Besides its practical use, the Ngơm Thung basket is now also a souvenir product that contributes to the development of local tourism , and is promoted at many major events inside and outside the province.
Mr. Rinh with some beautiful products that he has recently learned about and created. Photo: Phuong Duyen.
Artisan Rinh recounts that he learned to weave baskets at the age of 12-13 thanks to his uncle's teaching. The most difficult step is splitting the bamboo strips, which requires great skill and meticulousness to ensure that every strip is uniform.
The patterns on the baskets are common patterns found on traditional brocade fabrics, and one must also master the technique of combining each strand of bamboo to create shapes such as the eight-sided sun, rhombus, and border designs.
Moreover, baskets come in a wide variety of styles, some with lids, some without. Some types appear to have no visible opening at first glance because the outside is completely woven, but in reality, the opening is "designed" to fit snugly against the wearer's back, perfectly protecting the contents inside.
Notably, Ngơm Thung village is famous for its double-layered baskets, designed to increase durability. The inner layer is made of very thin, smaller bamboo strips than the outer layer and has no patterns; these two layers are pressed tightly together, so close that you have to look closely to notice the difference.
Artisan Rinh cherishes a deep love for his people's traditional craft. Photo: Phuong Duyen
Currently, almost every household in the village, with over 240 members, knows how to weave baskets and also creates other tourism products such as models of communal houses and stilt houses.
Rinh, however, was not satisfied and wanted to create even more unique and eye-catching products.
That's why he's recently been learning and experimenting with knitting many more exquisite designs of vases, trays, storage boxes, backpacks, and more.
Holding up one of the newly launched dried flower vase designs, Mr. Rinh said that this one was inspired by… the fish baskets that the Jrai people often wear on their hips when wading through rice fields.
The colors are also very "organic," drawing orange from forest tree bark and green from vegetable leaves. Or consider the round box with a lid that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand, beautifully patterned, and suitable for storing jewelry or small items.
Artisan Rinh shared that orders from within and outside the province help his family "live comfortably" thanks to the weaving craft. In months with many orders, he earns more than 10 million VND in addition to his income from farming; otherwise, the average is 5-6 million VND per month.
Now, his two eldest children are very skilled in the craft thanks to their father's guidance. With his high level of expertise, he has been invited by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to teach in several localities in the province.
Mr. Rinh instructs students on how to weave baskets at a cultural event. Photo: Phuong Duyen.
Having been in charge of inviting Mr. Rinh to participate in cultural events organized by the Pleiku Museum for many years, Ms. Nguyen Thi An - Deputy Head of the Professional Affairs Department (Pleiku Museum) also expressed her surprise at the creativity of this artist with a gentle smile.
"A few years ago, Mr. Rinh mainly made traditional products like baskets and communal houses. But recently, he has been diligently experimenting and creating new products that are very beautiful and unique."
In addition to various programs, both large and small, within the province, the Museum also invited him to participate in the First Cultural, Sports and Tourism Festival of Ethnic Groups in the Central Highlands region, held in Kon Tum province in 2023.
"It's no exaggeration to say that Mr. Rinh is a storyteller who can tell stories using bamboo sticks. From his hands, a corner of Jrai culture comes to life vividly," Ms. An said.
Having recently experienced weaving guided by Mr. Rinh at a program, Ms. Le Thi Kieu Dung (Pleiku ward) could hardly believe that she had managed to weave a small basket by hand in just two hours, which could be used to hold pens on her desk.
Regarding the making of the basket base and straps, Ms. Dung received assistance from Mr. Rinh. Ms. Dung commented: "Looking at these unique products with their beautiful decorative patterns, it's clear that Mr. Rinh is a person full of passion for traditional culture."
Mr. Rinh (fourth from the left) at the 16th International Trade Fair for Home Decor, Household Goods and Gifts in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Provided by the interviewee .
Most recently, in October 2025, Mr. Rinh was invited to participate in the 16th International Trade Fair for Home Decor, Household Goods and Gifts in Ho Chi Minh City.
At this event, in addition to traditional handcrafted woven products, the artisan also showcased his versatility by displaying a large-scale model of a traditional communal house along with many folk wooden statues.
He shared: "In the future, I will try to continue learning so I can create more new products and help more people learn about my ethnic culture."
Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/loi-nua-tre-ke-chuyen-buon-lang-post574200.html
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