Hanoi (VNA) – A Raglai ethnic artisan in the central province of Khanh Hoais making efforts to preserve his group’s traditional crafts of weavingpapooses and creating crossbows and chapi (a musical instrument), which haslargely been fallen into oblivion.

Artisan MauHong Thai, residing in To Hap town, Khanh Hoa’s Khanh Son district, has made ithis life-time job, crafting papooses (a popular baby carrier for many ethnicpeople across Vietnam), crossbows, and chapi musical tool, for the daily use oflocal residents.


Themountainous district of Khanh Son has been well-known for its papoose weavingand traditional musical instrument making for years. For Raglai people,paoooses and chapi have become their close friends over many generations.

“If Raglaipeople do not maintain the crossbow or chapi craftmanship, Raglai identity willbe lost,”Thai said.

Despite theage and challenges, the artisan has established classes to pass down the skillsfor young people, aiming to preserve the trade for the locality.

The artisanhas become famous in the region thanks to his dedication, passion and hisproducts, with designs that strike the eye and a durable quality.

Accordingto Thai, to obtain a papoose or crossbow with good quality, or a chapi withexcellent sounds, a specific type of “lo o” (local bamboo) must be selected forthe products.

“The most challenging thing is the shortage of “lo o” due to exploitation. I have to work hard to earn enough money to buy the suitable “lo o”, Thai said. 


The artisantosses and turns all night thinking of how to enhance understanding of theimportance of preserving the traditional Raglai crafts.

Heexpressed his delight that now many local people are doing the same as him tocarry on with the traditional cultures and craftsmanship.

Thai wishesthe crafts will not only be preserved them amongst local people, but alsointroduced to visitors.-VNA