Art from the hands

Preserving traditional costumes of the Dao Tien ethnic group in Ban Bung

Red Dao women in Mo Sat village embroider traditional costumes - a cultural beauty preserved through many generations.

National pride

Born and raised in Mo Sat village, Trai Cau commune, Ms. Trieu Thi Thoa - a typical Red Dao woman, since childhood she has watched her mother's nimble hands on the loom. Every time she saw her mother thread the needle, pull the thread, the square, diamond, leaf-shaped patterns gradually appeared, she was fascinated to watch. "At that time, I simply thought that my mother was embroidering for beauty, but the older I get, the more I understand that each pattern is a story, a memory, a soul of the Dao people", Ms. Thoa shared.

The traditional costume embroidery of the Dao Mo Sat people is not only a skill, but also a cultural symbol with deep spiritual meaning. The fabric for the costumes is woven from cotton, dyed with forest leaves, and then hand-embroidered with colored threads. Each detail carries its own message: red symbolizes luck and lasting vitality; black symbolizes mother earth and steadfastness; and the embroidered lines of mountains and streams represent the connection between humans and nature.

Ms. Trieu Thi Thoa (middle) introduces traditional costume embroidery techniques to tourists.

Ms. Thoa said that before getting married, a traditional Red Dao woman must embroider her own wedding dress. That dress is kept for life, demonstrating her diligence, ingenuity and national pride. The dress is not just something to wear, but also a passion, a wish for happiness and peace.

From that passion, Ms. Trieu Thi Thoa has become one of the typical artisans of Mo Sat village. She regularly holds free training sessions for Dao girls in the village, teaching them how to embroider patterns, mix colors, and choose fabrics. For her, each needle and thread is a “cultural lesson” to help the younger generation understand and love their ancestors’ heritage more.

International tourists experience embroidery

Not stopping at preserving the craft, Dao Mo Sat women also find ways to turn traditional embroidery art into a direction for economic development. From traditional costumes, they create more products for daily use such as scarves, bags, wallets, innovative short shirts... that are both imbued with the Dao ethnic group's colors and suitable for modern tastes.

Mr. Ban Sinh Thang, an official of Trai Cau commune, said: The embroidery profession of the Dao Mo Sat people requires meticulousness and sophistication. The women not only maintain the profession but also promote and mobilize each other to preserve and promote traditional cultural values. Many women have established groups and small production models to support each other in economic development, increase income, and at the same time promote ethnic culture to domestic and foreign tourists.

Ms. Le Quynh enjoyed the experience of wearing traditional costumes of the Red Dao people with Ms. Trieu Thi Thoa.

Thanks to that consensus, the hand-embroidered products of Ms. Thoa and her sisters have been present at many cultural fairs of the province, loved by tourists for their sophistication, uniqueness and craftsmanship. One special thing is that recently, many foreign tourists have come to Mo Sat to learn and experience the traditional embroidery of the Dao people. Among them is Ms. Le Quynh, a Chinese woman living in Thai Nguyen, who is very fond of the culture of Vietnam's ethnic minorities.

During her visit to Trai Cau, Ms. Quynh had the opportunity to meet Ms. Trieu Thi Thoa and experience the hand-embroidered art of the Red Dao people there. Under Ms. Thoa's guidance, Ms. Quynh practiced embroidering a small red flower pattern on indigo fabric.

Ms. Le Quynh shared: I had known about the traditional embroidery of the Han and Miao people in China, but when I came here, I was really surprised. Each pattern on the Dao people's costumes has a deep meaning and the color combinations are very delicate. I feel the love for the homeland, the patience and national pride in every needle and thread. I understand why each Dao costume is so precious.

After the experience, Ms. Le Quynh also ordered a Red Dao costume to bring back as a souvenir and share this cultural story with friends in China.

Nowadays, when modern life brings many changes, many traditional values are gradually forgotten. But in Mo Sat village, Dao women like Thoa still persevere in keeping their profession, considering it a way to preserve the national soul. On every festival or New Year, the whole village is brilliant in the red of traditional costumes. The Pao Dung singing echoes through the mountains and forests, mixed with the cheerful laughter of women embroidering and telling old stories.

In recent years, the local government has coordinated with the cultural sector to organize many programs to promote and introduce the embroidery art of the Dao people to tourists. Mo Sat village was chosen as a community tourism experience site, where visitors can learn sewing, embroidery and listen to cultural stories from the local people. The image of a Dao woman diligently embroidering has become a beautiful symbol, associated with the spirit of labor, creativity and preservation of national culture.

From the skillful hands of Ms. Trieu Thi Thoa and the Dao Mo Sat women, the traditional embroidery art is being revived, becoming a “connecting thread” between the past and the present, between the villagers and tourists from all over the world. Each product not only has aesthetic value, but is also the crystallization of history, culture and love for the homeland.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202511/nghe-thuat-tu-doi-tay-9684c15/