After many years of working in the South, Ms. Thuy returned to hometown to start a business producing clean incense. This is a kind of Vietnam’s cinnamon incense, with the dream of exporting abroad.
Born and raised in Quang Ngai province, Ms. Thuy chose cinnamon, a specialty tree of Tra Bong district, as the foundation for her startup. She shared: “My childhood was closely tied to cinnamon trees, so I have a special love for them. It’s a magical tree, with a rough outer bark but a spicy, fragrant, and sweet interior.”
Vietnam cinnamon incense
By love for her homeland, Ms. Thuy and her family turned natural cinnamon bark into high-quality incense sticks. Their incense is popular on the family altars of Vietnamese households, under the brand name Van Thanh cinnamon incense.
Vietnamese cinnamon is famous for its distinct aroma and various uses in daily life. In addition, it also plays an important role in local agriculture in Tra Bong. Cinnamon is a valuable raw material for many traditional products, including cinnamon incense.
“Cinnamon is more than just a crop. It is a cultural and traditional symbol for the Cor ethnic people in Tra Bong. However, Tra Bong cinnamon cultivation is currently declining due to unstable prices. I hope I can contribute in a small way by creating a stable buying source for the local people,” said Ms. Thuy.
Leaving Binh Duong province to return to her birthplace and start a business using local resources was not easy. The traditional cinnamon incense production process is labor-intensive and time-consuming. The market currently favors cheap incense.
In the meanwhile, cinnamon incense sticks have higher production costs. This will pose a significant challenge for a new brand like Van Thanh Cinnamon Incense. However, with creativity and determination, Ms. Thuy has found ways to improve the production process by applying new technology and enhancing product quality.
Vietnamese cinnamon incense sticks
Despite many challenges, Vietnam’s cinnamon incense has gradually gained attention and acceptance in the market. Several foreign partners have expressed interest in importing her cinnamon incense to international markets.
To date, the Van Thanh incense workshop has created jobs for 20 local workers, helping improve income levels for people in rural areas. Most workers at the facility are middle-aged women or individuals who cannot leave their homes to work in industrial zones or big cities.
Ms. Mai (57 years old), one of the first workers at the workshop, said: “I’m older now, and it’s hard to find a job in industrial companies. Since Ms. Thuy opened this incense workshop, we’ve had stable employment. Life has become much more comfortable.”
Vietnamese cinnamon incense factory
In an interview, Ms. Thuy shared: “For many years, I’ve always wanted to do something meaningful for my hometown. On average, I purchase about 4 tons of dried cinnamon per month from local farmers at 45,000 VND per kilogram. If our cinnamon incense gains more market recognition, and ideally reaches international markets, it will help expand sales for Cor people’s cinnamon trees in Tra Bong district.”
A local official shared: “The entire district has about 5,300 hectares of cinnamon. For many years, the district has regularly connected farmers with businesses to purchase cinnamon bark and secure stable markets. I am aware of Thuy’s clean incense workshop using Tra Bong cinnamon bark. The district strongly supports and encourages businesses that buy cinnamon from farmers, helping increase the value of this traditional crop.”
Vietnamese source: https://laodong.vn/kinh-doanh/nhang-sach-tu-cay-que-o-quang-ngai-va-khat-vong-xuat-ngoai-1385308.ldo