Buzz
We followed the narrow asphalt roads almost deserted by trucks, traversing through village lanes shaded by garden trees. Suddenly, unfolding before our eyes were vast fields of vibrant green...
Discovering Cang Long's autumn harvest in Trà Vinh
Following the guidance of locals who often traverse these paths for wholesale trading, we decided to journey from Can Tho through Trà Ôn, then to Trà Vinh. Crossing the Cổ Chiên bridge, entering Bến Tre, and finally returning to Ho Chi Minh City. This new route is considerably shorter, promising minimal truck traffic and a refreshing ambiance...
Guided by the locals, we traversed the small asphalt roads nearly devoid of trucks, meandering through village paths shaded by lush garden trees. Then suddenly, a sight unfolded before us—vast fields of lush greenery.
Amidst the fields, makeshift sheds sway in the breeze, with men harvesting lác while women diligently process and dry the produce. Bundles of fresh lác, transitioning into creamy white, resemble neatly stacked hand fans. Along the banks, beneath the fields, lác stretches endlessly.
Upon inquiry, it was revealed that I had ventured into the luffa (sponge gourd) cultivation area in Cang Long – Tra Vinh.
Locals informed us that they were currently harvesting the summer crop of luffa. Some generously directed us: “Head to Duc My commune, Cang Long district, where there are several craft villages along the Co Chien River. Besides the expansive luffa fields, there are also hand-weaving facilities, handicraft production, and export activities… It's bustling there.”
Upon arrival at Duc My, it was already noon, and many farmers had retreated indoors to rest. Luffa picking spots, weaving machines, rug making… had all ceased operation.
The gracious hosts, typical of the Western region, warmly welcomed us with iced tea: “Cang Long has been cultivating luffa for a long time. Initially, it was just a wild species, resistant to saline-alkaline soils. Later, it was planned to plant in areas where rice couldn’t thrive, gradually becoming an economic crop because luffa can be harvested three times a year. Tough but more profitable than rice.”
Tra Vinh's luffa plants are of the elephant variety, with thick stems, sturdy fibers, reaching over 1.5 meters in height, scientifically known as Cyperaceae, belonging to the luffa gourd family. In the past, our ancestors only harvested wild luffa for drying, used for tying rice bundles, wrapping leaves, or packing fish for market. Then gradually, it became popular for making high-quality handicraft products such as mats, cushions, baskets, wall panels…
In recent years, dried luffa has fetched high prices due to export opportunities to foreign countries.
Taking us to the fields, a hospitable host explained: Cultivating taro requires less fertilizer compared to rice. However, harvesting demands ample labor and depends heavily on weather conditions. With proper care, harvesting occurs after 3 – 4 months, when the plants reach maturity rather than waiting for them to bloom.
Come harvest season, everyone heads to the fields, with men focusing on cutting taro, a task demanding physical strength. After cutting, taro stalks need thorough cleaning. This meticulous task is usually undertaken by women.
After cleaning, taro stalks are classified into two types: those over 1.65 meters are termed as Type 1 taro or strong taro. Those under 1.5 meters, typically around 1.2 meters, are Type 2 taro. These are mainly used for weaving.
Next comes splitting the taro, a stage that requires two people for efficiency. At each splitting station, one person places the taro on the table while the other retrieves the split products and bundles them for drying. Both adults and children can handle this task.
After splitting, taro is evenly spread out for drying. Some dry them directly in the field, while others use long plastic ropes for drying in designated areas. Properly drying the taro tops is crucial, taking about a day with good sunlight or two days with weaker sunlight or occasional rain.
Once the taro tops are dry, they are further shredded into small strands and dried at the base by fanning out the shredded taro like a fan. The sight of people taking photos or posting online usually depicts the 'shredding taro' process.
In the season of lacquer harvest, to obtain high-quality lacquer, the sun must shine brightly. Therefore, summer or rain is not yet the prime time for lacquer production.
To have a plentiful workforce during the busy season, one must start recruiting around February, close to Tet (Lunar New Year). At that time, the weather is dry, the sun is golden, and the breeze is refreshing. It's also the season when weaving mats thrives because everyone is tidying up their homes, shopping, replacing old things with new ones, so it's very lively.
Parting ways, the compassionate advice from farmers is: 'Just follow the Meo River towards the direction of the new bridge, and you'll encounter several docks with vehicles and boats transporting lacquer. From there, cross the bridge to Ben Tre. Then just go straight, crossing a few more bridges will take you to the city, near 'xịu' river'...
According to Tuoi Tre
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Reference: Travel handbook from Mytour
TravelSavvy.comJuly 28th, 2016
