Weaving through history, connected to what's to come
In the heart of Long Hưng Commune, northern Hưng Yên Province, lies Hới Village, a place where centuries-old traditions meet modern innovation. Since 2005, many households in Hới Village have invested in machinery to boost productivity and secure stable incomes, marking a significant evolution in the village's mat-weaving tradition.
The mat-weaving trade was introduced to Hới Village by Phạm Đôn Lẽ̃ in the 15th century. Phạm Đôn Lẽ̃, who had served as an envoy to the Ming dynasty, returned with mat-weaving techniques from China. Over the centuries, the tradition has been passed down from generation to generation, with families continuing to weave intricate and durable mats that are renowned across the country.
The mat-weaving process involves multiple stages, including harvesting sedge, dyeing, and weaving. Villager Đoàn Thị Huệ explained that to produce high-quality mats, the villagers select sedge that is white with a round texture and smooth it out before weaving. Local artisans say producing high-quality mats demands experience, creativity, and meticulous care.
Hà Duy Mai, a villager, was one of the early adopters of modern machinery. In 2013, he acquired 10 modern looms and approximately 500 mats per day are now produced using these machines in Hới villages. Each modern weaving machine can produce 60 mats per day. To ensure the quality of the mats remains high, Hà Duy Mai hired Chinese experts and invested billions of đồng in purchasing these machines.
The application of modern machinery is an essential path to enhance productivity and maintain the position of Hới mats in both domestic and international markets, as stated by Hà Duy Mai. The local authorities are encouraging residents to invest in modern machinery to enhance competitiveness in the current market. In fact, Long Hưng Commune now has 29 households engaged in mat weaving with 90 machines, generating jobs for nearly 420 labourers.
The local authorities are also helping to build the Hới mat brand in the digital environment. Nguyễn Tiến Dũng, head of the Economic Department of Long Hưng Commune, stated that the locality is focusing on assisting production households to access e-commerce and digitise production and business processes. This move is part of the locality's direction for the traditional craft village as a combination of preserving its identity and applying technology in the context of digital transformation.
In addition to the traditional mat-weaving facilities, there are eight facilities specialising in producing nylon mats and imitation rattan mats in Long Hưng Commune, with over 310 machines creating jobs for more than 1,000 workers both locally and from surrounding areas. Mats produced in Hới Village are now available in many provinces across the country and are exported to markets such as Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.
As Hới Village continues to preserve its centuries-old mat weaving tradition, it also looks towards the future, blending tradition with technology to ensure the sustainability and growth of this age-old craft.
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