Hau Giang mat weaving profession

26/04/2021 313 0
Located in Dong Thanh commune, Chau Thanh district, Hau Giang province, Cai Chanh village is called a famous mat village with traditional knit mat business.

Ten years ago, the mat weaving profession in Chau Thanh district and Nga Bay city was still thriving with products that were diverse in design, durable and beautiful. However, in the time since then, the mat weaving profession in these two localities has gradually faded away.

Hau Giang Province Tourism

Only old people follow the profession

Dong Thanh Commune (Chau Thanh District) used to be home to many households engaged in mat weaving. Due to the pressure of competition with many types of bamboo mats, nylon mats and mattresses, the mat weaving profession here entered a difficult period. Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Tuyen (60 years old - residing in Thanh Thuan Hamlet, Dong Thanh Commune) shared: "I have been involved in mat weaving for nearly 50 years. Nowadays, few people do mat weaving because the income is not enough to support themselves, let alone their whole family...". 

Mrs. Tran Thi Tot (68 years old - owner of Hai Tot mat weaving facility in Thanh Xuan hamlet) said: "The workers who are still involved in mat weaving are mostly elderly people. Young people who work in companies and factories have higher incomes...". At Mrs. Tot's mat weaving facility, weavers usually start work at around 4am and finish at 12pm; the average income is 50,000 VND/person. 

“There will be no one to take over the profession...” 

The “Hue mat village” in area 5 (Nga Bay ward, Nga Bay town) also fell into a similar “situation” to the mat weaving profession in Dong Thanh commune. In 1954, many people from the North came to live here, bringing with them the mat weaving profession, forming the “Hue mat village” (the name locals often call it). Hundreds of households grow sedge; use the burlap tree to make the rope, creating durability and strength for the mats. But now the “Hue mat village” has only a few households still attached to the profession.

Ms. Phan Thi Van (who has been involved in the mat weaving profession for many years) confided: “I feel sad because I am afraid that when I am no longer healthy enough to weave, my children and grandchildren will not have anyone to continue the profession. Normally, to weave, I have to hire an extra worker with a salary of 35,000 VND/session. Therefore, when I finish weaving, I sell the mat for 200,000 - 300,000 VND/pair, after deducting expenses, I do not make much profit”. Ms. Phan Thi Vy (56 years old) worried: “The mat weaving profession has been with my family for decades. In the past, thanks to this profession, my husband and I had money to take care of our children's education, and our family life was stable. Now the mat weaving profession is at a dead end".  

The income from mat weaving is too low to cover family expenses. Therefore, many weavers have had to quit the job. If this situation continues, the mat weaving profession in Hau Giang will be difficult to maintain... 

Source: Huynh Mai - Lao Dong Newspaper

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