This undated photo shows a woman weaving a hammock in Vietnam. (PHOTO / VIET NAM NEWS)

BINH THUAN — Sitting in front of her small grocery, Huynh Thi Nhon, 56, carefully splits dried stilt roots of Pandanus trees into fibers to make hammocks that help her earn extra income.

Nhon is one of the few people in Long Hai commune on Binh Thuan province's Phu Quy‎ Island who are keeping the craft alive.

She began making hammocks in the central coastal province when she was 15 years old.

“The island’s hammocks were very famous. Traders in wholesale markets across the country often came here to order our craft products,” Huynh recalled.In past years, most local women living on the island were hammock weavers, but now many of them have better-paid jobs.

“That was a really fun time,” Huynh said.At noon and in the evening, islanders, mostly women, were busy with orders and worked without electricity, using oil lamps at night.

This undated photo shows Huynh Thi Nhon, a woman from Phu Quy‎ Island in Binh Thuan province, Vietnam,  weaving a hammock. (PHOTO / VIET NAM NEWS)

If stored in advantageous conditions, the hammocks can be used for five to 10 years.

Today, only a few islanders weave hammocks, usually for their family’s use or for gifts for relatives and friends.

Many people now prefer industrially-made hammocks made from synthetic fibers that can be bought for cheap prices.

Handicraft skills

“The weaving process is not easy and requires patience, so it may not attract the young people,” Huynh said.

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To make the hammocks, the only material needed is the stilt root of the Pandanus tree, which grows wild throughout the island.

People cut the stilt roots from the trees, peel the bark, split it into thin sheets, and then set them out in the sun for a day.

To make splitting the sheets easier, the fibers are not fully dried, Huynh said.

“If the fibers are too dry, people can put them into seawater to soften them.”

One of the important steps is the rolling technique over the calf of the leg. “This technique will create some pain on your calf, but only for the first few days.”

In this undated photo, a woman collects stilt roots of a Pandanus tree in Vietnam. The roots are used to make hammocks. (PHOTO / VIET NAM NEWS)

Showing how it's done, Huynh pinches and holds about seven to 10 thin fibers, and then uses the full length of her right hand to roll the fibers along her right calf.

The fibers twist together into a cord.

She repeats these stages until she has enough cords for a hammock.

It takes about seven to 10 days to complete an item.

A hammock is usually 2-2.5 meters long, and has natural colours that are milky or brownish.

Tourist attraction

To revive the local craft of hammock-making, local authorities have decided to feature the craft as a tourist attraction.

Do Kim Phung, an official at the culture department at Long Hai commune’s People’s Committee, said that measures were being taken to preserve the weaving techniques for following generations.

While waiting for preferential policies from the government, locals are also actively seeking a market for their products, Do said.

This undated photo shows a young boy swinging in a hammock in Vietnam. (PHOTO / VIET NAM NEWS)

In recent years, the number of new orders has increased thanks to the strong development of eco-tourism, and the trend toward a more sustainable society with environmentally friendly products.

Phu Quy welcomes thousands of visitors every year and has seen an increase in tourists because of its pristine natural beauty.

“More people know about the island’s traditional crafts and they like our craft products,” Huynh said.

This undated photo shows a woman weaving a hammock in Vietnam. (PHOTO / VIET NAM NEWS)

Since the beginning of the year, Huynh has sold about 10 hammocks to customers and tourists who placed orders. Her son has been promoting and marketing locally made products through social networks like Facebook.

The price ranges from VND700,000 (US$30) to VND1 million (US$43) each, depending on their size.

“With changes in market trends, our traditional craft can be revived,” Huynh said.

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However, she is still worried that young people will not be interested in the craft and will move to the mainland for better job opportunities.

I hope the island’s cultural values can be preserved, and that hammock-weaving can become one of our tourist attractions soon.