Rattan is a rewarding material:durable,yet lightweight and flexible.Superficially similar to bamboo,rattan differs in that it has solid stems,whereas bamboo stems are hollow. Raw rattan is processed into several basic products,each with their own specific purpose and characteristics.The skin is peeled off to be used as weaving material, while the inner core is used as structural element for different styles of wicker.

The true impact of bamboo soon becomes clear to anyone who visits the Vietnamese countryside.Nearly everything can be made of this remarkable plant:house,walls,floors,furniture,beds,cabinets.Split into thin strips,bamboo is used to weave ropes and strings.

With an estimated 500.000 square kilometres of bamboo forests,Vietnam has an ab
Both rattan and bamboo are freshly cut in the forest,then bundled and transported to one of the many traditional handicraft villages for further processing.
undance of this extremely versatile product of nature.The plant is of high economical and culture significance.

Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant on Earth.
It has been clocked surging skyward as fast as 1 metre per day.
This accelerated growth rate is due to a unique rhizome system and is dependent on local soil and climate conditions.
Althought some bamboos flower every year, most species flower infrequently. In fact, many bamboos only flower at intervals as long as more than 100 years.

The shoots of bamboo are edible.They are used in numerous Vietnamese dishes and are available in supermarkets in various sliced forms, both fresh and canned.