This afternoon, I visited Thien Chi’s Employment Creation Program in Hàm Thuận Nam District. Rather than a formal factory the entire operation runs out of a single open-air workshop. Inside 17 rattan artisans and 2 bamboo workers operate side-by-side in a quiet and steady rhythm.
While Thien Chi’s microloans help local families fund essential agricultural costs like dragon fruit fertilizers. This workshop provides a predictable paycheck that gives families the financial security to cover public school fees and daily living expenses without being entirely dependent on a volatile harvest.
The workspace handles two distinct crafts: slicing raw rattan into diffuser sticks and assembling heavy bamboo hammock structures. Trying to sand one of the thick bamboo poles gave me an immediate appreciation for the intense physical effort required by these artisans. Beyond hammock stands the program is designed to produce bamboo bicycles, tables, chairs, and drinking cups with every finished piece sold directly through Mekong Quilts.
Chatting with the team brought the economic impact of the post-COVID landscape. When overseas exports stopped completely, Thien Chi could no longer sustain its international shipping operations. They had to make the difficult decision to close their second production site in Tánh Linh District which shrank their specialized bamboo team from eight workers down to the final two remaining today. The rattan side has faced similar pressure with a slowing demand that brings in only one or two major orders per year.
To survive these market shifts, the workshop has adapted into a more flexible operation; artisans are hired on a project-by-project basis to complete specific orders as they arrive. This allows them to secure vital income when available, while helping Thien Chi maintain its long-term relationships with international buyers. It is a simpler operation but this single outdoor room is exactly what keeps local livelihoods and traditional craftsmanship alive in Bình Thuận Province.