Mr. Chanh is well-known in Hanh Dong village, Dai Thanh commune, Dai Loc district, Quang Nam province. In the region, the "village artisan" is admired for his determination, energy, and ability to overcome adversity, as well as for his beautiful bamboo creations.

The man is called a sublime bamboo transformer. Tables and chairs, cupboards, even the bed, were all built by Mr. Nam Chanh out of bamboo, gracefully adorning his spacious home.

Mr. Chanh recalled that his family was impoverished, so their primary source of income was farming and working as hired workers. He lost his right arm in an accident at work when he was just 22 years old.

The accident was a defining moment in his life that he would never forget. Disbelief and anguish filled his life after he lost his arm, causing him to spiral into despair as he was the breadwinner in the family.

To begin with, Mr. Chanh simply made basic objects using minimal technology.

“It is nearly impossible for me to perform any kind of manual job now that I have lost my arm. However, I believed that, despite my disability, I was still capable of making money, raising children, and assisting in the financial well-being of the family”, Mr. Chanh said.

Many people don't know the tale, so they think he's "mad" when he brings trash home.

To help support his family, he originally worked at a local brick kiln before switching to weaving bamboo goods which he sold to get money. By 2006, the catastrophic floods in Quang Nam had upturned the commune's bamboo plantations, leaving them strewn over the riverbank.

Mr. Chanh said that he came up with the concept for the tables and chairs after stumbling over the curled, rough, yet attractive bamboo stumps.

In order to realize his ideas, he remained up all night to brainstorm and draw up a bamboo-based set of tables and chairs. When the sketch was complete, he proceeded to build using only one hand.

There were few clients in the beginning of Mr. Chanh's career because he only built straight tables and chairs that were not visually appealing. To many, he seemed crazy as he brought home abandoned goods to fill his abode with.

 “In my search for bamboo for tables and chairs, some told me I was insane and that I couldn't accomplish anything with just one arm. But my resolve grew stronger as the result.” Mr. Chanh remarked.

With a strong drive to create more attractive and helpful items, he has persevered in the face of adversity. There were several failures before more complex items were developed. He since the has been dubbed the ‘King of Bamboo Stumps’ throughout and outside Quang Nam province.

Turning bamboo into valuable items

Handicrafts manufactured from natural and sustainable materials began to gain popularity from 2012 onward. Orders are pouring in for Mr. Chanh's products from everywhere.

For the items to last, he must be attentive in his selection and treatment of bamboo. Buying bamboo that has been cultivated on a mound for at least five years must be done.

In order to avoid termites and to boost the bamboo's strength, the root must be immersed in mud for at least three months after digging it out. Processing begins with the drying of high-quality bamboo. His meticulousness at every step ensures that his goods are both long-lasting and beautiful.

"Tables and chairs typically require roughly 40 separate bamboo roots. Roots may be utilized to build chair legs, armrests, handles... that need to be both elegant and robust. It takes more than a month for each set to be completed. To add insult to injury, it takes a considerable amount of effort to obtain bamboo that is both curvy and balanced," Mr. Chanh said.

Two months on average, Mr. Chanh sells a set of bamboo products for VND 25-60 million contingent upon the number of items in the set (set of 5 and 9 items). Some are constructed from large bamboo as requested by customers and are sold for between VND 65 and 70 million. Each year he sells around eight sets, making VND 200-400 million. Mr. Nam Chanh, a laborer in Dai Thanh commune who has just one left arm, stands to benefit greatly from this "large" amount of cash.

(In addition to tables and chairs, he also makes cribs, beds, altars, dressing tables, and more, all of which are highly sought after by buyers)

Mr. Chanh's products are now in high demand in cities like Ho Chi Minh, Vung Tau, and Da Nang. Many foreigners have taken to Mr. Chanh's products as well.

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Customers are drawn to his high-quality items because of their meticulousness and refinement. 

 

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Making a set of tables and chairs is a labor-intensive process that typically requires at least a month to accomplish

 

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The loss of an arm at an early age didn't stop him from making a fortune.

 

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Digging bamboo stumps and soaking them are the most critical and most challenging steps

 

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Bringing the discarded objects home, he is frequently referred to as ‘insane’ by those who do not know the full story

 

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Newly dug bamboo stumps must be immersed in mud for at least three months to avoid termites, and to promote firmness

 

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Five-year-old or older mound-grown ‘tough’ bamboo is utilized

 

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Bamboo of high grade is air-dried before being processed

 

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The bamboo is polished and sanded by Mr. Chanh

 

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More than 40 distinct bamboo roots are needed for an average table and chair set.

 

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That one-handed "crazy guy" earns tens of millions per month from bamboo stumps

 

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The price of his bamboo tables and chairs ranges from VND 25 to 60 million each set, depending on the number of things that are included in the purchase

 

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Le Ha

Photo: Dan Tri

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