As a result, useful items like horn combs, bowls, plates and costum jewelry like necklaces, bracelets and earrings gradually take shape. In folk culture, horn is considered a symbol of wealth, strength and luck, and in fengshui, bring peace and luck to the owner. Unlike plastic items, horn combs come in many different designs, are more fashionable, more durable, and can be decomposed in a very environmentally friendly way.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chi, Director of the Hanoi Rural Development Subdepartment, said: Hanoi is home to many traditional trades that have thrived for centuries. To enhance these industries and boost rural incomes, the subdepartment has actively supported and monitored the development of Thuy Ung comb-making village, facilitating growth and empowerment for local artisans. In addition, with the support of all levels of authority, sectors and units, Thuy Ung horn comb-making industry has gradually thrived, helping preserve and develop the cultural identity and core values of the craft village, and expand the domestic and export markets.

Mr. Le Van Thuy, owner of a handicraft workshop in Thuy Ung, said that his family produces handicrafts from pearls and snails according to designs from Japanese partners. “Previously, I only made horn combs like many other families in the village. In 1995, a group of Japanese tourists visited the craft village and placed an order, and I have been making the product for them since then. Currently, my family is making about 2,000 product codes for Japanese customers. In addition to basing on their designs, we have also constantly changed our own designs to meet modern consumption trends,” he added.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thuan, a long-time craftsman, said: Previously, horn pressing, sharpening and other stages were mainly manual, but Thuy Ung craftsmen now apply science and technology to production. Furthermore, many handicraft companies have realized the importance of product design, so they have invested significantly in designers, attended exhibitions and researched markets. Products of craft villages have therefore become increasingly established in import markets.

Ms. Le Thi Thuan, Vice President of Thuy Ung Horn Comb Craft Village Association, said that the comb-making profession has existed for more than 400 years. In recent years, the career has developed strongly with the main materials being bones, horns, pearls and snail shells. In particular, powered by scientific and technological progress, producers have invested in machinery to make products shinier, more sophisticated and larger quantities. In the past, the village mainly produced combs. In recent years, Thuy Ung villagers have diversified their portfolios, with more than 1 million products made a year, mainly fine-art handicrafts and jewelry. With this new development, local villagers are enjoying an increasingly prosperous life, even higher than some bamboo and rattan making villages and other crafts in neighboring villages.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chung, Secretary of Hoa Binh Commune Party Committee, said that the commune has two traditional craft villages: Thuy Ung horn comb-making village and Phung Cong carpentry village. With a population of over 4,000, Thuy Ung has many craftspeople. Sometimes, nearly 90% of households are engaged in handicraft production. Happily, Thuy Ung villagers not only make horn combs but have now diversified their products, also aimed for export to bring in higher income to craftspeople. The commune has also strived to turn Thuy Ung into an attractive tourist destination in Hanoi.

By Bao Dan, Vietnam Business Forum