Rattan and bamboo are the raw materials used for basketwork.
Each ethnic group and each area has its own techniques and own
patterns. The Tays’ are square-shaped, often decorated with floral
patterns, while the Dao’s (Mien) and the Lao’s are raised designs with
colour strokes.
For their domestic use, the Nung and the Tay
make very fine baskets for sorting rice or legumes. In order to protect
them, they store them over the wood fire where the smoke makes them
more resistant. The Vietnamese shoulder piece is the most popular
carrying device in the lowlands, while the back-basket is found
everywhere in the mountains.
