Weaving village in Tan Hoi

Mr. Nguyen Van Sang (57 years old), residing in Chi Thanh hamlet, Tan Hoi commune ( An Giang province), is the third generation to continue the bamboo weaving profession.

Can che is a woven bamboo basket of many sizes, a familiar item in the Southwest, used to hold vegetables, tubers, shrimp, fish... associated with riverside shipments.

Along the canal bank of Chi Thanh hamlet, Tan Hoi commune, for decades, the image of diligent hands splitting bamboo, whittling strips, and weaving beautiful, durable bamboo baskets has become a familiar sight.

In the bamboo weaving village of Chi Thanh hamlet, Tan Hoi commune, every house has about ten bamboo weaving wicker baskets.

No one remembers exactly when the profession began, but it was known to have existed before 1975. Mr. Nguyen Van Sang (57 years old) said: “I am the third generation to inherit the profession from my grandparents. I was just over 10 years old when I learned to knit, at that time I did it to earn a living, now that I am older I do it out of passion and to create extra income during the off-season.”

Skilled workers with nimble hands in each knitting stroke.

Mr. Tra Van Tam (83 years old), every day he doesn't work, he misses his job.

For Mr. Tra Van Tam (83 years old), the profession came as a matter of fate. In 1968, he was taught the craft of weaving bamboo straps, and then he passed it on to his neighbors. At first, only a few households did it, but later it spread, and the whole neighborhood knew the craft. To this day, he still diligently weaves bamboo straps, about 40 pairs a day, earning 60,000 VND. He smiled: "After more than 50 years of dedication, if I don't work every day, I miss the profession."

The worker tightened the lead wire to make the tearing rod secure.

Mr. Pham Van Luong, Secretary of the Chi Thanh Hamlet Party Cell, said that at its peak, the whole hamlet had 200 households following the profession, but now there are only 62 households. “People who work in the bamboo weaving profession earn only about 100,000 VND/day, but the advantage is that both the elderly and children can do it, taking advantage of the off-season to earn more income. Many households live off the profession, not rich but enough to eat, and importantly, people love and are attached to the profession,” said Mr. Luong.

Weaving bamboo requires patience and meticulousness in each step. The product costs 40,000 - 50,000 VND/piece depending on the size. Many people do this job not only for the income, but also for the spiritual value it brings.

Mrs. Pham Thi My Trinh has been involved in the profession for nearly 30 years, since she became a daughter-in-law in the bamboo weaving village. Mrs. Trinh shared: “The most difficult part is splitting the bamboo strips, they have to be even and thin to fit. The bamboo strips are very thin, so I have to put tire tubes on my hands to avoid cutting my hands.” As she spoke, her hands moved quickly, each bamboo strip was shaved evenly, as if she put all her heart into the product.

With technique and care, splitting bamboo does not cut your hand.

Nowadays, the bamboo weaving profession in Chi Thanh hamlet operates in a specialized direction, each worker undertakes a stage, the products are gathered in large warehouses for distribution to many places. Although production is on a large scale, people still maintain traditional techniques and use old bamboo as raw materials to create bamboo baskets completely by hand, fully imbued with the spirit of the ancient craft village.

The tear down rods are ready to be supplied to the market.

In August, in the sweltering midday sun, leaving Chi Thanh hamlet, I still remember the image of nimble hands weaving bamboo strips, drops of sweat falling like whispers of hard work. In the midst of modern life, the small bamboo weaving hamlet still persists, like a simple dot on the countryside picture…

Article and photos: THU OANH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/xom-dan-can-xe-o-tan-hoi-a426083.html