Cham Island introduces new crafts

The ancient city of Hoi An has introduced new craft products made from Firmiana colorata, commonly known as the Chinese parasol tree, a big tree in Cham Island.

Different products have been made by islanders for years in serving tourists.

Local people produce hammock from tree bark, oil, cake, skin cream and lipstick.

The city has planned to restore the tree and develop craft industry in connection with tourism in Cham Island and Hoi An city.

Early this year, three Firmiana colorata trees, which started growing in the island 200 years ago, were recognised as Heritage Trees by the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment.

Cham Island, which was recognised as a world biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2009, hosts around 100,000 tourists annually, of which 10 percent are foreigners.

The island, 20km off the coast of Hoi An, has seen the first local in Viet Nam banning the use of plastic bags and promoting the 3-R (reduce, reuse and recycle) programmes since 2011.