Once practiced by almost every household in the village, bamboo weaving has long been closely linked to local livelihoods. Baskets and winnowing trays made in Phuoc Quang were sold to traders and distributed to different regions, serving agricultural and fishing communities.
The craft begins with carefully selected bamboo stalks, which are cut into sections, split into strips and shaved to an even thickness before being woven. Each stage requires patience and experience, as an uneven strip or misaligned weave can affect the shape and durability of the finished product.
For 90-year-old Tô Ngọc Dũng, bamboo weaving is a family tradition passed down through generations.
“No one remembers exactly when bamboo weaving began, only that since I was a child, I saw my grandfather and father weaving baskets and winnowing trays”, Dũng said. “As I grew up, I continued the family trade and passed it down to my children and grandchildren”.
Nearby, Tô Thị Năm has spent decades working with bamboo hoops. She said mastering the seemingly simple craft requires years of practice.
“You have to sit and weave for hours every day, eventually, your hands just know what to do,” she said.
Phuoc Quang was once filled with the sounds of bamboo being split during the agricultural off-season, when neighbors worked together and prepared products for traders.
But the spread of plastic goods has gradually weakened the traditional trade. Artisans now face not only difficulties in finding markets for their products but also declining interest among younger generations in traditional occupations.
Despite those challenges, about 60 households remain committed to bamboo weaving. The community has established a Bamboo Weaving Occupational Group to coordinate production, promote its products and gradually develop a brand for locally made bamboo goods.
Under the village's old eaves, the work continues day after day. Weathered hands patiently guide strips of bamboo into tightly interlocking patterns, turning simple materials into baskets and winnowing trays.
For the artisans of Phuoc Quang, each finished product represents more than a household item. It is also a link to a craft that has been woven into the lives of generations.
