A century of mat weaving in Ca Hom - Ben Ba

The mat weaving village of Ca Hom - Ben Ba, Ham Tan commune, Tra Cu district (formerly Tra Vinh province), now part of Ham Giang commune (Vinh Long province), was established 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 Khmer people in the area.

From being woven only for home use and as gifts, thanks to their durable and beautiful quality, Ca Hom - Ben Ba mats became a commodity and famous throughout Southern Vietnam from the 1940s onwards. The unique feature of these mats is their delicate patterns and colors, which remain vibrant and do not break or fray even after 4-5 years of use. Artisans typically choose five main colors: white, red, blue, yellow, and purple, to create double-sided woven mats, showcasing their skill and high aesthetic value.

People are drying mats in front of the temple – this is a common sight whenever visiting the mat-making village of Ca Hom - Ben Ba. Photo: TIN HUY

In the 1970s, the craft village faced fierce competition from nylon mats. Around 1990, the weaving craft was in danger of disappearing due to a shortage of raw materials and slow innovation in designs. Hundreds of weavers abandoned their looms to seek a livelihood elsewhere. In this context, artisan Diep Thi Som persevered, creating and maintaining the product's position in the market.

Locals harvest reeds to supply mat-weaving households in Ca Hom. Photo: TIN HUY

In 2001, Ham Giang commune provided capital, looms, and encouraged the transfer of skills, creating momentum for the revival of the craft village. Currently, more than 450 households participate, with nearly 500 looms, providing employment for approximately 2,500 direct and indirect workers. Each year, the craft village supplies about 150,000 pairs of mats, with peak production reaching 1,000–1,200 pairs per day during Tet (Lunar New Year), generating hundreds of millions of dong in income. The entire commune currently has 37 hectares of sedge cultivation, providing a stable yield to support the craft.

However, the craft village also faces challenges: the area for growing rattan is shrinking, and the artisans are getting older. Preserving and developing this craft is not only about maintaining livelihoods, but also about preserving the cultural heritage closely linked to the lives of the Khmer people.

Currently, the entire commune has 37 hectares of land planted with rattan, providing a stable yield to support the farming industry. Photo: Contributor.

Photo: Contributor

The leaves will be dyed after being dried. Photo: Contributor.

Photo: Contributor

Photo: Contributor

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

Young artisan Tran Thi The shared that for her, mat weaving is not just a means of livelihood but also a memory and the soul of her homeland. The stable income from the craft helps her support her family and strengthens community bonds. She hopes that this traditional craft will be preserved so that future generations can be proud of their mat-weaving village.

Weaving mats provides women in the village with extra income during their free time. Photo: TIN HUY

Artisan Diep Thi Som stands beside her newly woven floral mat and pairs of Ca Hom mats recently completed by young artisan Tran Thi The. Photo: TIN HUY

The Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tra Vinh province (formerly Vinh Long province) awarded a certificate of commendation to artisan Diep Thi Som for "Having made significant contributions to the Ca Hom mat weaving craft of the Khmer people". Photo: TIN HUY

The Ca Hom – Ben Ba mat-making craft has become a marketable commodity and is famous throughout Southern Vietnam. On August 9, 2024, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to include the Ca Hom mat-making craft in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

TIN HUY – Collaborator

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