Preserving the bamboo and rattan weaving profession in the vast Tra My forest

DNO - In the middle of Tra My mountains and forests, a young Muong man has boldly revived his people's traditional weaving craft and gradually developed it into a start-up model associated with tourism.

Mr. Bui Van Liu's project won the Encouragement Prize in the Quang Nam Startup Talent Search Competition 2025 and is contributing to awakening dormant cultural values and creating sustainable livelihoods for the Muong community in Tra My.

Generations of Muong people in Tra My have diligently preserved the traditional weaving craft. Photo: PHAN VINH

Preserving traditional crafts

Nearly 40 years ago, the first Muong households left Hoa Binh province to settle in Tra My commune. Bringing with them memories of the mountains and forests and customs of their homeland, they built stilt houses, grew upland rice, preserved gongs, traditional costumes and even bamboo weaving. The familiar daily utensils commonly produced by the Muong people include trays and rattan trays.

“

For the Muong people, bamboo and rattan weaving is not simply something to use, but a part of their culture. Although life has changed, plastic and metal products are increasingly popular, the Muong people in Tra My still try to produce handmade weaving as a way to preserve the traditional identity of their people.

Mrs. Bui Thi Dun (63 years old, Tra My commune, Da Nang city)

Muong people maintain the traditional craft of weaving. Photo: PHAN VINH

In fact, there was a time when the traditional weaving craft was forgotten. Those who were good at it were getting old and weak, and the younger generation was not interested in the laborious work, and the income was unstable. Faced with the risk of extinction, people like Mr. Bui Van Quyen (65 years old) and Mr. Bui Van Liu (36 years old) stood up to mobilize their fellow countrymen to revive the traditional weaving craft.

In addition to being familiar household items, baskets and trays are now cultural symbols of the Muong community in Tra My. Under the stilt houses, women carefully bend each bamboo strip and rattan strand to weave beautiful trays and vases. Many vocational training classes are held right in the village, with adults guiding the younger generation. Local authorities also open training classes on community tourism skills, encouraging the restoration of handicrafts.

The products are made by the skillful and meticulous hands of the craftsmen. Photo: PHAN VINH

"Bamboo and rattan weaving has gone from being a family activity to a cultural product, attracting the attention of tourists," said Mr. Quyen.

Start-up from indigenous culture

As a child, Bui Van Liu followed his mother to weave on the doorstep. Trips to village festivals and interactions with tourists instilled in him the desire to preserve traditional culture not only through appeals, but also through action. In 2024, he built the project "Preserving and promoting cultural values through bamboo and rattan products" to both preserve the profession and create a livelihood, linked to tourism development.

Mr. Bui Van Liu (in blue shirt) shares Muong ethnic culture with the young generation. Photo: PHAN VINH

The project quickly gathered a team of elderly artisans and young people in the village. They divided production groups according to their expertise, including a group researching traditional patterns, a weaving group, a group creating new products and a promotion group to create sophisticated products to meet the needs of young people and tourists.

“

After a while, the production process was improved, raw materials were treated to prevent mold, packaging was designed, private branding was built and communication on social networks. The products were not only sold to visitors to the village but also appeared at OCOP fairs and souvenir shops in Da Nang and Hoi An ancient town.

Mr. Bui Van Liu

Traditional products have been improved to look more beautiful. Photo: PHAN VINH

An indispensable part of the model is experiential tourism. Right at the communal stilt house, Mr. Liu designed a space for visitors to learn about the weaving process, directly try weaving and whittling bamboo strips. After the experience, tourist Nguyen Thi Lan Huong (Hanoi) said: "I am impressed with the products here, they are beautiful, rustic, artistic and environmentally friendly."

To have a complete product, the craftsman must choose flexible rattan or bamboo, thinly slice it, soak it in water, dry it thoroughly in the sun, and then weave it. Each large tray takes weeks to complete. This meticulousness makes the product valuable both materially and culturally.

Preserving traditional culture from keeping crafts and building community spaces creates a premise for developing tourism for Muong villages in Tra My. Photo: PHAN VINH

To date, the cooperative led by Bui Van Liu has produced nearly 20 product models, from trays, baskets, vases to lamps, handbags, and decorative items. Many Muong households earn a few million VND each month from their side jobs. Young people in the village also take advantage of the off-season to participate in production, increasing their income.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/giu-nghe-may-tre-dan-giua-dai-ngan-tra-my-3298066.html