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Sedge mats of Phu Tan village not only serve locals, but also meet the demand of people in the Central Highlands and Southern Central provinces. The weather in these areas is dry and hot; therefore, sedge mats are ideal to ensure local people a good sleep.
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Phu Tan trade village has more than 25 hectares of land for sedge cultivation. With stable products, the trade village has maintained its development, securing jobs for over 600 local laborers.
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The trade village’s average revenue from selling their products has reached over VND 5.3 billion a year and each sedge-worker can earn nearly VND 4 million per month.
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Sedge mat-making requires a certain process. Collected sedge is dried in the sun before being dyed. After that, the dyed sedge is dried in the sun again. Sedge dying is important, requiring experience.
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The color of sedge is nicer if it is dried in bright sunlight.
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To meet the market’s demands, many local households have bought mat-weaving machines to help boost productivity.
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Most of the local laborers are women.
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Many local elderly are still involved in the craft as the instructors for beginners. A pair of hand-made mats can cost between VND 50,000 and VND 60,000 while a pair of mats made by machine charge from VND 130,000 to 160,000.
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The village’s mats are being marketed in provinces of Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, Binh Dinh and more. The village is situated in An Cu commune, Tuy An district. Visitors are advised to visit both the village and O Loan lagoon in a day.

Source: VnExpress

Translated by Song Anh