VietNamNet Bridge – A set of musical instruments made from coconut shell by two artisans was recognized as a national record at the Coconut Festival, which closed on April 11 in Ben Tre province.



Le Thanh Liem and Vo Van Ba from the southern province of Ben Tre spent nearly a year to make 27 instruments, including drums, Vietnamese violin and the one-stringed zither, from coconut shells and fiber.

Artisans used coconut shells and fibers from coconut trees of 30-50 years old.

Mr. Liem says that he thought of making instruments by coconut shell and fiber in 2006 but the idea became reality when he met Mr. Ba in 2008. The two men, who are musicians, have produced over 100 instruments but only 27 of them meet standards to be recognized as Vietnam record.

The set of instruments were displayed at the Coconut Festival 2012 in Ben Tre, the “capital of coconut” in Vietnam.

At the festival, two other records were also announced: the "longest coconut road" and the "biggest coconut made with coconut fiber."

The "coconut road" was 250m long and covered an area of 6,000sq.m. The road was lined with coconut trees, houses, gardens and stores that used a large number of coconut palms, fruits, shells and fiber.

Employees of Ben Tre Province's Urban Construction Company used many thousands meters of coconut fiber to create a coconut with a perimeter of 11.5m and a height of 4m.

The 4th Coconut Festival is scheduled in 2014.


Long Ha