The basket weaving village in Tan Hoi

For over half a century, in Chi Thanh hamlet, Tan Hoi commune (An Giang province), the craft of weaving bamboo baskets has been an integral part of the lives of the local people, intertwined with their ups and downs. Although it doesn't bring high profits, the villagers still maintain the craft, both to supplement their income and to preserve the cultural beauty of this riverside region.

Mr. Nguyen Van Sang (57 years old), residing in Chi Thanh hamlet, Tan Hoi commune ( An Giang province), is the third generation to continue the craft of weaving bamboo baskets.

A bamboo basket, woven in various sizes, is a familiar item in the Southwest of Vietnam, used to hold vegetables, fruits, shrimp, fish, etc., and is closely associated with the trading activities along the waterways.

Along the canal bank in Chi Thanh hamlet, Tan Hoi commune, for decades, the sight of diligent hands splitting bamboo, shaping strips, and weaving durable and beautiful baskets has become a familiar scene.

In the basket-weaving hamlet of Chi Thanh, Tan Hoi commune, every household has about a dozen baskets.

No one remembers exactly when the craft originated, only that it existed before 1975. Mr. Nguyen Van Sang (57 years old) recounted: “I am the third generation to continue this craft from my grandparents. I learned to weave when I was just over 10 years old, doing it to make a living. Now that I'm older, I do it out of passion and to generate extra income during the off-season.”

Skilled artisans with nimble hands move swiftly in each knitting motion.

Mr. Tra Van Tam (83 years old) misses his job if he doesn't work every day.

For Mr. Tra Van Tam (83 years old), the craft came about by chance. In 1968, he was taught the craft of weaving baskets, and then he passed it on to his neighbors. Initially, only a few households did it, but later it spread, and the whole village knew the craft. To this day, he still diligently makes basket handles, about 40 pairs a day, earning 60,000 dong. He smiles and says, "After more than 50 years of dedication, I miss the craft if I don't work on any given day."

The craftsman tightened the lead wire to secure the basket handle.

Mr. Pham Van Luong, Secretary of the Party Branch of Chi Thanh hamlet, said that during its heyday, the entire hamlet had 200 households engaged in the craft, but now only 62 remain. “Those who work in basket weaving earn only about 100,000 VND per day, but the advantage is that the elderly and children can all do it, taking advantage of their free time during the agricultural off-season to earn extra income. Many households live off this craft; they aren't rich, but they have enough to eat, and importantly, the people cherish and are attached to the craft,” Mr. Luong said.

The craft of weaving bamboo baskets requires patience and meticulous attention to detail at every stage. The products are priced at 40,000 - 50,000 VND per piece, depending on size. Many people do this job not only for the income but also for the spiritual value it brings.

Ms. Pham Thi My Trinh has been involved in the craft for nearly 30 years, ever since she married into a family in the basket-weaving village. Ms. Trinh shared: “The hardest part is splitting the bamboo strips; they have to be even and thin to fit together. The strips are very thin, so I have to put inner tubing in my hands to avoid cutting them.” As she spoke, her hands moved swiftly, each strip meticulously shaped, as if pouring all her heart and soul into the product.

With skill and care, you can split bamboo strips without cutting your fingers.

Currently, the craft of weaving bamboo baskets in Chi Thanh hamlet operates in a specialized manner, with each worker handling a specific stage of the process. The products are collected at large warehouses for distribution to many places. Despite large-scale production, the villagers still maintain traditional techniques and use mature bamboo as the raw material to create completely handcrafted bamboo baskets, embodying the essence of the old craft village.

The baskets are ready to be supplied to the market.

In August, amidst the sweltering midday sun, leaving Chi Thanh hamlet, I still vividly remember the image of nimble hands weaving bamboo strips, drops of sweat falling like the whispers of hard work. Amidst the modern pace of life, this small village of basket weavers continues to endure, like a simple brushstroke on a rural landscape…

Text and photos: THU OANH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/xom-dan-can-xe-o-tan-hoi-a426083.html