Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village - Giong Trom (Ben Tre)

Ben Tre province is famous for being the land of immense green coconut trees, so the craft village producing handicraft products from coconut is also quite diverse and rich. One of the typical craft villages here is Hung Phong - Giong Trom coconut basket weaving village.

By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Ben Tre Visitor Guide

1. Better to Know as a Tourist

Ticket: Free

Spend-time: One and a half hour (approx)

Hours: Dawn – dusk 

Food: Yes   

Shop: Yes

Parking lot: Yes

Blog: /hung-phong-coconut-basket-weaving-craft-village-ben-tre/

Address: Located in Giong Trom district, Ben Tre province.

Added values:  Hoping for a bright future for this craft village, because the development of a traditional craft village not only brings economic profits, creates jobs for local workers, but also preserves the local people’s unique traditional culture values.

Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village - Giong Trom (Ben Tre)? Ben Tre City (12 minutes), Son Doc Rice paper village (27 minutes), Ben Tre Brick Factory (2 km), Thoi Son Island (21 km), Vien Minh Pagoda (24 km), Ben Tre Coconut Candy (17 km),…

2. Travel Guide to Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village - Giong Trom (Ben Tre)

Hung Phong (also known as Con Oc), is isolated from the mainland, on a floating Island. Hung Phong coconut basket weaving village has been established since 1992 with the main products of producing gift baskets, flower sockets from coconut roots. Initially, craft villages were concentrated in hamlet 3, then spread throughout the commune. In addition, the commune has also developed a new profession of making handicrafts from coconut fruit, shells, and coconut trunks. On April 8, 2009, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision 647 recognizing the coconut basket weaving craft village in Hung Phong commune (Giong Trom).

Over the past 20 years, Hung Phong is one of the communes of Giong Trom district specializing in producing coconut baskets for consumption all over the country. Hung Phong commune has 617.3ha of coconuts bearing fruit on a total of 1,222ha of natural land. It is known that the commune currently has 500 households knitting baskets, 1 cooperative group knitting baskets and 11 households purchasing coconut baskets, of which there are a few large-scale households, the rest take advantage of their leisure time to weave baskets. Many households have automatic conditions, buy ropes and coconut branches to weave baskets. Some households receive frames, ropes and coconuts from large-scale production of finished products. This job is solving jobs for about 1,500 employees. This is a light job, without funding, but provides a stable source of income for households, mainly for women.

To make a product, the craftsman has to go through many stages from rough preparation, to skillful work, firing, proportions. On average, to make a coconut basket, I have to take half a clock, including all stages such as spokes, frame columns, knitting, pinning, cracking and finally finishing the bottom of the basket. Coconut basket products also ask diligent questions and investment advice. The special feature of this art product is that it is environmentally friendly, bearing the flavor of the homeland of coconut.

3. What to Do –See – Eat at Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village - Giong Trom (Ben Tre)

According to local people, the source of raw materials for coconut stalks is mostly bought locally, priced from 10,000 to 12,000 VND/kg. On average, 1kg of coconut stalks can produce 10-12 baskets. Small baskets are delivered to traders 4,000 VND/piece, medium baskets 5,000/pcs, large baskets 6,300 - 6,500 VND/pcs. Households who buy raw materials for production by themselves earn a profit of 50%, while hiring laborers to weave baskets will divide the profit in half. Every year, some families make from 12,000 to 15,000 baskets of coconut stalks, earning an income of several tens of millions of VND, enough to cover their lives.

The products here are collected and sold by the establishment's owner in tourist areas, Ho Chi Minh City and some localities across the country.

Although the coconut basket weaving here has been formed for several decades, it has developed quite strongly. Thanks to the diverse designs, it is increasingly popular in the market, especially at the end of the year due to the demand for gift baskets, so the product is consumed a lot.

Currently, the craft village is going through a period of ups and downs, the price fluctuates up and down, but mainly the product of Hung Phong coconut stalks has not yet had a really sure and stable output. This is considered one of the difficulties that the local authorities and people in the commune are still very worried about in the current period.

4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong

As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.

From Ben Tre city center:

Route 1:

Route 2:

Route 3:

If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Ben Tre. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Ben Tre daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

5. Google Maps of Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village - Giong Trom (Ben Tre)

Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location… 

6. Visit Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village - Giong Trom (Ben Tre) by yourself

Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. Those days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.

It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from Google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Ben Tre village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Ben Tre.

7. Responsible Travel and Advice Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village - Giong Trom (Ben Tre)

Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.

8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village - Giong Trom (Ben Tre) (4k) 

If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more. 

9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers 

To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. The Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

10. Pro Tips 

You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself and I hope you have an amazing Mekong Delta river sunrise.

If you plan to extend your travel to Ben Tre homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.

Visit Ben Tre or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Ben Tre responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.

Ben Tre food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Ben Tre cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Cai Mon durian, Phu Le Rice Wine, coconut wine, coconut candy, coconut rice, snail pancake, elephant ear fish, Coconut Worm, Young Coconut Salad with Shrimp & Pork…

Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.

Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Ben Tre in the rainy season, as Ben Tre always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.

Ben Tre tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Ben Tre brick & pottery kiln, Coconut Candy Traditional Village & Small Canals, mighty Mekong river cruise, educational tour and community tour in Ben Tre, Ben Tre homestay 2D1N, cocohome homestay, Ben Tre cycling tours, Son Doc Puff Rice Paper Village, Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village, Vam Ho bird sanctuary, Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village in Cho Lach, Ben Tre Museum, An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages, Ben Tre Night Market, Phung Island (Phoenix islet), Thoi Son Island, Turtle Islet (Con Quy)…

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Ben Tre province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!

“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.

Thank you