Ba Đông Craft Village – A Fascinating Tourist Destination

Ba Đông Craft Village, just hearing the name brings a flutter to the hearts of people. It has deeply embedded itself into the strenuous and hardworking lives of the people in Hoàng Xá, Thanh Thủy District. Apart from dealing with the scorching sun and the rainy days of the farming season—one sunny day, two dewy days—the residents here endure and toil at their daily life. They immerse themselves in the craft of bamboo and rattan weaving, earning their livelihood during lean times, persevering through the eighth month and the third day of the lunar calendar. With bamboo baskets, bamboo mats, and bamboo trays carried by the people from the elderly to the children, under the harsh summer sun and the biting cold of winter, their tired steps traverse each rice field, each corner, each small hill, searching for small shrimps and crabs, and catching fish for their daily meals. The baskets, the trays, the winnowing pans, and the fans—these items support the simple lives of the people in Ba Đông Village and many other places across the country. The raw materials are none other than bamboo at the village’s entrance and rattan at the alley’s head. These materials form the basis for the simple, rustic products that have sustained the lives of the resilient people through thick and thin, gradually developing their way of life.

Ba Dong Village Products

Products from Ba Đông Craft Village

To affirm the continuity of the bamboo and rattan weaving craft passed down by their forefathers, the younger generation is not only educated in schools but is also taught this craft. Thus, the craft persists and thrives, maintaining a traditional craft village that leaves a precious cultural heritage for the Vietnamese village. Visiting the household of Mr. Phan Văn Đèn, 75 years old, in Ward 10, Ba Đông Village, Hoàng Xá Commune, he shared that their family has been engaged in this craft for 50 years. Although the products are inexpensive, ranging from three to ten thousand dong per item, they have provided a certain income for the family for many years. Currently, there are around 20 to 30 households in the commune still practicing and sustaining this craft, contributing to the maintenance and development of a traditional craft village that leaves behind the invaluable cultural essence of a Vietnamese village.

Craft Activities in Ba Dong Village

Craft Activities in Ba Dong Village

Handicraft activities in the households

In the modern era, though life has become more advanced, the products of the craft village evoke a sense of nostalgia in each of us. Everyone wants to preserve them as household items, memorabilia, or decorations. This is the reason why the craft village is increasingly asserting itself and developing to serve the people. These are the gifts that tourists from afar often cherish when visiting Ba Đông Village, imbued with traditional values.

Once tourists visit the craft village, they immerse themselves in the simple, rustic village life, experiencing with the locals as they participate in the meticulous and delicate bamboo and rattan weaving process. This becomes an interesting and novel experience in the journey of international tourists. Ba Đông Craft Village is located about 5 km from the Thanh Thủy hot mineral springs resort, nestled amidst historical relics such as Đình Đào Xá, and Đền Lăng Sương. This becomes an unmissable destination when visiting Thanh Thủy. A tourist package combining a trip to the hot mineral springs resort in Thanh Thủy with an exploration of Ba Đông Craft Village will provide weekend tourists with a meaningful and enjoyable holiday experience.