The person who brings bamboo and rattan fibers to the Western Nghe An region

In the early days of Spring, the cold wind has crept into the alleys of Nua village, Yen Khe commune, Con Cuong border district. In Spring, the leaves of trees and plants are gradually changing from yellow and red to the green of new buds. In addition to the work of farmers in the winter vegetable fields, women, mothers and sisters are also busy with colorful brocade skirts and shirts; and also dyeing rattan and bamboo to complete the traditional rattan and bamboo products that have been ordered by customers from far away.

Mrs. Vi Thi Hong’s house is nestled behind rows of trees. Small, agile with a fresh face always smiling, Mrs. Hong quickly showed us around the products she had just made.

Holding the commemorative "Cup" of the 2024 National Handicraft Product Competition in her hand, she "showed off" that this was the first award in her life. Although it was her first time winning a national award, she immediately won second prize. The product that helped this artisan who has been involved in rattan and bamboo weaving for more than 60 years in the small mountainous village of Yen Khe is a clutch.

That wallet with sharp and luxurious colors is made from rattan and bamboo of Yen Khe mountain forest. Even the color of rattan and bamboo is dyed from the color of leaves and trees around the house garden and some precious plants that only exist in the forest. The raw, close materials of nature through the skillful and meticulous hands of Thai Vi Thi Hong woman have become luxurious fashion products.

The quintessence of culture, of the countryside and the passion for traditional hand-weaving of Yen Khe condensed in the wallet has helped the small-scale handicraft product surpass thousands of other products across the country, convincingly winning second prize.

The owner of the rattan and bamboo clutch that won the second prize said that since ancient times, rattan and bamboo materials have been used by the people of Yen Khe commune to weave baskets, trays, sticky rice presses, chairs, trays, etc. to serve the daily life of families and communities. However, fashionable handbags and wallets have only appeared recently. Therefore, choosing to weave a clutch is also an "influence" of modern life and the desire to bring traditional products in line with the tastes of today's society.

“It is also a pleasure that bamboo and rattan fashion handbags are loved and ordered by many guests and delegates attending the Color Exhibition, especially foreign delegates. The Color Exhibition is an activity within the framework of the national handicraft competition...”, Ms. Hong said.

The most unique thing about this product is that it is woven with 1mm raw rattan fibers. This is the size that Ms. Hong has always used.like those who are skilled in the craft of hand weaving bamboo and rattan in Con Cuong district have never done. Therefore, the difficulty also increases many times, challenging the talent and patience of the women, mothers, and craftsmen.

“There are not many people who are passionate about hand-weaving in Yen Khe commune today, and they are mainly women and elderly people. Many people have poor eyesight and slower hands and feet, so not everyone can weave bamboo or rattan fibers with a size of 1mm. Some people have to use a sewing needle to smooth and compress the bamboo fibers while weaving,” Ms. Hong shared.

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Ms. Vi Thi Hong is a multi-talented artisan. Not only is she proficient in weaving and mastering the secrets of natural dyeing from plants and leaves for bamboo and rattan handicrafts, but she is also a master of brocade weaving and embroidery, especially for dresses, shirts, etc.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Ha - Vice Chairman of Yen Khe Commune People's Committee

Ms. Vi Thi Hong is also an inspiration, enthusiastically passing on the craft of weaving, embroidering brocade and bamboo and rattan weaving to many generations of women and children in Yen Khe. In addition to her talent in weaving and embroidery, Ms. Hong is also a talented artist of the village, proficient in using many traditional musical instruments of the Thai people.

Therefore, at the age of 76, Ms. Hong is still the pillar of the village's Folk Song Club, and is a dedicated teacher of handicraft skills, contributing with the villagers to modernize traditional crafts, bringing village products to the national and international level in the direction of producing green, environmentally friendly products.