VietNamNet Bridge – On the outskirts of Hanoi, there is a village where most people are tailors. It is Tu Thuan Village, Van Tu Commune, Phu Xuyen District where villagers abandoned the fields over 100 years ago to switch to the garment making sector.

The entrance to Tu Thuan Village on the outskirts of Hanoi.

In the early 20th century, a group of Tu Thuan villagers left home for Hanoi to learn how to make suits, ao dai (traditional Vietnamese long dress), and shirts. Some settled down in Hanoi to open their own shops while the rest returned home and taught others sewing techniques and skills.

On March 10, 140 out of 150 households and more than 90% of people of working age in the village work at local garment workshops. Those workshops could earn billions of dong in profit a year while workers have incomes of VND7 million (US$315) to VND10 million per month.

Two young men learn how to make clothing at a workshop in Tu Thuan Village after having failed in university entrance exams. As interns, they are still paid VND5 million (US$224) a month.       Nguyen Minh, a 48-year-old designer, has 25 years’ work experience.     Nguyen Quang Hoa, 78, belongs to the third generation of Tu Thuan villagers. Hoa, who learned how to make clothes at the age of 13, is among the artisans who have passed down sewing skills and techniques to youths in the village.       Dao Van Du points at the Dao family tree in Tu Thuan Village. Stand- ing out in this family is Dao Manh Thang, the owner of Toan Thang Garment Company Limited in Hanoi – Photos: Thu Huong

Thu Huong

SGT