Ones buying scrap go to Cau Nom Daughters who are talkative live with fathers.
Long Thuong bronze casting village (Dragon village, Dai Dong commune, Van Lam, Hung Yen) is not as bustling as Dai Bai nor reputable as Ngu Xa but it treasures ancient products such as top brass, incense burners, vases. Up till now, there are craftsmen patiently doing their job. Previously, there are 4 craft villages in Dai Dong commune, Van Lam, namely Van O, Xuan Phao, Long Thuong, Bung Dong, in which Long Thuong produces the best products. The most famous products of the village are censers, bells, statues made by sophisticated techniques throughout centuries.
According to history, the Founder of bronze casting is Khong Minh Khong who was an officer of Ly dynasty in 19th century and first taught this job to villagers. Hundreds of years passed by, now, the statue of Forefather is carved to show gratitude for his dedication of handling over this work. Unlike other handicrafts, bronze casting is an arduous job. Bronze casting employees are not only healthy but also clever and skilled. In each step, the craftsmen must obtain their own experience and secrets. At the beginning, molds must be made smooth to avoid cracks and flawless surface for the products. Soil for making molds is not the kind mixed with rice husks but the black one to plaster edges and rims. This special clay including mud, crushed burnt rice husks mixed with tissue paper can avoid cracks and smooth the surface. Making mold seems easy but the artisans have to learn it for years. Careless craftsmen cannot even do it after many years to learn. Especially, pouring the filling of bronze into the gap between inner side and outer cover requires appropriate thickness. Artisans must adjust the molds so that the bronze is equal in thickness. Shaving the inner molds dwells on estimation and cumulative experiences.
In spite of working hard, Long Thuong residents never have intention to quit the job. Regardless of ups and downs, wars or recession, bronze casting is still maintained through determination of Rong villagers. In recent years, given that the world economy is confronting difficulties and a number of craft villages levels off, Long Thuong still maintain this traditional business with positive improvements since 2013. Now there are over 150 households out of 200 working on it, in which nearly 100 households have casting ovens, and offering jobs for hundreds of employees in the village and in the neighborhood.
Apart from building up more techniques and traditional technology, Long Thuong now is investing more on supporting machine to boost productivity. Manufacturing assignment for each product to each household in is professional; for example, incense bowl, crane, etc. Thus, income generating from bronze casting increases and become the major source of villagers. In 2013, the average income of households in the village was VND 60 million each and doubled to VND 120 million per household in 2014. In 2015, the figure was expected to reach VND 200 million to VND 250 million per household. To reach that goal, each household must cast 8 to 10 tons of products per year (5 to 6 tons in 2014). Necessary capital for each household is from VND 500 million to VND 1 billion. Thus, households must strive to summon capital including owner's equity and advanced capital of customers. In addition, the association of craft villages negotiated with the bank to lend more upon requests.
In order to have enough labors for manufacturing, households not only hire locals but they also summon employees from neighborhood for training. Especially, the craft village is supported by Industrial and Trade promotion center under Department of Commerce and Trade of Hung Yen province to hold more training courses for new employees. This assistance is effective and almost 100% of trainees can satisfy all job requirements.
Products of Long Thuong craft village association are different from those imported from China, Taiwan due to the fact that they are manufactured under traditional technology and not mixed with other substances. In fact, in the Northern region, it is Long Thuong village that manufactures worship products that are popular on the market. However, for the past several years, Long Thuong residents only care about how to make the products better rather than how to promote the brand. Given products are qualified, the brand name of the craft village is reputable among customers.
Apart from conventional worship products that are long lasting along with the development history of the craft village, some new products such as interior decoration are under research and study. Although they have been launched for years, new products of Long Thuong are favored on the market. At the end of 2014, production is not enough to meet the demand. Products are not manufactured on the large scale so the price of these new products is always higher that of traditional products.<0
With the aim at promoting the brand, the association of the craft village has joined in fairs and exhibitions in provinces to publicize its products. Accordingly, the reputation of the craft village is affirmed and more customers go to Long Thuong to make orders.
