There was a time people in Phu Tan village, in central Phu Yen province, thought sedge mat weaving, the region’s traditional craft, was going to die out.
A woman finishes up a mat. Mat weaving, while no longer a labour intensive process, requires a great amount of attention to detail (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - There was a time people in Phu Tan village, incentral Phu Yen province, thought sedge mat weaving, the region’s traditionalcraft, was going to die out. The old production method was labour intensive andinefficient.
That was when several villagers decided to pooltheir resources together to set up machines to help them out with mat weaving.With an initial investment of nearly 45,000 USD, they were able to set up twomachines and several years later the village has 10 machines working day andnight.
“There is still a market for our hand-madeproducts but most people prefer the machine-made ones. They are more durableand comfortable to use,” said Nguyen Van Phong, a villager who works one of themachines.
“They also require more material and therefore,more expensive. The hand-made mats are usually cheaper,” he added.
Brighten the home: Sedge is dyed various bright colours to make attractive patterns on final products (Source: VNA)
The 25-hectare sedge field is no longer enoughto provide the village with material for mat weaving. The village has beenbuying sedge from nearby villages for a few years now. There are plans toincrease sedge production to meet future demand by the mat weaving workshops.Local agriculture departments are working with farmers to expand the villagesedge field.
Quality control: A villager elder closely inspects the quality of products before allowing them to be put on sale (Source: VNA)
The village’s mats were selected as one of the13 traditional craft products to represent the province of Phu Yen.-VNA
Sedge mats made by Xuan Duc village in the Red River Delta province of Nam Dinh have been in presence of Vietnamese people lives throughout the course of history.
Vietnamese Consul General in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai highlighted the growing demand for Vietnamese workers in Kyushu, especially in Fukuoka, Oita, and Saga prefectures. Currently, the region employs about 35,000 Vietnamese manual workers and over 5,000 IT engineers.
In Vietnam’s case, she said, President Ho Chi Minh demonstrated his strategic vision by founding the revolutionary press a century ago. The late leader understood the press's role not only as a means to reflect the country’s realities but also as a powerful tool to strengthen national unity and inspire the resistance wars and national construction process.
In recent interviews granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters in Mexico, prominent figures reflected on the press’s legacy and its global influence.
VietnamPlus e-newspaper of the VNA clinched an A prize in the “Outstanding Press Product” category for its immersive 3D multimedia project, “Epic of Reunification,” a groundbreaking blend of storytelling and technology. The VNA won another A prize for its eye-catching exhibition booth.
Today, the press for foreign service has evolved into a distinct, irreplaceable force, bridging Vietnam with the world and portraying a nation that is stable, peace-loving, and fully integrated into the international community.
At a review conference held on June 21, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh praised the province’s scientific, coordinated, and flexible approach. He noted that the early completion reflects the strong commitment of local authorities, the business community, philanthropists, and residents in improving housing conditions for disadvantaged groups.
The VNA delegation, led by General Director Vu Viet Trang, actively participated in the event, engaging in both professional and diplomatic activities.
In the context where AI dominates and produces vast volumes of content, the only sustainable path forward for journalism is to focus on high-quality content and core values. Journalism must redefine its mission - not to report the fastest, but to provide the most profound and trustworthy value.
Granma and the VNA have great potential for cooperation, especially in sharing content regularly, so that VNA products are published on Granma platforms and vice versa, thereby helping Cuban and Vietnamese people access true information and gain a deep understanding of each other's country and people.
During his stay in China’s Guangzhou city from 1924 to 1927 to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Party to lead Vietnam’s revolution, President Ho Chi Minh founded “Thanh nien” newspaper and released its first issue on June 21, 1925.
Vietnam and Cambodia are hoped to strengthen their robust collaboration across various sectors, particularly in resolving remaining border issues to transform the border area into a zone of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.
The strategic product, managed and operated by the Vietnam News Agency Digital Media Centre (VNA Media), is an official channel for popularising the Party and State’s information and documents as well as delivering mainstream and trustworthy news to both domestic and international audiences through various kinds of multimedia formats.
Since President Ho Chi Minh founded Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has become the voice of the people. During the resistance war against the colonialists, journalists took great personal risks to inspire patriotism and the will of rising up against foreign invaders.
The total investment exceeded 319 billion VND (12.2 million USD), including over 261 billion VND from the state budget and 57.5 billion VND mobilised from businesses, organisations, and individuals.
The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang is intensifying efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as part of the country’s goal of having the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning lifted.
Throughout its 80-year history, the VNA has remained at the forefront of information dissemination. It has consistently delivered timely, accurate, and objective reports on both domestic and international events, serving the Party’s leadership, the State’s management, and the public’s demand for official news.
With strong support from local authorities, businesses, organisations, and residents, the province has successfully built or repaired 10,707 homes for disadvantaged households, including war veterans, families of martyrs, ethnic minority people, and low-income residents.
Throughout its resistance against colonialists and imperialists, Vietnam developed a revolutionary press that has served as a benchmark for just and legitimate causes worldwide.
Founded in 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic is regarded as a cultural ambassador of Austria, with prestigious conductors like Mahler and Karajan who shape its legacy. Its New Year’s Concert, broadcast to over 90 countries annually, stands as a global symbol of classical music excellence.
A woman finishes up a mat. Mat weaving, while no longer a labour intensive process, requires a great amount of attention to detail (Photo: VNA)
Brighten the home: Sedge is dyed various bright colours to make attractive patterns on final products (Source: VNA)
Quality control: A villager elder closely inspects the quality of products before allowing them to be put on sale (Source: VNA) 
