Lap Vo district, Dong Thap province is not only known as the home of immense rice fields, rich orchards, but also the “cradle” of the famous traditional mat weaving everywhere – Dinh Yen mat village.
By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Sa Dec Visitor Guide
1. Better to Know as a Tourist
Ticket: Free
Spend-time: One hour (approx)
Hours: Dawn – dusk
Food: Yes
Shop: Yes
Parking lot: Yes
Blog: https://vemekong.com/dinh-yen-mat-making-village-lap-vo-dong-thap/
Address: Dinh Yen commune, Lap Vo district, Dong Thap province.
Added values: Traveling to Dinh Yen mat village, you will see that everyone is proficient in mat weaving, from the elderly to the children. Despite going through many ups and downs, the people of Dinh Yen village, on their working faces, are always proud of their father’s traditional profession. It is not just an industry that brings jobs and income to each household. For the children of Dinh Yen, mat weaving is also a unique cultural trait ingrained in the subconscious, a noble value that needs to be promoted and preserved for many generations.
Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Dinh Yen Mat Making Village? Or maybe you found it too crowded here? We’ve got some ideas! Check out our list: Huynh Thuy Le Ancient House (30 km), Xeo Quyt Forest – Xeo Quyt Relic Area (52 km), Tram Chim National Park (Birding tour) (68 km), Thap Muoi Lotus Field in Dong Thap (66 km)…
2. Travel Guide to Dinh Yen Mat Making Village
Dinh Yen mat village is in Dong Thap province’s Lap Vo District in the Mekong Delta and people are sure to be fascinated by the colourful mats there. Red, green, yellow, and purple are the main colours used and they can be seen almost everywhere in the village, which lies along the Hau River. Some 3,000 people from several generations are involved in mat making. There are many elderly craftsmen still working in the village. The mat makers grow the sedge they require along the river. According to the local elderly of the village, mat making emerged as a profession in Dinh Yen in the 1920s. Without enough raw materials back then, villagers had to source them from nearby provinces. The craft peaked in the 1980s when the village’s products were exported to Thailand, Cambodia and East European countries. Nowadays villagers use machines to save time though the details on the mats are still completely made by hand. The village’s craft was recognised as an intangible national heritage in 2013.
3. What to Do – See – Eat at Dinh Yen Mat Making Village
Coming to the mat village, visitors will be surprised and delighted with the bustling working atmosphere full of vitality of the people here as attractive, pulling visitors’ footsteps. This place is always colorful, from inside the house to the alley with green, red, yellow, white, purple, etc., Along with the chattering laughter of boys and girls mixed with the clack of the boys and girls. The loom echoed in the distance from the alley. You will feel the warmth and closeness of the people here, they always radiate openness with the passion for traditional work that their ancestors have passed down for generations.
In the past, Dinh Yen mat weaving village was also famous for its night market. Normally, each market will only be held for 2 hours for traders to transport mats and then sell them everywhere. The reason why many people call this session “ghost market” is because the market is held late at night, without any electric lights.
Nowadays, traders do not pick up goods at night anymore, due to convenient roads and more modern means of transportation. But the memories of the life of this night market are still told to the next generation.
4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong
As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.
From Dong Thap 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 Dong Thap. 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 Dong Thap daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
5. Google Maps of Dinh Yen Mat Making Village
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 Dinh Yen Mat Making Village 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. These 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 Dong Thap 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 Dong Thap.
7. Responsible Travel and Advice to Visit Dinh Yen Mat Making Village
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 is one of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.
8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of Dinh Yen Mat Making Village (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. 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 in the Sa Dec flower village, this will help you have the best experience in Sa Dec, Dong Thap province. There are so many flower gardeners who are watering and gardening the Sadec flower farms in the early morning with the amazing Sa Dec sunrise.
If you plan to extend your travel to Sa Dec homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.
Visit Sa Dec 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 Sa Dec responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.
Sa Dec 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 Sa Dec 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 Hu Tieu Sa Dec (Sa Dec noodle soup), Sadec Crab Hotpot, Nem Lai Vung (Vietnamese fermented pork roll in Lai Vung), Sa Giang shrimp chips, Lai Vung tangerine fruit…
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 Sa Dec in the rainy season, as Sa Dec always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.
Sa Dec tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Sa Dec Flower Village, Huynh Thuy Le ancient house, Tu Ton Rose Garden, Dong Thap Museum, Xeo Quyt forest – Xeo Quyt relic area, Gao Giong Ecotourism park (Cao Lanh), Lai Vung tangerine garden, Tram Chim National Park (Birding tour), Kim Hue Pagoda, Thap Muoi Lotus Field in Dong Thap, Dinh Yen Mat Making Village, Kien An Cung Pagoda, Phuong Nam Cultural Tourism Area, Phuoc Kien pagoda (lotus leaf pagoda), The Burial Place of Nguyen Sinh Sac, Sa Dec Town Park, Happy Land Hung Thy Tourist Area, date fruit garden, Sa Dec Market, Lai Vung Tangerine Garden
Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Sa Dec, Dong Thap province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!
“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.
Thank you
