Grass weaving craft in Luu Thuong village

VHO - There are heritages that are not in museums, but exist in everyday life. The craft of weaving sedge in Luu Thuong village, Phuong Duc commune (Hanoi) is a living proof. Nearly 400 years of development, the craft is not only a source of livelihood but also a bridge between the past and the present. Each strand of grass, each weaving line contains the wisdom, passion and patience of many generations, turning simple objects into vivid stories about the quintessence of Vietnamese handicrafts.

Ms. Dang Kim Theu with a conical hat made from te grass, combining traditional essence and modern creativity.

From ordinary plants to cultural heritage

Legend has it that in 1683, Mrs. Nguyen Thao Lam - a native of Luu Thuong - brought the sedge plant to the village. With perseverance and creativity, she turned the grass growing along the river into a material for weaving, creating essential items for daily life. From her skillful hands and folk wisdom, the sedge weaving craft sprouted, took root in the community, and then spread throughout Luu Thuong village and surrounding areas.

The people of Luu Thuong have a saying: "To make sedge, you must love the sun and the wind." Indeed, the process of making sedge is an art that requires meticulousness and patience. After purchasing sedge, it must be dried in at least three consecutive sunny days to achieve the desired crispness, toughness and color. Then, the craftsman skillfully splits the sedge into two, three or four parts depending on the type of product. The sedge fibers must be of the same color and quality to create products that meet quality standards.

After weaving, the product is smoked with sulfur, dipped in oil, dried or dried, then dipped in oil many times to keep the color beautiful and durable. From the rustic grass fibers, the craftsmen have turned them into baskets, trays, trays, decorations, and even sophisticated works of art...

In particular, the craft of weaving sedge is not limited by age or gender. Elderly people nearly a hundred years old still work hard with the sedge; children as young as six or seven are taught how to weave basic patterns. The craft has become a link between generations, passing on not only techniques but also pride in a heritage.

Products from sedge of Luu Thuong craft village

A typical example of the combination of tradition and modern creativity is the family of Ms. Dang Kim Theu, 41 years old, owner of An Phu Bamboo and Rattan, which has a tradition of more than 40 years of making the craft. Sharing about the conical hat made of te grass that she made herself, Ms. Theu excitedly said: “The idea originated from the traditional conical hat, a symbol of the beauty of Vietnamese women in the Northern Delta, but was given a new soul by the skillful hands of the craftsmen of Luu Thuong village”.

The hat is meticulously woven, alternating pure white and luxurious brown, creating a harmonious, gentle yet elegant look. In the middle is a five-pointed golden star, surrounded by Dong Son bronze drum motifs, reminding of the origin of Vietnamese culture. The purple hat strap symbolizes love for the homeland and country, all of which are the passion that Ms. Theu put into the product.

“We want to preserve traditional values, but still create products that suit modern tastes. Each hat is both an object and a story about history, culture and love for the homeland and country,” Ms. Theu said.

Mr. Manh and his wife, Ms. Nhu, at the livestream class, where they learned how to promote craft village products using digital technology.

Craft villages in modern life

Entering the period of renovation, especially since the 1990s, Luu Thuong craft village began to develop strongly. The market opened, the demand for handicraft products increased, bringing sedge products to Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Taiwan... The sedge weaving profession has created jobs, helped many families escape poverty, and built prosperous communities on the foundation of their ancestors' heritage.

Since the beginning of July 2025, every weekend, the headquarters of the People's Committee of Phuong Duc commune has been filled with the cheerful laughter of farmers. That bustling atmosphere is the classes on video recording, livestreaming sales, and writing content using AI technology for people in traditional craft villages. Everyone has become a "digital content creator", confidently speaking to thousands of viewers to introduce their hometown products.

A typical example is the family of Mr. Manh and Ms. Nhu. After finishing school, they organized the first livestream session, telling a simple story about the hometown's bamboo and rattan weaving profession and introducing products such as flower baskets, fruit baskets, garlic hanging baskets, etc. The number of viewers gradually increased from a few dozen to a few hundred.

“Thanks to the dedicated guidance of the local government and support team, my family in particular and the craft village people in general have had a clearer direction in developing business models on e-commerce platforms. The family's workshop revenue has increased by 20-30% after applying technology,” they excitedly said.

Not only production, Luu Thuong is also oriented to become a unique cultural and tourist destination. Visitors come here to shop for products, experience the production process, and directly try weaving under the guidance of artisans. These experiences help them understand more deeply the quintessence of Vietnamese handicrafts, while also arousing their respect for their ancestors' cultural heritage.

Today, Luu Thuong is a testament to the connection between tradition and modernity. The craft of weaving sedge still retains its “soul”, but at the same time knows how to adapt to the market, create new designs, combine promotional technology and expand export markets. The enduring presence of the craft not only demonstrates the courage and responsibility of the previous generation, but is also a valuable asset passed on to the next generation.

The initiator and companion of the livestream classes, Mr. Le Van Binh - Secretary of the Party Committee of Phuong Duc commune affirmed: "When traditional quintessence blends with the creative thinking of young people, craft villages will create new values, meeting domestic needs and reaching out to the international market. This helps to break the old ways, effectively exploit resources, improve designs and increase product value. This is an important stepping stone for craft villages to not only preserve cultural heritage but also affirm their brands on the global craft map."

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/nghe-dan-co-te-lang-luu-thuong-168718.html