A woman processes coconut fibre at a workshop in Vinh Long Province
The local workshops mainly produce coconut fibre threads, a key material used in handicrafts and home décor products.
Doan Thi Hong, 44, a local worker, said she has been involved in the trade for more than ten years. “This job helps my husband and me earn a stable income to support our two children’s education,” she said.
“We collect coconut husks, crush them, and spin the loosened fibres to extract golden strands called coconut fibre threads, which are then dried under the sun,” Hong explained.
Although the work is relatively simple, it demands physical endurance, as workers must stand for hours under the sun to dry the fibres or tolerate the dust from spinning machines.
“I mainly handle the drying process. It’s not too heavy, but I have to stay in the sun all day. On sunny days, the fibres dry in one day, but if it’s cloudy or rainy, it takes much longer. My earnings depend on production, averaging VND 200,000-250,000 per day (approximately USD 8-10),” Hong said.
Coconut fibre is a key material used in handicrafts and home décor products.
Tran Thi Ty, 30, one of the youngest workers in the village, has been working in a coconut fibre workshop since finishing high school. Her husband also works at the local coconut market, handling loading and transport.
“Together, we earn about VND 500,000 per day (approximately USD 20), which is enough to support our children. The hardest part is the dust, when the fibres are spun, coconut flakes fly everywhere. We wear masks, but it gets suffocating after a while,” Ty shared.
According to the Mo Cay Commune People’s Committee, the An Thanh Industrial-Handicraft Village spans 84 hectares, housing 55 production facilities and 600 household workshops. Its industries include coconut fibre thread production, coconut meat processing, coconut oil pressing, coconut trading, handicraft making, and tourism development linked with craft preservation.
The village’s products are not only sold domestically but also exported to countries such as South Korea, India, Malaysia, and China.
Local authorities estimate the village’s annual revenue at VND 165.87 billion (approximately USD 6.8 million), with profits exceeding VND 33 billion (approximately USD 1.35 million). Each worker earns an average monthly income of VND 9-10 million (approximately USD 370-410).
An overview of the An Thanh Industrial-Handicraft Village
With its prime location near the Thom floating coconut market, the An Thanh craft village is being encouraged to expand into river-based tourism, partnering with businesses and coconut product manufacturers to develop river tour experiences highlighting the local craft culture.
