One hundred years of Ca Hom - Ben Ba mat making

Ca Hom - Ben Ba mat weaving village, Ham Tan commune, Tra Cu district (formerly Tra Vinh province), now Ham Giang commune (Vinh Long province) was formed in the late 19th century. After more than 100 years of ups and downs, this traditional craft is still preserved and developed by generations of local Khmer people.

From being woven only for home use and as gifts, thanks to its durable quality, since the 1940s, Ca Hom - Ben Ba mats have become a commodity and are famous throughout the South. The unique feature of the mats is their delicate patterns and colors, which do not fade or break after 4 - 5 years of use. Artisans often choose 5 main colors: white, red, blue, yellow, purple to create 2-sided woven flower mats, with high ingenuity and aesthetics.

People drying mats in front of the temple yard - this image is often seen when visiting the Ca Hom - Ben Ba mat craft village. Photo: TIN HUY

In the 1970s, the craft village faced fierce competition from nylon mats. By around 1990, the weaving profession was facing the risk of extinction due to lack of raw materials and slow innovation in designs. Hundreds of workers abandoned their looms to make a living far away. In this context, artisan Diep Thi Som still persevered and innovated, helping her products maintain their position in the market.

People harvest bamboo to supply to Ca Hom mat weaving households. Photo: TIN HUY

In 2001, Ham Giang commune provided capital, weaving frames and encouraged the passing on of the craft, creating momentum for the craft village to revive. Currently, there are more than 450 participating households, nearly 500 weaving frames, creating jobs for about 2,500 direct and indirect workers. Each year, the craft village supplies about 150,000 pairs of mats, with peak Tet season reaching 1,000-1,200 pairs/day, bringing in hundreds of millions of dong in income. The whole commune currently has 37 hectares of bamboo, with stable output to sustain the craft.

However, the craft village also faces challenges: the area for growing bamboo is shrinking, and artisans are getting older. Preservation and development is not only to maintain livelihoods, but also to preserve the cultural features closely associated with the lives of the Khmer people.

Currently, the whole commune has 37 hectares of lime trees, with stable output to support the profession. Photo: Contributor

Photo: Contributor

After drying, the slices will be dyed. Photo: Contributor

Photo: Contributor

Photo: Contributor

Young artisan Tran Thi The said that the craft of weaving Ca Hom mats has been with her since childhood. Photo: TIN HUY

Young artisan Tran Thi The shared that for her, mat weaving is not only a way of life but also a memory and a soul of her hometown. The stable income from the job helps her support her family and connect the village. She hopes that the traditional craft will be preserved so that future generations can be proud of their hometown mat village.

Mat weaving helps women in the village earn extra income in their spare time. Photo: TIN HUY

Artisan Diep Thi Som with her newly woven flower mat and Ca Hom mats that young artisan Tran Thi The has just completed. Photo: TIN HUY

The Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tra Vinh province, now Vinh Long province, awarded a certificate of merit to artisan Diep Thi Som for "Having many contributions to the Khmer people's Ca Hom mat craft". Photo: TIN HUY

Ca Hom – Ben Ba mats have become a commodity and are famous throughout the South. On August 9, 2024, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to include Ca Hom mat making in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

TIN HUY - Contributor

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tram-nam-nghe-chieu-ca-hom-ben-ba-post811329.html