In recent 10 years, Thuy Lan village, Thanh Long commune (Yen My) is well known for home carpentry products and luxurious carpentry products such as beds, wardrobes, dining table, Asian and Europe couch, statue, bonsai and small wooden animals that are made of natural wood and always meet satisfaction of domestic consumers. Each year, the village provides thousands of products of all kinds, offers jobs as well as enhances residents’ living standards....

 Thuy Lan carpentry village has a long-standing industry. Previously, it includes small businesses producing household appliances made of self- sufficient bamboo and available wood in the area. There were times when several craftsmen were not close to this and changing to other jobs. Since 1990, thanks to convenient transportation, craftsmen are given facilities to enhance their skill and exchange experiences. Previously, the main products were beds and other small wooden animals which were made by manual force. Now all processes are operated by machine so that artisans can invest more in technology, product diversification, and new models with sophisticated patterns combining traditional and modern styles. Accordingly, the product value is added, raising income and boosting handicraft village.

 There are 200 households out of 340 building this career. On average, each family has 1 to 2 direct labors doing carpentry job, some have 3 to 4. The average income of each artisan is VND 3 million to VND 4 million per month. The skilled person may earn VND 5 million to VND 7 million per month. In addition, hundreds of labors are working on input provision as well as finished product distribution. Thus, it is true to say that the village is like a factory all year long. Manufacturing and career service as well as trading service are always bustling all day and night.   Based on skills, health, preference and time table of each employee, employers empower them in each step of the process and in each component of the product. Artisans only make one component or a component set of the product so they must cooperate accurately together to get the components assembled and to ensure aesthetic and technical requirements of orders. Thanks to specialization, Thuy Lan artisans develop their ability and take advantage of working overtime and doing extra work at home in order to enhance productivity and generate more income.

Products of the craft village are various such as wardrobe, altar, wine, drink cabinet, couch, beds, pictures, statues of Maitreya, Guan Yu  made of different types of wood.  Whatever the models are, the craft village can satisfy all expectations. Each wooden product is the daily appliance or the family decoration that is close to the owner throughout his life or even lives with them in generations as a souvenir or valuable heirloom. Thus, the products are not only required to be durable but also aesthetic and carrying certain humanity meanings. Due to this fact, manufacturers always value the product quality, study and make an improvement to new models so that they become more beautiful and keep trust from customers.

Currently, while industrial woods are cheap and light, they are popular even more . However, the quality is not comparable to natural wood. Industrial wood is the miscellaneous wood or plywood and has limited models. However, these products are well processed and have various colors.  Industrial wood is not carved sophisticated patterns other than some swallow decoration. Unlike natural wood, industrial one does not form a smooth firm block or have no grains due to characteristics of this material.  They are covered with a powder glue and sprayed paint so they easily get damaged and worn. As for natural wood, grains run along from the front to the side and to the back to form a firm block. Grains intertwine naturally and tend to be differentiated from industrial wood. Thus, natural wood are the favorite of connoisseurs.

Thuy Lan was acknowledged as the art carpentry village in 2007. While the craft village is busy with the career all year round, artisans never halt their farm work and make sure the growing schedule is on track. Each year, yields of rice in the village always reach about 12 tons per hectare. The winter crop of the village accounts for 80% of the area that cultivates 2 rice seasons. The village also have the most winter crop seasons in the district.