Chanthaburi Province's famous reed mats, known locally as "Suea Chanthaboon", are known for their uniqueness in durability, fine craftsmanship and decorative appearance.
The reed used to weave the mats is called "kok" reed, which grows in brackish water, making soft yet more durable than reeds grown in other environments. Jute, instead of plastic, is used as a main fiber, further increasing its durability. These unique attributes have made Chanthaburi's reed mats long famous, with customer demand outstripping production.
The legend of Chanthaburi's reed mats began when Vietnamese folk at a Catholic church noticed reeds growing in abundance in Ban Samet Ngam and Bang Sa Kao communities in tambon Nong Bua in Chanthaburi Province. They bought the reed from local villagers to weave mats and, later more and more people in the area took up the craft. Today, it is a supplementary occupation bringing in considerable income to local folk.
Every mat takes time and skill to produce, and begins by slicing the reed and stripping the jute to be split into smaller strips of desired sizes. To prevent fungus from developing, they are placed in the sun to be dried. They are then dyed, sun-dried once more, and then spun into sizes suitable for plaiting.
Jute strips were originally spun by hand but, today, the villagers use a machine developed for spinning jute. Not only floor mats, but many other products are plaited, such as place mats that have become quite popular; bags of various shapes; bed mats and slippers. These products are sometime crafted from either reed or jute and sometimes a combination of both.
Demonstrations of how reed mats are made, from beginning to end, are held in Chanthaburi Province at the Ban Samet Ngam Chanthaboon Mat Handicraft Center.
