Hanoi (VNA) – As lightweight plastic baskets gradually replace bamboo trays in kitchen corners and shiny stainless-steel food covers appear more frequently at family meals, bamboo slats and rattan fibres may seem destined for memory. Yet in many Vietnamese villages, the familiar clatter of bamboo and rattan weaving continues to sound, steady and enduring like the very rhythm of rural life.
“Green products” winning over modern market
Pham Hong Vu, a household producer and trader of bamboo and rattan handicrafts from Ninh So craft village in Hong Van commune (Hanoi), who has a booth at the Spring Fair 2026, said Ninh So is a traditional craft village with more than 30 households, employing hundreds of workers. Its main products include bamboo baskets, trays, sieves, fish traps, rattan baskets, bamboo–rattan trays, vases and woven art works.
To meet increasingly high market demand, artisans and production facilities in Ninh So have in recent years continuously upgraded skills, invested in resources and equipment, and applied new scientifc and technological advances to improve quality, refine designs and enhance aesthetics. As a result, products have become more diverse, durable and visually appealing. Many are now favoured by domestic consumers and exported to numerous countries worldwide.
Hoang Thi Dang from Phu Vinh craft village in Phu Nghia commune (Hanoi) brought to the Spring Fair 2026 a range of products made by her family and other households in the village, including baskets, gift boxes, fruit trays and food covers. These are not merely everyday household items but also the crystallisation of rural culture, craftsmanship and folk knowledge passed down through generations.
According to Dang, amid the strong growth of industrial products, especially the widespread use of plastic, aluminium and stainless steel, village artisans have remained persistent in innovating and elevating the value of Phu Vinh bamboo and rattan crafts. As a result, handmade products are not only well received and competitive with other materials, but have also gone beyond basic utility to become artistic items imbued with Vietnamese identity. Through the fair, she hopes domestic and international consumers will better understand the value of traditional products, helping craft villages expand markets and sustain ancestral trades.
From a consumer’s perspective, Nguyen Thi Tuyen of O Cho Dua ward (Hanoi) said the use of bamboo and rattan products in households has been making a comeback thanks to clear advantages over plastic, aluminium or stainless steel items. Previously, her family mainly used plastic and metal utensils for convenience and availability. However, over time these items tend to retain odours, become hot when in contact with food, and are less safe for hot dishes.
In recent years, her family has prioritised bamboo and rattan items such as food covers, baskets and fruit trays. Bamboo food covers are well ventilated, preventing condensation, limiting flies and mosquitoes, and keeping food fresh. Meanwhile, bamboo and rattan trays and baskets are light, durable, easy to clean, do not scratch kitchen surfaces, and create a warm, familiar atmosphere in living spaces.
Preserving “spirit of bamboo” today
According to artisans in traditional bamboo and rattan villages in Hanoi, Bac Ninh and Ninh Binh, maintaining and developing this craft has provided stable employment for many underemployed rural workers, with average incomes of around 200,000 VND (about 8 USD) per person per day. Most bamboo and rattan products are reasonably priced and affordable for a wide range of consumers. Some items carry relatively high economic value.
Nguyen Van Tien, who has many years of experience in researching and trading bamboo and rattan products in Vinh Phuc ward (Phu Tho province), noted that Vietnam boasts rich and diverse vegetation, with abundant raw materials such as rattan, bamboo, reed, cane and water hyacinth. These resources can be sustainably harvested while being replanted and cultivated to form concentrated material zones, ensuring long-term supply for production.
Tien said that continued attention and investment in the bamboo and rattan craft will create significant opportunities for rural employment, helping people secure stable incomes and gradually improve living standards, while also preserving and promoting traditional handicrafts. Bamboo and rattan products align well with current consumption trends, he said, explaining that they are environmentally friendly, made from rapidly renewable natural materials, biodegradable, and contribute to reducing plastic waste and protecting ecosystems.
In addition, bamboo and rattan products are highly versatile, meeting a wide range of daily needs - from household items to interior décor and gifts. Thanks to artisans’ skill, each product bears its own distinctive character, reflecting aesthetic value and Vietnam’s traditional cultural identity. This is why bamboo and rattan products are increasingly embraced by diverse consumer groups and are steadily making their way onto international markets./.
VNA
