Located at the foot of Cua Dai bridge, about 3km from the centre of Hoi An ancient town, Quang Nam province, there is a workshop for making fine art products of bamboo, named Taboo. It is surprising to know that a lot of bamboo products have gone abroad from the Taboo workshop.
Taboo workshop. Photo:tuoitre.vn
Bamboo house and a world of bamboo products
Vo Tan Tan is the owner of the Taboo workshop, which is also made of bamboo. It is a favourite destination for visitors to Hoi An.
Going to the Taboo workshop, visitors will have a chance to make something of bamboo by themselves and take it as a souvenir.
According to Vo Tan Tan, in addition to making fine-art bamboo products for sale, the Taboo workshop provides materials for visitors to make their own products.
Through their experiences there, the Taboo workshop can introduce Vietnamese rural cultural features and the relationship of villagers with bamboo. The stories of bamboo are always attractive and make visitors amazed.
Foreign visitors at the Taboo workshop. Photo:tuoitre.vn
Leonie from Germany said that one of her friends introduced Taboo workshop to her. She was really amazed and attracted by the items of all shapes and sizes made of bamboo.
Leonie believes that anyone who makes these items has both ingenuity and a great love for bamboo. She hopes she will be able to make something by herself to give to her mother in Germany.
Head of the mantis made of bamboo. Photo:tuoitre.vn
Vo Tan Tan is well-known throughout the country for making bamboo items.
Bringing Vietnamese bamboo to the world
Visiting Tan’s Taboo workshop, everyone is overwhelmed by the items made by the hands and creations of bamboo artisans. A lot of items are found with high sophistication and majesty, such as giant carp, dragon bridge models, crabs, and shrimp.
Animals made of bamboo. Photo:tuoitre.vn
All the items have been ordered by customers and have been made for several months in different sizes.
Bamboo trees grow everywhere in Vietnamese villages, closely associated with Vietnamese people’s lives, going into their subconscious, folk songs, proverbs, and songs.
When Hoi An tourism boomed, Vo Tan Tan made his effort to make bamboo appear in another life. With his creation and skillfulness, Tan has made bamboo more beautiful, more luxurious, and more valuable.
Bamboo, after being cut into chunks, is soaked in mud for several months to make it more durable and flexible. Besides, bamboo, after being soaked in mud, will not be attacked by termites, so it can last long in harsh, hot, and humid weather conditions.
The bamboo items made in the Taboo workshop are now present in 4-5-star hotels and tourist attractions and follow travellers around the world.
Translated by Ho Trinh
