The old farmer is passionate about making teapots from dried coconuts

/Article & photo: Tien Dat – STO/

With love and passion, Mr. Lam Thai Dung, in Khu 4 hamlet, Thanh Phu commune, My Xuyen district, Soc Trang province, still diligently makes unique teapots and handmade products day and night—other handicrafts from dried coconut.

Mr. Dung shared: “This teapot is a handmade product that has been around for a long time. It keeps the teapot warm for a long time and protects it from falling and breaking. My father made many teapots to use and give to neighbors. Later, my father taught me how to do it. I only make this product when someone orders it; my main job is farming. In 2020, due to the Covid-19 epidemic, farming had to be temporarily suspended. Therefore, he decided to focus on making teapots to sell. His products are displayed at home or sold at restaurants and rest stops.”

Mr. Lam Thai Dung, Khu 4 hamlet, Thanh Phu commune, My Xuyen district, Soc Trang province, diligently made a unique teapot.

The teapot looks simple on the outside, but making it is complex and requires perseverance. Mr. Dung instructed: “The most difficult step is choosing raw materials. In Tra Vinh or Ben Tre, raw materials are abundant and cheap. Choosing beautiful, round, and right-sized coconuts in Soc Trang is not easy. He had to travel everywhere in the province and even order them as far as Tra Vinh. The current price of dried coconut is only about 5,000 VND/fruit. Coconuts suitable for composting must be bought for 20,000 – 30,000 VND/fruit. After choosing the desired coconut comes the step that requires the skill and patience of the worker, which is cutting the mouth of the jar and hollowing out the inside. Previously, sawing, cutting, sharpening, and sharpening were only done by hand with rudimentary tools, so the failure rate was very high. Now I have a mini saw, grinder, and filer, so it’s very convenient.”

When cutting the vase’s mouth, you must cut it so that it is completely round and even. All cutting surfaces must be the same and must not be skewed. If it deviates a little, it is considered a failure and must be discarded. Then, a saw was used to remove part of the coconut shell inside, leaving a part above the mouth of the jar to increase stability. Next, use a grinder to make the hollow inside smooth. Through many stages, a relatively complete teapot is created. He added a layer of cockroach-colored paint to make the product beautiful and durable. In the lid, there will be a knob to act as a handle. Previously, he used young coconuts to make this part; later, he used areca nuts instead to create aesthetics and sturdiness for the lid.

According to Mr. Dung, this is not a job to get rich because there is a small customer base, mainly following orders. For each product, he only earns 100,000 – 200,000 VND. He continues to work regularly because he is passionate about making handicraft products and wants to preserve what his father taught him.

Ms. Ut (Mr. Dung’s wife’s daily name) shared: “He is very passionate about this profession. Since he was young, he has been making teapots and selling them. In the past, my uncle made a very large and beautiful vase and brought it to her house as a gift to her father to ask for her hand in marriage. So your father is very pleased with you. Outside of working in the fields, he worked in the workshop, making teapots from evening until late at night. Many times, she nagged, but he just smiled and continued working. Customers come through this person, and that person introduces them to each other.”

In addition to making teapots, Mr. Dung is also very skillful in making handicrafts from dried coconut shells such as oil lamps, cats, and buffaloes… Mr. Dung shared: “Once, my friend When came to visit the city; they really liked his products and suggested that he make more souvenirs from coconuts to diversify his products. After that, he also researched, tinkered, and created unique products no less than the teapot.”

“Someday, I will be old, my eyes will be blurry, my hands will shake, and I will probably no longer be able to work. I hope my future children and grandchildren will follow in my footsteps. If young people want to learn a trade, I will teach them for free and cede the market to them without hiding anything. I hope the next generation can develop the market outside the region through online channels to preserve the uniqueness of handicraft products.” – Mr. Dung shared his dream and wished to continue to step into the next generation.