The image of the traditional gùi—a woven basket carried on the back—has become an enduring symbol of daily life on Phú Quý Island, as captured in the folk verse:

“Though life on the islet may seem plain,

Wherever you go, there’s a basket on your back.”

Here, for generations, the gùi has remained an essential part of island life. Carefully woven from bamboo, these baskets are mainly used by women to carry agricultural produce such as corn and beans, or to collect firewood, seaweed, and wild pineapple. Some believe that the Vietnamese tradition of using the gùi on the island may have been inherited from the Chăm people who once lived here. Today, the basket is still used not only in farming but even during everyday market trips.

The gùi may be a familiar item—commonly associated with highland communities—but its presence on Phú Quý Island is unique, as it’s no longer exclusive to mountainous areas but has found a lasting home on this coastal island.

While the craft of basket weaving is now practiced by only a few elderly artisans on Phú Quý, the gùi remains so widespread that you’ll likely spot one wherever you go. Making a durable and aesthetically pleasing gùi is a meticulous process that takes three to five days and demands both skill and dedication from the artisan.

The gùi of Phú Quý Island features a square base that tapers into a round mouth. It consists of three main parts: the base (legs), the body, and the mouth. Materials used include bamboo, rattan, and lightweight, soft wood.

To ensure quality, only semi-mature bamboo—neither too young nor too old—is selected. After choosing the right bamboo, the artisan splits it into strips using a machete. The strips are smoothed into two types: vertical strips (about 1.5 cm wide) and horizontal strips (about 0.5 cm wide). Before weaving, the strips are soaked in water for 2–3 hours to make them pliable.

The crafting begins with the base and legs. The base is square, about 30 cm per side. To achieve a precise shape, two sharpened pegs are crossed and pinned beneath the basket. The base, along with four vertical supports called chong, forms the load-bearing foundation of the gùi and must be crafted carefully using selected wood. These pieces are fitted together in a cross pattern and tied to the body using rattan rope.

Next comes the body, which is about 40 cm tall. While the base is square, the basket gradually narrows and curves inward to form a round mouth. To reinforce the body, four bamboo braces (chong)—each 50 cm long and 2 cm wide—are fastened vertically outside the body, doubling as the gùi’s four legs. To prevent the body from caving in under load, two curved braces are also added inside.

The round mouth consists of two rings—inner and outer—each with a 40 cm diameter and 2 cm width. These are tightly secured to the body with rattan rope.

The final step is weaving the two straps, each about one meter long. The main strap is made from bô rope, reinforced with additional rattan for strength and comfort during use.

Though modern transportation has evolved, the gùi remains an irreplaceable item in island households—a symbol of the industrious, resilient spirit of Phú Quý’s people. As one farmer expressed:

“No one really knows when the gùi first appeared on the island—only that it’s one of the oldest tools we’ve used. Along with the machete and hoe, the gùi has been with us farmers for generations. It’s incredibly useful—from carrying sweet potatoes and vegetables to ears of corn, it does it all.”

It seems that on Phú Quý, anyone with a piece of farmland, from young to old, carries a gùi. Even people going to market use them. This is a beautiful and meaningful part of Vietnam’s cultural heritage—one that visitors to Phú Quý Island are sure to admire.