The Soul of Vietnamese Bamboo in Xuan Lai

Good bamboo must have even, straight internodes, no wormholes, and small hollows. The bamboo was soaked in pond mud for 4 months, then pulled out, scraped to remove the outer skin, and placed in a smoke kiln. This special kiln uses only smoke, no flame, the artisan seals it tightly with rice straw and mud to smoke the bamboo. After this stage, the smoked bamboo is dried, becoming very light, durable, and strong, resistant to borers and termites, and keeps its color for years. The bamboo emerges from the kiln in a natural brown or honeytone with a glossy finish. What makes the coloring unique is that no chemicals of any kind are used. Creating the color is a closely guarded secret refined through generations of labor and creativity by Suan Lai artisans. With over 20 years crafting smoked bamboo and rattan art, artisan Nguyen Van Khai has created many highly regarded artistic bamboo panels and bamboo furniture pieces. In 2021, his Workshop Smoked Bamboo 4 Seasons Panel Set was certified a 3-star OCOP product of Bac Ninh province. Completing one smoked bamboo panel takes 6-7 months. Every product blends the manual labor and intellectual craft of the artisan. After smoking, the bamboo and reed are smoothed into thin strips, then bound together with rattan cord. Depending on the theme, the artisan can either replicate an existing painting or create an original design. Then a sharp knife is used to scrape and clean the bamboo's outer skin. Mr. Khai's rattan and bamboo woven products stand out among Vietnam's bamboo craft offerings, delivering economic value for locals and notable environmental benefits, green, clean, and beautiful. Each piece channels the soul of the countryside into folk art panels. Most importantly, it helps farmer association members, especially poorer households, lift their incomes and provide stable, higher earnings for local workers. The growth of Xuan Lai Craft Village is the most convincing proof of the vitality of its unique bamboo and rattan craft, a traditional trait thriving within the flow of the market economy. These eco-friendly bamboo and rattan products offer real optimism for exporting Vietnam's handicrafts today.