It's a small, low-cost boat found all over Southeast Asia made from local materials to a traditional design. All are flat-bottomed for use as close inshore or river fishing boats. The lightness and ease of maintenance makes the sampan ideal for relatively calm waters. All traditional boats are designed according to local conditions and the materials available. The Vietnamese ‘sampan’ is a good example. The most common design is a small circular craft made of woven bamboo affixed to a stronger bamboo hoop, caulked with pitch