The incense-producing commune of Quang Phu Cau some 35 kilometres from the centre of Hanoi has become very busy with the Lunar New Year around three months away.

The local elderly said that the incense making industry started in Quang Phu Cau Commune around 100 years ago. Initially, it was most common in Phu Luong Thuong Village but then spread to five other villages in the commune. Up to 70% of the local population or 3,000 households produce incense.

Nguyen Thi Ha, 60, in Phu Luong Thuong Village said many families have bought machinery to split bamboo sticks to make incense. Meanwhile, others who do not have the machines often hire workers for work.

People in Quang Phu Cau Commune believe that making incense has spiritual meaning, so they try their best when producing the product. 

The commune located in the outlying district of Ung Hoa is covered with red, the colour of incense sticks which are dried.

Each day, the commune uses around 200 tonnes of bamboo for the production. The material is bought from other localities such as Lang Son, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen and Thanh Hoa.

Firstly, the bamboo is split into splints which are then dried before being put into the automatic machines to create incense sticks. After that, the best incense sticks will be dyed red, while substandard incense is recycled.

The product is divided into the two kinds, one for domestic use and the other for export. To date, Quang Phu Cau incense has been exported to India, China and Malaysia. 

The industry has also helped improve the lives of many local households; however, it has posed many environmental problems.

Bamboo is soaked in ponds and rivers, causing serious pollution, particularly in Nhue River. Air pollution is also an issue due to the huge amount of dust from incense making workshops. Drying incense sticks outside also affects traffic.

The commune hopes that Hanoi authorities will support to build an incense producing area as well as to find outlets for the product.   

Hanoimoi/Dtinews