Preserving the century-old craft of basket weaving.

Nestled beside a tranquil canal, the My I hamlet (Phuoc Long commune) basket weaving village has endured for over a century. In 2009, it was recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as a traditional basket weaving village. Despite the many changes in life, the people here have persistently "kept the flame alive," viewing basket weaving not only as a livelihood but also as a source of pride, a connecting thread between the past and present, and a hope for the future, contributing to preserving the soul of their homeland amidst the flow of integration.

• "The village of rice dumplings" keeps the craft alive.
• Deeply committed to traditional crafts.
• A century of keeping the flame of traditional crafts alive.

A profession passed down from father to son.

For generations, the lush green bamboo groves surrounding the houses have been the source of raw materials for the people of My I hamlet to weave rustic items such as baskets, trays, and sieves. The rustling of the bamboo in the wind and the clicking sound of the woven bamboo strips have become familiar sounds in the daily lives of every family here.

In 2009, the My I hamlet's rattan weaving village was recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as a traditional rattan weaving village.

Born and raised in that environment, most children learn weaving from a very young age. When their hands are still clumsy, they are guided through simple steps. As they grow older, their skills improve, and they can complete products on their own.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue, who has been involved in the basket weaving craft for nearly 30 years, shared: “My family has three generations in this profession. The adults do the difficult tasks, while the children learn. A skilled worker can earn about 100,000 VND per day weaving baskets for processing. Although not much, it's regular and enough to help the family have a stable life.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue teaches her grandchild how to weave a basket.

Currently, nearly 90 households in My I hamlet are engaged in the craft of bamboo weaving, employing approximately 200 workers. To ensure a steady supply of raw materials, the residents have proactively planted over 13 hectares of bamboo. In recent years, the people have not only maintained traditional products but also improved techniques, diversified designs, and focused on creating fine art handicrafts . From the skillful hands of the artisans, many new products have been created, catering to customer tastes and sold at tourist destinations as souvenirs for visitors.

Mr. Pham Van Dat, a resident of My I hamlet's traditional basket weaving village, shared: "Previously, we mainly wove baskets, trays, and other similar items... Now we add other handicrafts, but traditional products are still maintained to serve agricultural production. Moreover, they are the roots and soul of this century-old craft village."

A new direction for traditional craft villages.

The development of modern industry and the use of plastic and metal products have somewhat narrowed the market for traditional woven products. In response to this situation, the local government has made efforts to support the My I hamlet's woven craft village in finding new directions for sustainable development. Specifically, they have proactively connected with product promotion programs, gradually built a brand, and aimed to integrate with community tourism.

Mr. Doan Van Gia, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuoc Long commune, said: “We are stepping up propaganda efforts and creating all conditions to maintain the number of households and workers engaged in the craft. At the same time, we encourage the expansion of raw material areas to ensure that production needs are met. In the future, the locality will take advantage of connecting resources to establish a website to promote products associated with tourism, aiming to bring woven products closer to tourists.”

Thanks to the skillful hands of the artisans, many new products have been created, catering to customer tastes and being sold at tourist destinations.

Baskets, winnowing trays, and other similar items have been deeply ingrained in the memories and lives of many generations. The craft of weaving in My I hamlet not only provides income for local people but also holds significant cultural value. Preserving this traditional craft means that the people here are contributing to the preservation of their homeland's cultural heritage.

It is hoped that, with the support and attention of the local government, along with the love for the craft and creativity of the people, in the not too distant future, the weaving village will have a new direction of development that is in line with social trends and consumer tastes.

Doan Trang - Anh Tuan

Source: https://baocamau.vn/giu-nghe-dan-dat-tram-nam-tuoi-a122158.html