Bottles of Bau Da rice liquor are packaged

Under the certification, 53 businesses and households which are members of the association are permitted to use the “Bau Da wine” collective trademark which is illustrated with the images of the village entrance and a liquor brewing cauldron on which there are words “bd Ruou Bau Da”.

In addition, its members are also able to have their own brand names sealed with “Ruou Bau Da”, such as Ruou Bau Da Tam Huong or Ruou Bau Da Ngoc Huong.

Due to the dispute over the name in the past 10 years, the quality of Bau Da rice liquor hasn’t been given much attention. It is, thus, losing the competitiveness.

Bau Da liquor can be found everywhere, though technically speaking it can only come from a quiet little hamlet of Cu Lam in Nhon Loc village, which is located along the banks of Con River. However, many villagers said they almost sell no liquor or have to sell Bau Da liquor for cheap price.

Truong Thi Cuc, a resident of Cu Lam hamlet, said most businesses often buy fake “Bau Da wine” brewed everywhere and they couldn’t increase the price. The villagers expressed the hope that functional bodies need to issue regulations asking businesses to buy Bau Da rice liquor made in Cu Lam hamlet.

After the trademark of Bau Da rice liquor was recognized, the association is now able to build a set of regulations to monitor the quality, the use of trademark, the procedures, and other related issues.

“We are determined to improve the quality and design of Bau Da rice liquor, making it deserve its collective trademark,” said the association’s Chairman Le Quang Tam. “Measures will be implemented to enhance its competitiveness as well.”

Having its collective trademark protected means Bau Da rice liquor will be more “valuable”. The collective trademark for Bau Da rice liquor offers not only opportunities for Bau Da wine craft village but grounds to develop collective trademarks for other local specialties.

• Hien Mai