In the flow of the market economy, with cheap and convenient plastic products and industrial household goods flooding the market, the traditional weaving craft in Keo village once faced the risk of disappearing as the younger generation was preoccupied with new career choices. Driven by their love for heritage and keen insight, the people of Keo village have found a new direction to preserve their traditional craft. In order to safeguard the traditional craft of their ancestors, Keo village has established a traditional weaving club with over 20 members, mostly elderly people in the village. At the same time, the people of Keo village are gradually becoming familiar with incorporating artistic elements into household products, turning them into high-end interior decorations. Combining traditional values with modern aesthetic thinking is key to preventing the weaving craft from fading away.
The uniqueness of the weaving craft here begins right from the material selection stage. The weavers of Keo village must venture deep into the old-growth forest to find slender yet flexible rattan or bamboo and reeds of just the right age not too old to avoid brittleness and not too young to avoid insect infestation. The extraction of raw materials also follows a profound philosophy of respecting nature: only take what is needed, do not over-extinct, so that the forest has room to regenerate.
The most distinctive feature that sets the woven products of the Khmu people in Keo village apart from those in other regions is their skillful weaving technique and exquisite patterns. Familiar items such as the sticky rice container, fish basket or carrying basket are not only durable but also highly aesthetically pleasing. The Kho-mu people’s mouth press is a masterpiece of calculation, woven with two layers of extremely tight spokes, helping to keep the delicious sticky rice warm all day long without being sticky or sweating. In particular, the “kitchen-drying” process after the product is finished is a unique secret. The daily smoke from the wood-burning stove permeates each bamboo slat, creating a natural protective layer against termites, at the same time giving it a glossy, luxurious reddish-brown color that no industrial paint can replicate. The subtle fragrance of bamboo blended with the smell of wood smoke creates a distinctive aroma for the woven products of the Kho-mu people.
Weaving in Keo village has become the second most important source of income, after agricultural production and has become the main source of income for many households with redundant workers or the elderly. A skilled artisan in Keo village can weave 2-3 sticky rice containers (sticky rice boxes) per day. With retail prices ranging from 80,000 to 150,000 VND per piece (depending on size and craftsmanship), after deducting material costs, the artisan can earn 150,000 to 300,000 VND per day. For products requiring higher technical skill, such as rattan chairs, decorative baskets, or lanterns for restaurants and hotels, the value can reach 500,000 to millions VND per item. On average, a household that regularly maintains a weaving craft can increase its income by 4-6 million VND per month. This is a significant amount for the economic life in the highlands, helping people cover their children’s education expenses and purchasing household amenities.
Preserving the weaving craft in Keo village is not just about maintaining a livelihood, but also about preserving the cultural heritage of the Kho-mu people. Each finished product is a testament to the enduring vitality of national culture in the face of the ravages of time. Watching the elderly artisans still diligently working at their slat frames, believe that the bamboo weaving of Keo village will reach further, appearing in the cultural spaces of international friends, as a beautiful symbol of the harmony between man and nature.
Today, Keo village still smells of bamboo and reeds, and the sounds of splitting bamboo strips still fill the air. It is the sound of continuity, of pride in a traditional craft that contributes to promoting and showcasing the natural beauty, people, potential and exquisite handicrafts of the local people, serving the socio-economic development of the locality./.
The uniqueness of the weaving craft here begins right from the material selection stage
The traditional weaving craft of the Kho-mu people is still maintained by the elderly to create household products and items
The traditional weaving club of the Kho-mu people in Keo village
The people of Keo village are gradually becoming accustomed to incorporating artistic elements into household products 