A Traditional Craft Shaped by Land, Materials and Skilled Hands
In Kim Son, Ninh Binh, handicraft is closely connected with the landscape and everyday life of the local community. For generations, sedge has been cultivated and transformed by skilled hands into practical and decorative products, creating a craft tradition that has become part of the identity of this coastal region.
The craft began with simple household items such as mats and baskets and has gradually developed into a diverse range of contemporary handicrafts. Today, sedge can be shaped into trays, baskets, boxes, bags, hats, home accessories and many other products for both domestic and international markets.
From Natural Materials to Finished Products
A handmade sedge product begins long before the weaving process. The material must be carefully selected, prepared, dried and, when required, dyed before it is ready for production. Each stage influences the texture, strength, appearance and final character of the product.
Water hyacinth has also become an important material for local handicraft production. Its natural texture and flexibility allow artisans to create different forms and weaving patterns while making use of a locally available material. The development of water hyacinth products has provided another way for traditional weaving skills to remain relevant in contemporary markets.
The Craft Lives in the Hands of Artisans
What gives these products their character is not simply the material itself, but the experience of the people who work with it.
The rhythm of weaving, the tension of each strand and the accuracy required to form a balanced shape are skills developed through practice and passed from one generation to another. Behind every finished piece is patience, familiarity with the material and an understanding of how traditional techniques can be adapted to different designs.
This human element is what makes handmade products different from mass-produced alternatives. Small variations in texture and weaving are not imperfections; they are reminders that each piece has passed through the hands of a skilled maker.
Keeping a Traditional Craft Relevant
The value of Kim Son’s sedge craft extends beyond the products themselves. The craft has long contributed to local livelihoods and continues to provide work for a large community of growers, processors and artisans. Official local sources report that the craft supports tens of thousands of local workers and that Kim Son sedge products have reached international markets.
For this reason, preserving the craft does not mean keeping it unchanged. It means allowing traditional knowledge to move forward — combining familiar techniques and natural materials with contemporary designs, new product ideas and changing customer needs.
From Kim Son to Homes Around the World
Today, products made from sedge and water hyacinth can bring a distinctly Vietnamese handmade character into modern homes, hospitality spaces and lifestyle collections.
For Green Sun, working with these traditional materials is also a way to connect craftsmanship with contemporary living. Each collection carries the natural beauty of the material, the skill of the artisan and a small part of the cultural heritage of Kim Son.
As traditional craft continues to evolve, every handmade product has the potential to do more than serve a practical purpose. It can help keep a local skill alive, create opportunities for artisans and carry the quiet story of a Vietnamese craft village to customers around the world.
