Binh An drum- making village

Binh An Drum Making Village located in Binh Lang Commune, Tan Tru District is where tourists can wallow in the endless green of the rice fields and the charming scenery of the countryside with buffalos and conical hats gleaming in the sun.
In some places, tourists can see many buffalo skin drying under the sun. Those are used to make drum skins, which are commonly known as drum heads and refer to the membrane stretched across one or both open ends of a drum to produce sound.According to a local seasoned artisan, the craft first appeared at the village 100 years ago. A fish sauce vendor once fished many buffalo skins out of a river which were tossed away by hunters. With a habit of covering milk cans with toad skins as toys for children, the fellow dried the skins and stretched them into wooden buckets that are described as hoop of drums.

The vendor spent much time discovering techniques to make a good sound and eventually became the founder of the village’s craft.
Vietnamese lion dance troupes bring drums of Binh An Village abroad for shows that have gained much attention. Sometimes, the quiet village becomes animated as traders from China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and even Europe come to the village and order drums.
Although the craft is in vogue at the village, Men worries that imported drums of high-tech development will make people forget the handmade ones. They said the craft required not only skills but also a profound enthusiasm while many young people think of the craft as a normal way to earn money only.
To preserve the craft as well as the indigenous cultural feature, Men decided to establish a drum club to make high-quality drums for foreign traders. Local artisans also receive help from local authorities to develop the craft and promote it to tourists who can learn how to make a drum. Each drum is a work of art, made with dexterity, meticulousness, deep passion and diligence.