Starting from small class
The project " Joining hands with Muong people in Thach That to preserve and develop traditional handicraft techniques" began when students of Maya school were assigned the task: Find a cultural product associated with the ethnic community where they live, research it and turn it into a topic of study and practice.
Ngo Thi Minh An, an 8th grader, is one of the first members of the project. She said: "The project was launched in 2022, the year the theme for practical projects at my school was "Promoting local economic and cultural development". My school is located in Tien Xuan commune, where the Muong people make up 70% of the population. We decided to find a Muong fabric product to learn how to make and try to sell it on the market. During the research, we accidentally learned about the face-hole pillow - a pillow that plays an important role in the wedding culture of the Muong people."
Muong women of Tien Xuan commune instruct children on the technique of making acupoint pillows
However, starting such a journey is not easy: "We searched a lot on the internet, in books and newspapers, but there was almost no information about the acupoint pillow". Luckily, through a Muong woman working at the school, the children found elderly Muong women in Tien Xuan commune who still kept the pillow making technique such as Mrs. Loi, Mrs. Mien, Mrs. Thuong... and were taught each needle and thread, and shared each story behind the acupoint pillow.
"The children directly make products serving the daily life from the cultural features of the Muong ethnic group and also have creativity to make the products lively, applicable but still retain the identity of the Muong ethnic group. I am very touched and believe that the project will be successful. I hope that the project will continue to accompany the Women's Union of Tien Xuan commune to preserve and promote this precious culture", Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc - President of the Women's Union of Tien Xuan commune - shared.
Ms. Bui Thi Thuong (60 years old) said: "I have known how to make face pillows since I was little, taught by my mother. But I haven't done it for many years. Every time the commune organizes a culinary or cultural competition with Muong ethnic identity, I take out a few old pillows to display, to let everyone know that my village has such products". That is why, when Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc - President of the Women's Union of Tien Xuan commune - invited her to join the project with the students of Maya school, Ms. Thuong was very happy. "So happy! I thought if there was a project like this, why not do it? Do it to preserve our ethnic identity, so that later we have something to teach our children", Ms. Thuong expressed.
According to Ms. Thuong, the technique of making face pillows - a cultural beauty associated with the life of the Muong people, once passed down through many generations - is now facing the risk of being lost. The reason is not only due to changes in wedding customs in modern life, but also because young people leave their hometowns to make a living, the technique is difficult to learn and does not bring a stable income. All of this has caused this craft to gradually be forgotten in the community. Now, she is really surprised that young students can make such products. "I really hope to be able to accompany and support them in developing the project, making more products and introducing them to everyone," Ms. Thuong shared.
From technical conservation to product application creation
The journey of the students and the ladies did not stop at restoring the old technique. Minh An and his friends realized that if they only stopped at "preservation", the pillows would soon be just a display in the museum, no longer having a place in modern life. They designed new application products such as fabric trays, paper boxes, jewelry boxes... All are based on the technique of sewing acupoint pillows, but with added convenience and aesthetics to suit modern needs. In addition, they also built a set of documents, a website and a series of instructional videos so that everyone can learn and practice.
Handicraft products applied based on acupoint pillow sewing technique
"After a while of implementing the project, we learned about the cultural subject and we realized: The people who decide whether to preserve this technique or not are the Muong people - not the Kinh people like us," Minh An said. From there, the students proactively called on and invited Muong men and women to participate in the project: "Currently, some men have participated, making new products together. We believe that only when they truly see this as their profession, and can bring economic value, will the profession survive for a long time. In addition to preserving the culture, we hope that they can earn more income from these products."
Continuing the journey from "Small Footprints"
In November 2024, for the first time, the project team received an invitation to participate in the 3rd Hanoi Craft Village and Agricultural Products Festival. This is a large-scale event in the city, with the participation of many units and businesses in the fields of craft villages and culture. At the event, the children organized a booth to display products and introduce the project to visitors. In early 2025, the children were invited by representatives of the Tien Xuan Commune People's Committee to participate in the Muong Cultural Festival , having the opportunity to talk about culture and share about the efforts they are making in the project.
In particular, at the exhibition Small Footprints (taking place from May 24 to 27, 2025 at the Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Center, 50 Dao Duy Tu, Hanoi), the project Joining hands with Muong people in Thach That to preserve and develop traditional handicraft techniques was solemnly introduced. Here, the public can admire dozens of products made by students, Ms. Bui Thi Thuong and some Muong people such as tissue boxes, storage boxes, fabric trays, and especially the traditional face pillow.
Ms. Bui Thi Thuong and her sister Ngo Thi Minh An at the booth displaying products of the project "Joining hands with Muong people in Thach That to preserve and develop traditional handicraft techniques" at the exhibition "Small footprints" at the opening ceremony on the morning of May 24, 2025 - Photo: TT
Looking at the products neatly arranged in the display booth, Ms. Thuong could not hide her joy: "I am very happy to restore this profession. I am touched and proud of my ethnic identity. I dream that there will be a handicraft cooperative, Muong products will go further, to tourist areas, even abroad, so that everyone will know and bring income to the whole community."
Following the exhibition Small Footprints, the journey of the project to preserve the traditional handicraft of the Muong people continues. In Mrs. Thuong's small house, the sound of needles and threads still echoes. Children eagerly learn each first embroidery stitch. Mrs. Thuong believes that this profession will not disappear. Her student Minh An and her friends believe that this profession will live, and live stronger than ever. Today's small footprints will become a big road - a road to bring the traditional handicraft of the Muong people back to life, becoming a source of pride, economic value and most importantly, a constantly flowing cultural source.
Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/nhung-hoc-sinh-chung-tay-bao-ton-nghe-thu-cong-truyen-thong-cua-nguoi-muong-o-thach-that-20250524202420379.htm
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