Phu My basket boat craft village in Tuy An District, Phu Yen Province, south-central Vietnam draws many tourists and foreign companies by preserving traditional techniques, from raw material processing to the final product, including a distinctive waterproofing method using cow dung.

Over the decades, Phu My basket boat craft village has evolved significantly.

At its peak, about 50 households were involved in making basket boats, but owing to unstable income, only a few families continue the craft today.

Among them is a married couple, Truong Van Trung and Truong Thi Bich Kieu.

Visitors to their workshop can observe the dedication and precision of traditional basket boat weaving first-hand.

Trung explains that choosing the right bamboo, neither too old nor too young, is essential for crafting a high-quality basket boat.

Originally from Nghe An Province in north-central Vietnam, Trung has been working in this village for over 20 years, managing the entire basket boat production process alongside his wife.

He points out that handcrafting basket boats is labor-intensive, which is why it attracts so few enthusiasts.

The bamboo used is sourced from riverside areas in Tuy An District, then cut into small, even pieces and sun-dried for four to five days.

The key step involves thinning the bamboo and weaving it tightly to form the basket bottom.

Next comes the rim-bending stage, where the worker creates a mold by digging a pit and placing the finished basket mat into it.

Trung explains that this crucial step ensures the basket remains round, balanced, and free from deformation; rim clamps are used to tighten and straighten the rim.

Once the basket is shaped, Kieu rolls it out to dry in the sun before moving on to a special finishing stage that enhances its strength and gives it a shiny, beeswax-like appearance.

Kieu evenly applies fresh cow dung over the surface of the basket boat to seal the gaps between the bamboo strips.

Once the first layer dries, a second layer is added, followed by two more layers of dipterocarpus alatus resin to ensure durability.

“The waterproofing technique using cow dung and dipterocarpus alatus resin, passed down from our ancestors, not only gives the baskets a beautiful color but also makes them resistant to termites,” Kieu elaborated.

“The cow dung seals the bamboo gaps, and the dipterocarpus alatus resin bonds them tightly.

"This waterproofing layer can last up to five years in seawater.”

Despite the challenging and odorous process, Kieu and her family take pride in upholding this tradition.

Basket boats are priced between VND1.5 million (US$60) and VND3 million ($120), depending on size.

Sales fluctuate with demand, as the baskets are primarily used by fishermen for squid fishing, tourist transport, or export.

“The Phu My baskets are highly stable at sea due to their design and are also easy to maneuver in narrow spaces,” Kieu added.

“If a bamboo basket gets torn or punctured, it can be repaired. 

“Making these baskets is labor-intensive but profitable. 

“We maintain the traditional methods, which our customers appreciate.”

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