The village of Phu An, located north of Saigon, was heavily bombed during the Viet Nam War. Làng tre Phú An (Bamboo Village of Phu An) has created an Eco-Museum of Bamboo and Botanical Conservatory with the aim of conserving biodiversity, protecting the region's bamboo forests, andhelping to "transform the iron triangle into a green triangle." The initiative carries out conservation activities to protect and restore Viet Nam's bamboo, including endangered species from across the country. More than 350 varieties of bamboo are stored in its museum and botanical conservatory.
This pioneering project has brought tangible economic rewards to the Phu An community, whose members are trained in the production of artisanal bamboo handicrafts. A total of 3,000 families have benefitted from the Bamboo Village, and out-migration from the area to urban centres has reduced significantly. |