Weaving is a traditional craft for many generations of ethnic minorities in the province such as Thai, Mong, Lao, Lu, Dao... Through the ups and downs of time, along with the explosion of science and technology, many advanced machines were born, but some ethnic minorities have been preserving and conserving the weaving craft.
Recently, while working at the first Cultural Festival of ethnic groups with a population of less than 10,000 people, Lai Chau Tourism - Culture Week 2023, we were impressed with the cultural space of 4 ethnic groups with very few people in the province: Lu, Cong, Mang, Si La. In particular, when the Lu women and girls demonstrated the stages of rolling, cotton picking, silk spinning, thread spinning, weaving, etc., attracting a large number of tourists and delegates to visit and experience.
Ms. Tao Thi Phum (Lu ethnic group in Ban Hon commune, Tam Duong district) said: I especially love the traditional weaving craft of my ethnic group. Thanks to that, every year I make traditional costumes for my family members. In the past, my family also grew cotton to get the raw materials for weaving; now the raw materials are available on the market, it is very convenient for me to find and buy. However, in the village there are still a few households growing cotton on the fields. Participating in the festival, my sisters and I in the commune are very proud to perform and introduce the stages of the traditional weaving craft of our ethnic group to the people in the province and tourists.
Although it is a mountainous province in the Northwest of the country, Lai Chau always leaves a good impression on domestic and international tourists because of its beautiful natural landscape; the friendliness and hospitality of the ethnic people. Especially the colorful culture of 20 ethnic groups (Thai, Mong, Dao, Kho Mu, Lao, Lu, Cong, Mang, La Hu ...) in the province. Among its unique features, the traditional weaving craft has been passed down from generation to generation.
Lu ethnic women demonstrate traditional weaving at the first Cultural Festival of ethnic groups with a population of less than 10,000 people, Lai Chau Tourism - Culture Week 2023.
Ms. Luong Thi Ty - Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Than Uyen district said: The department's staff regularly visits communes and villages to propagate and encourage people to actively preserve the national cultural identity, including traditional crafts such as weaving, knitting, and beeswax painting on fabric. Currently, the traditional weaving craft is preserved intact by the Thai, Kho Mu, and Mong ethnic groups with a variety of products: fabric for sewing clothes, making bed sheets, mattress covers, handbags, towels, etc.
Through research, we learned that, depending on each ethnic group’s traditional costume, under the skillful hands of grandmothers, mothers, and sisters, they create plain, plain fabrics and fabrics with decorative motifs. For example, the fabrics of the Thai, Mong, and Dao people are mainly made of white, then dyed indigo and embroidered with patterns, painted with beeswax before completing the traditional costume. The Lao and Lu people weave additional fabrics with patterns to sew skirts, make bed sheets, blankets, etc.
Ms. Lo Thi Pom, a Lao ethnic in Muong Khoa commune (Tan Uyen district) shared: The most difficult and elaborate step to create patterned fabrics is arranging the threads on the loom; it requires the help of many people, meticulous in every detail. Then, as the weaving progresses, the pattern is created.
In recent years, all levels and sectors in the province have always paid attention to the work of preserving, maintaining and promoting the fine cultural values of ethnic groups, including weaving. According to Mr. Tran Manh Hung - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in addition to focusing on promoting the preservation of weaving by households, currently, at the Provincial Museum and some spaces displaying ethnic cultures in Than Uyen and Phong Tho, there are models of weaving, including looms, cotton-making tools, spinning frames, etc. The province and localities have also paid attention to, selected and displayed the traditional weaving of some typical ethnic groups at major cultural and tourism events of the province.
It is known that last July, Tan Uyen district organized a class to teach Lao ethnic costume shaping techniques in Muong Khoa commune. Previously, in April 2023, the People's Committee of Ban Hon commune (Tam Duong district) organized a demonstration of the traditional weaving craft of the Lu ethnic group at the Su Khon Khoi Festival (Worshiping the Buffalo Soul).
With the attention of all levels and sectors, the enthusiasm and initiative of the ethnic people, the traditional weaving profession continues to be passed down. Thereby, gradually creating a highlight to attract tourists to visit and experience the beauty of Lai Chau's unique culture.
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