Tradition Meets Machinery

For generations, the sedge mat has been a familiar presence in Vietnamese homes. Today, the tradition continues, with skilled hands and modern machinery working together to keep the craft alive.

“In the past, every house had several mats,” said Nguyễn Thanh Bình, owner of the Xuân Hòa mat workshop in Vũ Hạ Village, located in Phụ Dực Commune of Hưng Yên Province. “We used them for everything – sleeping, sitting, even when guests came.”

…Making a mat starts with selecting the right sedge. The sedge stems must be long, straight and even. After harvesting, they are split into thin threads, then dried carefully under the sun. Too little sun and the stems remain damp; too much and they become brittle.

In the past, weaving was done in almost every household in Vũ Hạ. Today, the craft is mainly concentrated in workshops, where machines have taken over the heavier tasks. This shift has helped increase productivity significantly.

“A worker used to make just a couple of mats a day by hand,” Bình said. “Now, with machines, we can produce much more. But the quality still depends on people.”

That balance between machinery and craftsmanship has allowed the village to keep its trade alive. Mats continue to be produced daily, supplying markets across the country.

In Vũ Hạ, the work continues much as it always has – shaped by the weather, guided by experience, and carried out with quiet care. Each mat, simple as it may seem, holds the effort of many hands and the weight of long-standing tradition.