Only men can make ropes

Raising Laccifer lacca Kerr, or ‘raising bugs’ as called by locals, is one of the jobs bringing high earnings to many families in the border district of MuongLat in ThanhHoa.

According to Luong Thanh Binh, a local man, it is an easy job that can bring high economic value, so many ethnic minority households participate.

Farmers harvest rep canh kien do is April and October. The bug is parasitic on different trees. With the current price of VND50,000 per kilogram of rep canh kien do resin, farmers can sell it for VND15 million and pocket VND10 million.

Special market that sells young rice

People in Thanh Duong commune of Thanh Chuong district of Nghe An province cannot remember when the young rice market was established. The people passing the locality may be surprised about the products sold there. However, it’s normal for locals to bring redundant young rice plants to sell, which could be a significant income for them after Tet.

Young rice plants are pruned from the field, bundled into handfuls, and sold for VND10,000-13,000 VND each.

Making rope from bark, discarded jute bags

Jrai people in Plei Chung hamlet of Phu Thien district in Gia Lai province make ropes that serve production. The ropes are made from wild trees and jute bags. They are created by the skillful hands of locals and are durable and colorful.

The most important factor determining the quality of the ropes is choosing and stripping each fiber of the jute bags.

According to Kso Blieng, only men can make ropes as it takes a lot of strength to pull ropes. One man needs to sit tens of hours to make one rope.

Elderly craftsman makes shoes

While technology develops rapidly and shoes can be churned out through industrial production lines, people still love handmade shoes.

Trinh Ngoc, who began making shoes when he was young, is now over 90 and still busy every day making shoes with premium quality.

Each pair of shoes made by Trinh Ngoc is valued at VND7-8 million, but many people still buy them as they are unique.

White python

The appearance of a white python in Ninh Binh province has stirred up the public. Nguyen Phu Nam, chair of Van Phuong Commune, said the python is white and was found by locals on March 11. It weighs 10 kilograms and is three meters long. 

Hanh Nguyen

Snack-shop owner gains gave by wearing jewelry worth 50 taels of gold

Wearing more than 50 taels of gold on his body, Thuan says his neck is sore and his hands numb. But he dare not remove the jewelry.