Using bamboo and other materials which are easily worked and readily available, people throughout Thailand have for centuries been making all manner of household objects such as baskets, hats, and traps.
In rural societies both men and women may still be seen splitting bamboo into thin pliable strips that can be woven into intricate patterns. In the north the most common woven objects are steamers and containers for sticky rice, mats and traps for catching fish in the paddy fields. However, the skill demonstrated in older pieces is hard to match these days, and youngsters are seldom interested in the traditional skills.