The Hmong girl and her dream of brocade weaving.

Driven by her passion for threads and patterns bearing the imprint of her ethnic identity, Hờ Thị Nhè, a Hmong girl born in 2001 in Púng Luông village, Púng Luông commune, is diligently weaving Hmong culture amidst the rhythm of modern life. Beside her automatic brocade weaving machine, Nhè imbues each stitch with pride and love for the vibrant colors of her people's culture.

On a weekend afternoon, following the winding road leading to Púng Luông village, we found Hờ Thị Nhè's brocade stall. The sound of the weaving machine mingled with the lively chatter and laughter of the visitors, enlivening the small village. Around the loom, tourists crowded together, some filming, some taking photos, and some even asking to touch the freshly woven fabric, amazed by the exquisite craftsmanship. Hờ Thị Nhè's small hands nimbly adjusted each spool of thread, her eyes following each strip of fabric as the traditional patterns gradually appeared. Hờ Thị Nhè gently explained to the visitors in detail how to combine the threads and create the patterns, her eyes shining with pride.

Hờ Thị Nhè said: "The machine is faster, but this pattern is still designed by me; it's a design from the Hmong people of Púng Luông."

A little later, as the crowd gradually dispersed, the atmosphere quieted down, leaving only the faint scent of new yarn in the small shop. While tidying up the merchandise, Nhè began her story with a gentle smile like the setting sun.

Nhè confided: “I’ve been attached to brocade since I was a child. The image of my mother and grandmother sitting by the loom, spinning yarn, dyeing with indigo, and weaving fabric is familiar. The patterns and designs have seeped into my blood without me even realizing it. When I studied at Nghia Lo Ethnic Boarding Vocational School, I studied both academics and tailoring, hoping that one day I could create Hmong dresses with a fresh, modern touch...”

After graduating and returning to her hometown, Hờ Thị Nhè opened a small tailoring shop at home. The shop was simple, with only a sewing machine, a few pieces of fabric, and her skillful hands. From that small corner, the young woman nurtured her dream of weaving ethnic colors day by day. Recalling the beginning, Nhè said: "Back then, there were few tourists , mostly people from the village who ordered dresses and clothes. But I thought, if I did a good job, they would definitely come back."

Then, thanks to her hard work and perseverance, Nhè's needlework gradually brought in new customers and orders from further afield, allowing the dream of brocade weaving from her small village to spread.

It was through years of tireless work at the sewing machine, each piece of fabric, each stitch, that a deep love for brocade was instilled in the young woman. That passion was further strengthened when Nhè got married, finding a life partner who would join hands with her and encourage her to pursue the traditional craft.

In early 2025, recognizing the increasing demand from tourists, Nhè and his wife decided to invest in an automatic weaving machine. Recalling the moment they made the decision to buy the machine, Nhè confided: "If we hadn't dared to try, we would have remained stuck with just a small sewing machine and wouldn't have been able to develop the craft."

Now, in the small shop, the rhythmic sound of the weaving machine fills the air. Nhè patiently changes the thread, watching each pattern gradually appear on the fabric. Each stitch seems to connect the past with the present, embodying pride and a deep love for the Hmong culture of the Púng Luông highlands. Our conversation was interrupted when a large truck stopped in front of the shop. Nhè quickly pulled us out, her eyes shining with joy. She excitedly said, “The machine we bought at home this year cost 300 million dong, two-thirds of which my husband and I borrowed. Currently, our monthly revenue is only a little over 20 million dong, but customer demand is high. Encouraged by my husband, I borrowed more money to buy this machine so I can weave more patterns faster.”

The new machine had just been assembled, and Nhè stood observing each detail, each gear, each thread stretched taut on the frame, as if trying to memorize every movement. Passion and determination were clearly visible on the young woman's face. Without further delay, Nhè tested the machine, making the swirling, undulating patterns appear vividly on the fabric.

Amidst the rhythmic sewing, each thread and pattern evokes the traditional story of the Hmong people, while simultaneously igniting in Nhè a passion and desire to integrate the culture of her homeland into each product.

Pointing to the finished fabric, Nhè smiled and said, "The Hmong people have spiral patterns, symbolizing the cycle of life. Even though things change, the culture remains. I want to incorporate that pattern into modern products so that everyone who uses them will feel familiar with it and remember the Hmong people of Púng Luông."

Perhaps it is because of this simple yet profound value that the products of the Hmong girl always exude the rustic beauty of the mountains and forests, making them popular with many people. Nhè is currently supplying wholesale pre-woven dress and shirt details to other businesses inside and outside the commune for them to sew into complete garments.

Nowadays, when people think of brocade weaving in Púng Luông, many immediately think of Hờ Thị Nhè – a young Hmong woman who has breathed new life into this traditional craft. Driven by her love for textiles, Nhè is contributing to preserving the cultural beauty of her ethnic group while also creating business opportunities for women in the village.

Comrade Sung Thi Cha - President of the Women's Union of Pung Luong commune, said: "Nhe is one of the outstanding members of the Union, dynamic, creative, daring to think and act, both preserving traditional crafts and boldly applying new technologies to production. The Women's Union of Pung Luong commune is encouraging the replication of Nha's model so that Mong women can develop their ethnic crafts in conjunction with local tourism development."

Leaving Púng Luông as the evening mist began to gently envelop the valley, we could still hear the rhythmic hum of the looms behind us. In the lingering smoke from the kitchen fires, the vibrant colors of the brocade fabrics shone brightly in the late afternoon sun, like patches of faith and hope. Amidst the hustle and bustle of modernity, a Hmong girl continues to weave traditional threads every day, connecting the past with the present so that the colors of Hmong culture are preserved and protected in the Púng Luông region.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/co-gai-mong-va-giac-mo-tho-cam-post884863.html