From simple rattan and bamboo strips, they have created a miracle: 5-star OCOP products, exported to the most demanding markets such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan. The older artisans preserve the soul of the craft with perseverance and patience, while the younger generation gives wings to rattan and bamboo products with ideas, designs, and market-oriented thinking...
From rough hands to 5-star OCOP products
The group of bamboo and rattan lantern makers is currently the only representative from Nghe An province to be recognized with a 5-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) award. Photo: CSCC
Recently, Nghe An province received more good news when the Duc Phong bamboo lamp product line – including twisted bamboo hanging lamps, lotus petal table lamps, and wall lamps – was officially approved for the National 5-star OCOP title.
Previously, in 2022, five other products from this company were also honored with 5-star OCOP awards. To date, this is the only product group from Nghe An to have twice reached the top of the OCOP list – a feat woven by the rough hands of village artisans, through their patience and enduring love for the traditional rattan and bamboo weaving craft.
Rough hands have made rattan and bamboo weaving flourish. Photo: TP
For these elderly artisans, knitting is not just a profession but also a source of pride, a thread connecting them to their craft village and the outside world. These artisans, who have never left their homeland, are quietly creating handcrafted products that grace cafes in the heart of Berlin, furniture showrooms in Paris, and lush, Japanese-inspired green spaces in Tokyo.
Like Mrs. Vo Thi Muoi, who is over 65 years old this year, she has been involved in rattan and bamboo weaving for decades. Although her hands are calloused and no longer as nimble as when she was young, and her eyesight is no longer as sharp, she still diligently works with bundles of rattan and small bamboo strips every day.
These elderly artisans are dedicated to the craft of weaving with passion and commitment. Photo: TP
"Every time I know that the products I knit are being exported abroad, my heart swells with pride. I've never traveled far, but the products I make are reaching all over the world – that's the greatest happiness for a craftswoman," Mrs. Mười said emotionally.
Or take Mrs. Doan Thi Tai, for example, who has been involved in weaving for over 15 years. Despite her advanced age and the fact that her children and grandchildren are all grown up, she still maintains the habit of sitting by her bamboo frame every morning, weaving layer after layer of bamboo strips regularly. For her, the craft not only helps increase her income but also brings her daily joy.
"I feel I'm still useful, still contributing to the production of export products. Every time I see the finished exquisite bamboo and rattan lamps, I feel that my efforts are worthwhile," shared Mrs. Mười.
It is the meticulousness, patience, love for their craft, and sense of responsibility of these honest artisans that have contributed to creating 5-star OCOP products, conquering even the most demanding markets in the world.
These craftsmen have decades of experience in the trade. Photo: TP
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"Every time I know that the products I knit are being exported abroad, my heart swells with pride. I've never traveled far, but the products I make are reaching all over the world – that's the greatest happiness for a craftswoman."
Mrs. Mười said, visibly moved.
When young people touch the soul of clouds and bamboo.
Using seemingly traditional materials like rattan and bamboo, Thai Ba Phuong (born in 1987) is the designer of 5-star OCOP rattan and bamboo products, breathing new life into them. Born and raised in Vinh City in a family involved in the rattan and bamboo handicraft business, he chose a different path, studying information technology.
After that, he went to the Netherlands to study import-export, followed by industrial design abroad. Instead of choosing an office job in a big city or a creative environment in Europe, Phuong chose to return to his hometown – where his father once made a living from rattan and bamboo crafts – to embark on a very unique journey.
Mr. Thai Ba Phuong - the owner of the 5-star OCOP rattan and bamboo lamp designs. Photo: TP
In a simple workshop in a corner of the Nghi Phu industrial zone (Vinh City), Mr. Phuong meticulously sketches each design of bamboo and rattan lamps, imbued with the spirit of Northern Europe: minimalist, refined, yet clearly reflecting the soul of Nghe An's traditional craft villages.
His designs—ceiling lamps, pendant lights, table lamps, and wall lamps made of woven rattan in round, bird's nest, and mushroom shapes—have been warmly received by customers in Germany, the Netherlands, and France thanks to their elegant, streamlined designs while still retaining a rustic, handcrafted feel.
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“I don’t want to create products just for show; they have to be items that are both aesthetically pleasing and practically functional, truly essential products for Europeans. Bamboo and rattan – things we are familiar with – are advantages of the Vietnamese people. I want customers to see them in a new light,” Phượng shared.
“The most important thing is that each of these woven bamboo lanterns is a work of art, highly aesthetic and creative, but it must be ensured that they are not so elaborate as to be difficult to produce. On the contrary, with just a few instructions, the bamboo weavers in the craft villages – mostly elderly women – can completely create a finished product.”
"Because the most important thing for an export-oriented rattan and bamboo weaving company is its competitive advantage in design, mass production to supply the market, and ensuring stable jobs and income for workers in craft villages," Mr. Phuong said.
These 5-star OCOP products are exported to nearly 30 countries around the world. Photo: TP
According to Mr. Phuong, the lifespan of each rattan and bamboo product is only about 2 years, at most 3-4 years, because the designs change constantly to meet consumer tastes and lifestyle trends. "Every year, I have to come up with hundreds of design ideas and sketches, then send them to customers and partners for selection and feedback. Based on customer feedback, I refine them to create new designs. Therefore, the workload is quite intense."
To create new designs and innovative ideas, in addition to understanding customer preferences and researching the market, it's crucial to visit traditional craft villages and raw material sources, and interact with renowned artisans throughout the country.
Mr. Doan Anh Tuan, who teaches the techniques for weaving rattan and bamboo lamps that have achieved 5-star OCOP certification. Photo: TP.
Accompanying Mr. Phuong on his journey to transform designs into real products is Mr. Doan Anh Tuan - the chief technician of Duc Phong Co., Ltd. If Mr. Phuong is the one who draws the designs for the products, then Mr. Tuan is the one who brings those products to life.
Each design, upon arriving at the production workshop, undergoes a manual "translation" process: from 2D and 3D drawings, Tuan calculates proportions, selects suitable materials, and then directly instructs the weavers – every joint, every fold, every border. "Every time there's a new design, I study it carefully and start working on it, creating a prototype."
Each 5-star OCOP product exported abroad is the result of the dedication and hard work of the artisans. Photo: TP
After that, I passed on the techniques to the workers. Most of the time, I had to teach them step-by-step. Because each product is like a living organism with its own personality. Just knitting the right shape isn't enough. It's crucial to maintain the design's essence. Therefore, I had to closely monitor every detail, even eating, working, and correcting alongside the workers. But luckily, the elderly workers, despite their age, learned extremely quickly, were skillful, and very dedicated," Mr. Tuan confided.
In the late afternoon sun, under the simple workshop roof, the image of young people bending over to bend frames, and old craftsmen meticulously weaving each strand of rattan and bamboo, is not only a continuation between generations, but also a testament to a journey of integration while preserving the core of tradition.
OCOP 5-star products are now available across five continents at international trade fairs. Photo: CSCC
There is no longer a gap between designer and craftsman. There is no longer a line between traditional products and high-end export goods. There is trust, collaboration, and inspiration – so that from the simplest things, young people have created the most modern products while still retaining the essence of traditional craftsmanship.
The combination of modern creativity and traditional craftsmanship not only results in beautiful products, but also creates a production model suitable for traditional craft villages: young people do the design, older artisans make the products, and businesses are responsible for the market. This creates a humane, sustainable, and competitive production chain for the export market.
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