The border village of Thèn Ván 1 preserves the craft of weaving traditional bamboo baskets
05/09/2023 GMT+7
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Ha GIang Portal - During our working trip to Quan Ba district, we visited the border village of Then Van 1 in Cao Ma Po commune. Followed Nguyen Van Si, the Deputy Chairman of the commune, we visited the family of veteran Tan Dau Sai, 61 years old, who diligently preserves the craft of weaving traditional bamboo baskets despite his old age. Seated in front of his house, with skilled hands weaving the bamboo, he shared with me, "For the Mông people, among the tools essential to daily life, the bamboo basket is considered an 'inseparable companion.' With the challenging mountainous terrain, the bamboo basket becomes invaluable, serving as a 'friend' on the back of the Mong people when they go up to the fields or down to the market.
Mr. Tan Dau Sai, the preserver of the craft of weaving traditional bamboo baskets in Cao Ma Po.
The bamboo basket, a common container, often has a circular or square rim with various sizes. The materials for weaving these baskets are bamboo, rattan, and forest vine. The size of the basket is not fixed and depends on its intended use. With 45 years to the craft of bamboo basket weaving, Mr. Tan Dau Sai, with the desire to preserve the traditional craft of his homeland, has passed down his experience in selecting
materials and weaving to the younger generations in the region. Weaving bamboo baskets requires precision, and the artisan must have skilled hands and expertise in splitting bamboo so that the thickness is even, making it easy and beautiful to weave. On average, Mr. Sai weaves one basket per day, and depending on the period, the selling price ranges from 120,000 to 150,000 VND each, contributing additional income to his family. Today, with creativity and development, hand-woven bamboo baskets are gradually being replaced by plastic ones, leading to the decline of the craft. However, this does not diminish the timeless value of the bamboo basket. Mr. Nguyen Van Sy stated, "Then Van 1 border village is mainly inhabited by the Mong ethnic minority. In the past, the people faced many difficulties, and the poverty rate was high. Faced with this situation, the party committee and local government encouraged the people to revive the craft of bamboo basket weaving, thereby preserving the traditional culture of the locality, promoting tourism, and turning it into a souvenir product." The development of the bamboo basket weaving craft in the border area of Then Van 1, Cao Ma Po commune, has preserved the traditional profession, increased income, and contributed to poverty reduction. The bamboo basket has created a unique beauty among the Mong ethnic people in the high mountainous region. Despite many changes in life, the bamboo basket remains a familiar and practical tool, closely associated with the daily life of the Mong people
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