The village is a joint project between Binh Duong province and Ho Chi Minh City National University, France’s Rhone Alpes Region and the Pilat Natural Park in France. It has an initial investment of nearly EUR675 million.

The ecological reserve in Binh Duong province has a collection of about 130 species of bamboo belonging to 17 varieties. Among them are rare and precious varieties from each region in the country such as ivory bamboo and yellow-striped bamboo.

The 10ha reserve also includes a museum made from bamboo displaying many kinds of tools, utensils and musical instruments made from bamboo, and a research area for scientists and students who want to learn about bamboo and how to grow and develop this tropical tree.

The Phu An Bamboo Village is likely to turn into an Asian bamboo reserve, said Dr. Gabriel de Taffin, the regional director of the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) in Southeast Asia.

The Equator Prize is an award for initiatives to conserve natural resources that meet the goals of poverty reduction, community development, gender equality, environmental protection in a sustainable manner.

The winners of the Equator Prize 2010 winners will be honoured at a major event at the American Museum of Natural History on September 20, 2010. Representatives from the winning communities will also take part in the Community Summit dialogue space, to be held in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly in New York.