I love bamboo; it’s an essential part of my life. Bamboo products are very eco-friendly and have their unique natural beauty. When I work with bamboo, I always feel a strong connection to nature. It’s a part of who I am, and I hope to share this passion with many others.

Van Phuc Nguyen

Craftsman in Vietnam transforms bamboo into stunning furniture

Nguyen Van Phuc, a craftsman, lives in Dien Ban town, Quang Nam. He’s a friendly and humble person who has spent his whole life working with bamboo. Using his creative ideas and expert skills, he can make stunning household items from bamboo.

The man has a strong passion for bamboo

Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc is almost 70 years old this year. He lives in a peaceful rural village on the outskirts of Dien Ban town, Quang Nam province. His village is about 20km away from the ancient town of Hoi An. Mr. Phuc and his wife have four children, all of whom are married. Currently, he and his wife live with their youngest son and his wife.

Mr. Van Phuc Nguyen was born and raised in the countryside, where bamboo is very familiar to the local people. In the past, almost every family in the village used to have bamboo growing around their homes. Bamboo was highly useful as it provided shade and served as a source of material for weaving, making baskets, and more.

In Vietnam, many skilled craftsmen use bamboo to create household items. However, Mr. Van Phuc Nguyen wanted his products to be unique and creative. He came up with the idea of using the bamboo root (the lower part of the bamboo plant) to make tables, chairs, beds, and swings.

Every day, Mr. Van Phuc Nguyen would carry his tools and go digging for bamboo roots in the area. Even though the work was tough, whenever he imagined how these bamboo roots could be turned into unique and never-before-seen items, he felt motivated to continue his work, even when no one believed he could do it.

The dry and harsh bamboo roots had to undergo several more steps, like being exposed to the sun for almost a year and then meticulously polished. These tasks required a lot of patience and perseverance. Only someone with a strong passion would not give up.

In the beginning, Mr. Nguyen’s progress was slow. It took him months to complete just one swing. His products were not selling, and he was using them only in his own home. But he never lost hope. He continued because it was his passion, and he believed that people would eventually appreciate his work.

As time passed, he continued to be creative with bamboo roots. His craftsmanship improved, and the items that used to take a month to make could now be finished in less than a week. He learned from his experience and each new product was better than the last. Then, as if by fate, people began to notice his work. At first, it was in his local area, but soon his reputation spread, and customers from all over came to place orders with him.

Mr. Van Phuc Nguyen shares how he creates furniture from bamboo roots.

He stores the products ordered by customers in the family’s living room.

A bamboo recliner chair that is highly favored by customers