VietNamNet Bridge – If you are on a tour to the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, you should consider stopping by Nhip Cau Foundation to witness disabled craftsmen making fine artworks and also shop for some authentic delta souvenirs.

From Nguyen Van Linh Street to Ba Bo Bridge in the city you travel for around 100 meters, then turn left for 300 meters to reach the venue. This is also the road for tourists to take a bicycle trip around the winding trails, canals under shades of coconut trees to admire the peaceful daily life and colorful orchards.

We came to Nhip Cau on a beautiful hot afternoon when golden rays glistened through green coconut leaves and over red-tiled roofs. We were warmly welcomed by staff and guided to stroll around the area to see the craft-making process. Most are made of coconut covers – a familiar product in the delta - but in diverse types and elegant and meticulous design.

We witnessed the craftsmen work in groups with some polishing coconut covers, some making patterns, polymer and the final process into artworks. They really impressed us with a hard-working spirit, patience, friendliness, deep passion and meticulousness. Tourists will also have a chance to make one themselves under expert instruction and get to learn more about their lives, passion, difficulties and hopes for the future.

Nhip Cau Foundation was established in November 2002 to implement pilot projects, free vocational training for people with disabilities (PWDs), free expenses for meals, accommodation and work equipment, from project funds, Can Tho Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (DoLISA) and domestic and foreign sponsors.

The available products at Nhip Cau Foundation include handicrafts made from coconut such as home decoration products, souvenirs, kitchen utensils, logos, jewelry, key-rings, picture frames, and the foundation also designs special orders on the requirements of customers. Moreover, you can buy conical hats, tourist hats, caps, fan hats, cloth hats and fans made of silk and bamboo are also available.

Through the foundation’s ups and downs, the workers’ patience has been rewarded as they are now positioned well in the tourist market. Their products now are rather well-known in the region and are popular at national fine art craft fairs.

The foundation is also the linking bridge for other products of mute, deaf or vision-impaired citizens to share the information, passion as well as sell products.

Nhip Cau hopes their venue will be an attraction in the itinerary of tourists coming to the city.

The foundation is located at 303B/12 Nguyen Van Linh Street, An Khanh Ward in Can Tho City, tel: 0710 3893 970, email: info@nhipcaufoundation.com.

VietNamNet/SGT