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The enduring craft of basket weaving in Da Lam

Annam • October 23, 2024 16:24

Although no longer as bustling and busy as in its heyday, the weaving craft in Da Lam, Da Son commune (Do Luong district) is still maintained, not only providing income for the people who practice the craft, but also contributing to preserving a long-standing traditional handicraft in the locality.

bna_1..jpg — According to locals, the craft of weaving has existed in Da Lam village for a long time. In the past, hundreds of households in the village practiced this craft, producing many kinds of products such as baskets, trays, sieves, fishing nets, mats, containers, screens, curtains, and cages for fighting roosters... The goods were supplied to the cooperative and sold in rural markets throughout Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, and Quynh Luu districts... Photo: An Nam

bna_2..jpg — Back then, depending on the time of year, people focused on certain products such as making bamboo mats and bamboo screens for covering bricks. When the production of bricks and tiles using traditional kilns was banned (2010), the craft of weaving bamboo screens for covering bricks in Da Lam also declined. Most households here abandoned the craft and switched to other professions. Currently, in the entire village, the number of people still practicing the weaving craft can be counted on the fingers of one hand. In the photo: Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoa (72 years old) in Hamlet 6, Da Son commune, despite her advanced age, still diligently sits and splits bamboo to weave mats every day. On average, she weaves 1-2 mats per day. She works both to order and makes mats in advance. The price of mats sold at home is 110,000 VND/mat for the outer layer and 50,000 VND/mat for the inner layer. Photo: An Nam

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhien (62 years old), residing in Hamlet 6, Da Son Commune, who has been involved in bamboo weaving for decades, shared: "My children work far away, so I'm the only one at home. I cultivate 5 sao (approximately 0.5 hectares) of rice paddies and still manage to make bamboo mats for households making rice paper in the district. Each day, I can weave 6-7 mats, splitting bamboo and weaving simultaneously. Each mat sells for 35-40 thousand dong. 'The income from bamboo mat weaving isn't high, but it keeps the business going, bringing joy to the family. It provides money for expenses, seeds, fertilizer, etc., for agriculture – it's like adding small things to make a big impact,' Ms. Nhien confided." (Photo: An Nam)

bna_4..jpg — Mr. Nguyen Cong Hien (74 years old), a resident of the same village, has been quite successful in weaving bamboo blinds for about ten years. He weaves both bamboo panels and blinds, but mainly blinds. Mr. Hien believes that many people can weave bamboo panels, but weaving blinds is difficult, so now only two people in the village do it. However, they sell well, so he invested in making blinds. Photo: An Nam

According to Mr. Hien, there are two types of bamboo blinds: single and double, commonly used for hanging in front of houses, ancestral temples, cafes, historical sites, etc. Weaving a single blind requires many steps, such as splitting bamboo strips, weaving, wedges, edging, securing the cords, cleaning with a blowtorch, and spraying paint... quite elaborate. He accepts orders for bamboo blinds from customers all over the province and beyond. Photo: An Nam

Some elderly people, suffering from congenital illnesses like Mr. Nguyen Cong Yen (65 years old) in Hamlet 6, Da Son Commune, still weave bamboo mats and baskets daily to earn extra income. Photo: An Nam

Despite experiencing many periods of prosperity and decline in the craft village, some people in Da Lam still preserve the traditional craft. Mr. Nguyen Cong Do (71 years old), from Hamlet 6, Da Son Commune, has over 50 years of experience in weaving. He skillfully weaves many kinds of products such as trays, baskets, sieves, curtains, etc. Photo: An Nam

Mr. Độ is a highly skilled bamboo curtain maker in Đà Lam, known for his beautiful pattern-making techniques. Many bamboo curtains are currently hung around his yard to provide shade and decoration. (Photo: An Nam)

The scale of the old craft village has now dwindled to fewer than a dozen small-scale households operating in the middle of the village. The products of the craft village are no longer as abundant and diverse as they were during its heyday. Each person, depending on their circumstances and skills, produces suitable items, such as bamboo mats for drying rice paper, curtains, and woven baskets... Photo: An Nam

Visiting Da Lam now, the bustling atmosphere is gone, but the echoes of a once-glorious craft village still linger in memory. Many locals still feel nostalgic for a bygone era, a time when weaving provided food, clothing, and raised children for hundreds of families. Photo: An Nam

Faced with competition from household goods made of aluminum and plastic, the villagers engaged in weaving in Bot Da parish have chosen to focus on producing only a few products that meet consumer demand, a wise approach. Among these, bamboo drying racks for rice crackers are a product purchased in large quantities by customers both within and outside the province. Each order ranges from hundreds to thousands of racks, providing steady work for the laborers. However, bamboo blinds are the "high-end" product that brings in even more income. These high-quality, durable, and beautiful bamboo blinds are sold by the villagers for 350,000 VND/m². (In the photo: Bamboo blinds produced by Mr. Nguyen Cong Hien's family in Hamlet 6, Da Son commune. Photo: An Nam)

Basket weaving in Bot Da parish. Video: An Nam

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The enduring craft of basket weaving in Da Lam

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