Tiếng Việt
Even stones and pebbles turn into rice when powered by human strength.”
In the countryside of Pho Trach – Hue, each flood season is a test of resilience.
The rice fields – cultivated with months of hard work – can be submerged in a sea of water overnight.
People can’t work the fields, nor visit the market. Moving around by small boats, rafts, or even bare feet wading through floodwater becomes a daily routine in Hue’s flood season.
Yet amidst these hardships, there’s a shining image of the village women – hair now silvered, but hands still swiftly weaving each strand of Co Bang (Lepironia grass), as if life continues with quiet strength and dignity.
“The rice has all been waterlogged, even the water reached our front yard…
Thankfully the Co Bang grows a bit taller, so it might not be affected too much unless the field stays flooded for too long (still depends on the weather).
But if it gets worse… then we’ll just replant the grass.”
That last sentence stopped me in my tracks – “We’ll just replant the grass” – so simple, so light, as if hardship had never been something to fear.
That spirit of “If… then…” – seemingly casual – is in fact the greatest lesson we’ve learned from them: They never give up.
Always with a plan. Always with hope. Always with action.
In that humble home, even when the water rises to the doorstep, Cỏ Bàng – the precious raw material – is carefully kept in the highest attic.
Clothes may be soaked, people may be drenched, but the grass must stay dry – because it is their livelihood, their food, their future.
Since we came to understand that story, we’ve never once allowed ourselves to let go of the oars…
In a world full of choices, the most vulnerable villagers are often the ones without a Plan B.
To them, Maries may be the only opportunity. That’s why in our workplace, there’s no room for laziness – and even less for giving up.
Because to preserve – and pass on – something of real value, one-time effort is never enough. It’s a long journey – sometimes broken, sometimes painful, sometimes chest-deep in rising water – but still, hands never stop moving.
Life keeps throwing the unexpected at us. And we always have a choice: To complain? Or to rise and keep going?
We choose to keep going.
Because tomorrow is a new day.
To the women – the aunties, the mothers, the sisters –
Thank you for teaching us the meaning of strength, belief, and perseverance.
Those hands – still weaving each strand of grass – are weaving a dream.
A dream called: By Viet Artisans
☘️☘️☘️
Madebymaries.com
To preserve the value of craftsmanship – from hands that never stop rowing.