Considered an excellent artisan with more than 70 years of experience in the profession, Ms. Ngo Thi Pho recalled: I have followed my mother to learn weaving since I was a child. The work begins with clearing, exposing to the sun, and dyeing with natural plants such as anytime trees, turmeric, etc. Each canopy is not only a product but also the heart of the craftsman, containing the soul of the Khmer people".
According to Ms. Pho, the most difficult period of the profession was in the 1990s when many households quit their jobs due to lack of raw materials and competitive pressure from industrial products.
''At that time, I was determined to keep my profession, create two-sided patterns, and make a difference to suit the market. Thanks to that, the craft village has gradually revived," Ms. Pho shared.
Not only Ms. Pho, Ms. Diep Thi Som - another artisan in the craft village - also started learning the craft at the age of 10 and still maintains the traditional handmade weaving method.
"Weaving is a profession passed down by father to son, preserving the culture and beliefs of our people. I hope that future generations will continue to keep the profession, not let it go to waste, said Ms. Som.
Currently, Ham Tan commune has about 90 households maintaining the weaving profession, of which 4 households use weaving machines with 7 machines, most of the rest still maintain manual weaving using bamboo frames. Each year, the craft village provides about 40,000 pairs of displays, including many types such as cotton displays, lettering displays, popular in and outside the province, and even exported to Cambodia.
Recently, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tra Vinh province coordinated with Tra Vinh University to organize vocational training classes to preserve and promote traditional values. The fact that Ca Hom weaving is recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (August 2024) has added motivation to the community to preserve the craft.
Mr. Duong Hoang Sum - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tra Vinh province - emphasized: "Ca Hom weaving is the 8th national intangible heritage of the province, and at the same time the first traditional profession in Tra Vinh to be recognized. This is an important milestone in preserving the cultural values of the Khmer people, while opening up opportunities to develop cultural tourism associated with the profession.
The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is developing a plan to turn weaving into a unique cultural tourism destination, where visitors can directly experience the weaving process and learn about the cultural life of the Khmer community.
The Ca Hom weaving profession is not only a livelihood but also a journey to preserve and promote the typical spiritual and cultural values of the Khmer people in the South. The story of artisans like Ms. Ngo Thi Pho and Ms. Diep Thi Som is a testament to their perseverance, creativity and love for the profession, contributing to preserving the soul of a precious traditional heritage.
