Bringing baskets from the village to the market.

Amidst the fast-paced modern life and increasingly developed socio-economic conditions, in Thong Nhat Hamlet 12, Phuoc Son Commune, Dong Nai Province, home to 222 S'tieng ethnic minority households, the image of the carrying basket remains present in every home. It is an important item closely associated with each family. Moreover, the carrying basket is a cultural symbol and a source of pride for the S'tieng people.

Elderly, experienced basket weavers in Thong Nhat village, Phuoc Son commune, are passing on their skills to the next generation. Photo: Quang Minh

Currently, the villagers are establishing a Cooperative for Basket Production. This activity aims to preserve the weaving craft, maintain the ethnic cultural identity, and at the same time create jobs and increase income for the people.

Production organization

For over six months, on dry afternoons, the villagers of Hamlet 12, Thong Nhat Commune, have gathered at the home of Mr. Dieu Mai or Ms. Thi Sen to weave baskets. Ms. Sen is the Vice Head of the Women's Association in the hamlet and is deeply committed to preserving cultural identity and improving the material lives of the villagers. Mr. Dieu Mai is a respected figure with extensive experience in basket weaving.

“Phuoc Son is a commune with a large geographical area, home to many ethnic groups, and diverse and unique cultural identities. Therefore, in the future, the commune will also focus on developing tourism in the direction of experiencing traditional craft villages, so that the cultural values ​​of the people will create economic value. From there, culture will be preserved and the economy will be developed, including the weaving craft and basket products.”

Mr. Luc Duc Lap, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuoc Son Commune, Dong Nai Province

Ms. Sen said: “Previously, people mainly wove baskets for use as essential items in daily life such as storing rice, firewood, bamboo shoots, vegetables... However, realizing that producing baskets as a marketable product, especially as souvenirs for tourists , is feasible, I am preparing the conditions to advise the People's Committee of the commune to establish a cooperative for producing baskets and other items made from bamboo and rattan.”

To organize the production, Ms. Sen held meetings and discussions with skilled basket weavers in the village, brainstorming solutions and assigning tasks for implementation. Accordingly, every day, strong men would go to the fields to find and cut bamboo to make the strips. Those skilled in weaving baskets were also responsible for teaching their craft to family members and young people in the village. Organizing the basket weaving in a centralized manner aimed to create a positive and joyful working atmosphere, thereby attracting everyone's attention and helping to rekindle love for this traditional craft, which is at risk of disappearing.

Mr. Dieu Mai shared: “To have a durable and beautiful basket, choosing the right bamboo for the slats is extremely important. You should choose bamboo with straight joints, about two years old. When cut into slats, it will be flexible, tough, durable, strong, and resistant to insect infestation. When I go to cut bamboo, I have to share my experience in selecting each tree. If we cut a tree that is too young or too old, it will be a waste, especially since the supply of raw materials is limited.”

Traditional baskets are usually woven from rattan, bamboo, or reeds, retaining their natural colors. However, nowadays we also create many products with beautiful colors by dyeing the bamboo strips in shades of green, red, brown, yellow, and purple. The patterns are creatively designed to depict meaningful images associated with life, such as rivers, mountains, fields, and villages. This innovation and creativity makes the basket both traditional and modern.

Ms. THI SEN, Village 12 Thong Nhat, Phuoc Son Commune, Dong Nai Province

Ms. Thi Linh, a woman with extensive knowledge and experience and a core member of the basket weaving community, shared: "The number of skilled elderly weavers is dwindling, and consequently, fewer people are interested in the basket weaving craft. I'm very happy that we've now gathered about 20 key individuals in the village who are directly involved in production."

To weave a complete basket, besides sourcing and preparing the materials, the weaving time is at least a day or more, depending on the size. Baskets can be woven in many patterns, with single or double strips, loosely or densely woven, large or small. Depending on the needs of the user or the customer, people will create many different designs. In addition to traditional patterns and colors, people now create many innovative and modern patterns, making the baskets brighter and more eye-catching, thus making them easier to sell.

Consumption link

Ms. Sen said: "To achieve the goal of making basket products a marketable item, establishing a regular and professional production industry, and helping households develop economically, the people are currently proactively focusing on production. Each month, the cooperative sets specific targets for quantity and variety. Thanks to this, they have both products to display and are ready to meet customer demand."

Recently, taking advantage of workshops and exhibitions related to the cultural products of the S'tieng people, members have actively promoted and introduced their production model to seek customers and partners. On the other hand, each individual in the cooperative, especially the younger members who know how to use Zalo, Facebook, and TikTok, will be responsible for promoting their own and the collective's products on social media platforms to reach a wider audience. In the future, when the commune officially establishes the cooperative, the people will implement the planting of bamboo, rattan, and other similar materials to ensure an abundant supply of raw materials, contributing to the sustainable development of this model and industry.

Mr. Luc Duc Lap, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuoc Son commune, said: “The basket weaving of the S'tieng ethnic people in Phuoc Son commune is not only a traditional cultural feature but also creates opportunities for economic development. This issue has long been a concern of the commune's leaders. Currently, we have directed the specialized department to coordinate with the people to complete the conditions and procedures to establish a production cooperative. The commune will be responsible for coordinating with units and agencies to support the people in organizing production to ensure scientific efficiency and high productivity. At the same time, we will connect with businesses inside and outside the province to sell the products.”

Quang Minh

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202511/dua-gui-tu-thon-ra-thi-truong-df931dd/