Ban Thach sedge mat village

The Ban Thach sedge mat village in Quang Nam Province has been well-known by locals for a long time, but only recently has it been discovered by tourists.The harmoniously-coloured sedge mats woven by villagers in the off-time after the harvest are now being marketed out of the commune and all over the country.

With abundant sources of raw rush and jute, the materials used to weave mats, Ban Thach villagers have succeeded in developing their own handicraft and improving their lives.There are many categories of Ban Thach sedge mats, all of them different in colour or design. From solid colours to intricate flower designs, each is woven by a craftswoman with her own technique and source for materials.

Craftswoman Nguyen Thi Tien, 60, has spent most of her life honing her skills. The grandmother of four has never left Ban Thach Village.When asked how long she has been weaving sedge mats, she smiled. "I, like 90 per cent of Ban Thach villagers, have had this job passed down to me by my ancestors."A 6-year-old child can begin learning how to weave mats," she added.

The job requires little initial capital and it’s perfect for farmers with idle time after the harvest. Women love the chance to gather together to weave and chat about life.All the separate processes of mat weaving are set out clearly. The men are in charge of cutting down the rush or jute plants, drying them in the sun and stripping away the bark, while the women dye and weave the mats. A woman is usually able to weave between three or four mats a day.

Most of the weavers in this village sell their products to traders or street vendors in neighbouring provinces.Weavers spend most of their time on the intricate patterns and colours. The most important step in the process is to dye the rush fibre after it has been stripped and dried in the sun.