Cam Ne Mat-Weaving Village

Cam Ne Mat-Weaving Village is one of Da Nang’s long-standing traditional craft villages, renowned for its durable, aesthetically pleasing sedge mats, featuring intricate patterns and woven entirely by hand. Located about 14 kilometers southwest of the city center, the village reflects a mat-weaving history in the Da Nang region spanning more than five centuries.

Overview of Cam Ne Mat-Weaving Village

According to records from the Da Nang City Portal, mat-weaving in Cam Ne (Vietnamese: Cẩm Nê) originated in the Hoang Hoa area of Thanh Hoa province. Migrants brought it to Central Vietnam around the 15th century, during the reign of Emperor Le Thanh Tong (1442-1497).

Over many generations, mat-weaving has become both a livelihood and a source of pride for the people of Cam Ne. Notably, during the Nguyen Dynasty, Cam Ne mats gained renown for their superior quality and were even selected as offerings for the royal court. This reputation helped spread the village’s mats across Central Vietnam.

The hallmark of Cam Ne mats lies, first and foremost, in their raw materials. The villagers use sedge plants, either grown on suitable local land or sourced from neighboring areas. Once harvested, the sedge is sun-dried, sorted by size, and dyed using either synthetic or natural pigments to achieve harmonious, balanced colors. Every step is carried out with great care to keep the sedge fibers pliable, preventing them from becoming brittle or breaking, and to keep their colors vibrant and durable over time.

Weaving a traditional mat involves several meticulous stages. After preparing the raw materials, the artisan sets up the loom, arranges each strand of sedge in its proper place, and begins weaving it with jute or synthetic fibers to form the mat’s surface. Every movement, passing the shuttle and pulling the strands, must be executed with a steady hand to ensure the mat’s surface is smooth, sturdy, and well-balanced. Once completed, the mats are trimmed, edged, and thoroughly inspected before being brought to market.

Cam Ne mats are known for their exceptional durability, smooth surface, uniform weave, and delicate patterns. Motifs such as diamonds, squares, and floral designs, along with colorful borders, combine harmoniously, offering both aesthetic appeal and a reflection of traditional Vietnamese culture. This meticulous attention to detail at every stage results in superior-quality products that have earned consumers’ trust for generations.

In the past, almost every household in the village owned a loom. The rhythmic clacking of the shuttle, heard from dawn until dusk, became a familiar sound throughout the Cam Ne countryside. Adults handled the core tasks, weaving, dyeing, and finishing the mats, while children assisted by drying the sedge, winding the fibers, or preparing the raw materials. Mat-weaving not only provided income but also strengthened family bonds, helping shape the distinct labor culture characteristic of villages in Central Vietnam.

Beyond mats for daily use, the people of Cẩm Nê also produce a wide variety of mats in different sizes and designs to meet the market’s diverse demands. They sell these products in the Da Nang area and many other provinces and cities across the country. With the growth of the tourism industry, some local workshops have begun crafting sedge souvenir products, such as handbags, storage boxes, placemats, baskets, and interior decor items, thereby enhancing the value of this traditional craft village.

In Cam Ne, visitors can explore houses that still preserve traditional looms and learn firsthand about the mat-weaving process. They can try their hand at weaving under the guidance of skilled artisans and purchase handcrafted items as souvenirs. These experiences help visitors better appreciate the value of manual craftsmanship and the cultural beauty of the rural areas surrounding Da Nang.

Cam Ne Mat-Weaving Village

• Location: Hoa Tien Commune, Da Nang City.
• Nearby tourist spots: Phong Nam ancient village, the Tuy Loan rice paper-making craft village, Tuy Loan communal house, and Marble Mountains scenic area…