Straw – a once-forgotten material, used to be piled high in mounds behind houses by the people of Nghia Do after each harvest, saving it for the cold winter days. It was used for kindling, roofing buffalo sheds, or providing shade for livestock and poultry… But then, with the advent of modern life, gas stoves replaced wood-burning ones, and straw was gradually pushed out of daily life, becoming agricultural waste that few cared about. However, it was in this quietude that the people of Nghia Do, especially the artisans, the elderly women, and the younger generation who cherish traditional culture, conceived a different idea: Why not revive straw, why not let those golden strands continue to tell new stories?
We visited Mrs. Truong Thi Gao's house in Nam Ria village, Nghia Do commune - a woman who has been passed down the tradition of making handcrafted household items from straw.
Inside her wooden house, Mrs. Gạo nimbly weaves straw into pretty little cushions. She shared, “Before, I only wove straw to tie up chickens or make lids for leftover rice… All the items made from straw were taught to me by my grandmother and mother. But once, seeing people decorating restaurants with straw, I thought: Why can't I create something more beautiful from what's connected to my childhood?”
From egg baskets to straw coasters, each product tells a story. Through the hands of Mrs. Gạo and the other women in the village, the straw is rolled, braided, and bent… Each product takes from a few hours to a few days to complete, representing not only hard work but also the memories, dedication, and love for their homeland of the Tay and Dao ethnic women here.
Besides making household products, the people of Nghia Do also "tell stories" through decorative items made from straw – decorating corners of houses, cafes, homestays, or display booths at fairs.
In a small corner of the stilt house, the horses and five-pointed stars made from straw are soft and captivating… Giant bundles of straw, resembling hats, caps, and umbrellas, add beauty and a sense of intimacy to the space. Straw is contributing to creating a green, friendly living space, imbued with the local spirit and unique character of Nghia Do.
The distinctive and impressive products of the straw recycling group in Nghia Do include egg baskets, bracelets, and even cute and adorable animal figures made from shimmering golden straw fibers.
Kim Thi Mai, who weaves these egg baskets, said: "Straw is soft, but when woven together it becomes very strong. By lining it with a thick layer of straw inside, it can hold eggs beautifully and safely."
These straw-yellow egg baskets are both practical and seem to carry the scent of the countryside. Kim Thi Mai's handicraft weaving group has brought these products to social media, local markets, and attracted many orders from organic produce stores and eco-friendly cafes. More importantly, all the straw products have spread the message of green living, reducing plastic waste, and preserving local identity.
"We're not just selling products; we want to tell the story of the rice paddies, of the women in the highlands who diligently preserve traditional crafts and innovate to promote traditional cultural values. Straw is the connecting thread," added Ms. Mai.
Nghia Do is becoming more beautiful and greener thanks to its simple things. Nghia Do today is undergoing a transformation, not only thanks to clean concrete roads and modern schools, but also to the changes in people's awareness of the living environment and local cultural values. With the support of the commune government and sustainable development models, people are trained in handicraft techniques and learn how to design products to meet market demands. Women's and youth groups actively organize weekend green markets, where products made from straw create a highlight that attracts customers.
“Every harvest season, I no longer see straw being wasted by burning. Instead, there are afternoons when the whole village sits together weaving, children making crowns from straw, crafting pretty bracelets, and creating adorable animals they like from golden straw strands… The atmosphere of the countryside comes alive with beautiful memories,” shared Ms. Mai.
The rebirth of straw is also a way to preserve the soul of the countryside. In those golden straws, there is the cheerful laughter of children, the familiar smell of kitchen smoke, and the aspiration to beautify life in its own unique, simple, enduring, and profound way.
Perhaps elsewhere, recycling agricultural by-products is commonplace. But in Nghia Do, where every household still preserves traditional ways of life, the regeneration of straw is not just an environmental issue. It's a story of love for culture, the quiet creativity of people who appreciate beauty in the smallest things. The journey for straw to become green products in the small corners of living rooms, cafes, and windowsills... to transform Nghia Do into a unique eco -tourism destination in Lao Cai still requires time. But each strand of straw, each clump of rice stalk, tells a story – the story of a land changing with the hands and hearts of its local people.
Amidst the rapid changes of modern life, things that seemed forgotten are quietly reviving – like golden straw under the sun. In Nghia Do, this journey of rebirth not only beautifies the space but also nurtures beautiful stories – about people, about memories, and about love for their homeland.
Presented by: Bich Hue
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/rom-vang-ke-chuyen-tai-sinh-post648026.html
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