Traditional craft villages are resuming production.

The Kim Bong sedge mat weaving village has resumed production. In the photo: Ms. Phan Thi My (left) and Ms. Phan Thi Nhu are weaving mats. Photo: QUANG VIET

Restoring operations

In December 2024, the Kim Bong sedge mat weaving craft (formerly Cam Kim commune, now Hoi An ward) was recognized as a traditional craft by relevant authorities. Local government has implemented numerous activities to preserve the traditional craft in conjunction with tourism . As a result, the village's products have flourished, its reputation has spread, and many tours bring domestic and international tourists to visit, explore, and experience the local culture. However, the historic floods at the end of October have left the craft village in a state of decline as the mat weaving looms and sedge materials were damaged.

Taking advantage of the favorable weather in recent days, artisans and weavers in the craft village have begun restoring production. The sedge is being split, dried, and dyed; the mat weaving looms are being redesigned.

According to Ms. Phan Thi My, a villager involved in the craft, to prepare for the restoration of the craft, she and her sister, Phan Thi Nhu, traveled throughout Nam Phuoc, Duy Nghia, Dien Ban, and other areas to buy sedge materials.

The woven mats come in three sizes: large bed mats, table mats, and chair mats, priced at 300,000 VND/piece, 150,000 VND/piece, and 100,000 VND/piece respectively. Besides selling mats, Ms. My also weaves mats for tourists to enjoy as a unique experience.

"Mat weaving brings more joy than money because it allows us to be connected to the craft. Weaving mats is about preserving the spiritual values we have cultivated since our youth," said Mrs. My.

In the Dong Ha residential area, there are many traditional mat weaving establishments that sell mats for personal consumption and to serve tourists. Photo: QUANG VIET

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam, head of the Dong Ha residential group, there are currently about 10 sedge mat weaving establishments in the area. Since being linked to tourism, the artisans have found added joy in introducing the village's traditional craft to tourists from all over, who are very interested in discovering the process from harvesting sedge to weaving the finished mat.

The traditional mat weaving craft, along with the Kim Bong carpentry village, is the culmination of the talent of the village artisans. With a history of formation and preservation spanning hundreds of years, these craft villages are places where the traditional values, customs, and practices of the region converge.

"We hope that tourism organizations will continue to expand connections to bring more domestic and international tourists to visit and learn about the Kim Bong sedge mat weaving village. As the craft grows stronger, the people will have more stable livelihoods and the cultural values of the region will be further spread," Mr. Tam said.

Supporting traditional craft villages

These days, Thanh Ha pottery village (Hoi An Tay ward) is once again bustling with visitors exploring and shopping for products.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy (Nam Dieu residential area, Hoi An Tay ward) said that she produces 50 clay figurines of the 12 zodiac animals every day. After drying them, she fires them in a kiln for about a day and a night before selling them to customers.

Customers who buy a complete set of 12 zodiac figurines can get them for 60,000 VND; individual items cost 10,000 VND each. To facilitate sales, Ms. Thuy has partnered with souvenir shops in the Old Quarter to sell her products.

“Besides producing clay figurines, which are easy to make, we also invest in the long term, focusing on more labor-intensive products like jars, statues, and lanterns. The recent historic flood caused my family to lose hundreds of millions of dong. Hopefully, after recovery, the craft village will still be an attractive destination so that pottery makers can soon stabilize their lives again,” said Mrs. Thuy.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy (second from the right) and the clay figurines from the Thanh Ha pottery craft. Photo: QUANG VIET

Da Nang city boasts a rich and diverse array of traditional craft villages engaged in production and business activities, such as vegetable farming, kumquat cultivation, rattan and bamboo weaving, bronze casting, brocade weaving, and pastry making.

The historic floods at the end of October caused severe damage to many traditional craft villages, resulting in losses of infrastructure, machinery, equipment, and raw materials, and disrupting production and business chains.

Mr. Dinh Van Phuc, Deputy Director of the Center for Industrial Promotion and Trade Promotion (Department of Industry and Trade of the city), said that after reviewing and compiling specific damage statistics, in upcoming industrial promotion programs from central and city budgets, the unit will pay attention to production facilities in craft villages that have suffered damage to machinery, equipment, technology, and techniques in order to provide appropriate support, thereby helping these facilities stabilize production and business, expand markets, and aim for export to increase production value and bring about economic efficiency.

Following the floods, production facilities and craft villages have been working urgently to repair the damage, reconnect with suppliers, and secure raw materials to rebuild production and business. A new rhythm of life has begun in these craft villages, where the finest products and goods, crafted by skilled artisans and craftsmen, reach all regions of the country and conquer international markets.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/lang-nghe-khoi-phuc-san-xuat-3314462.html