Sung Trai commune, Meo Vac district, 120 km from Ha Giang town, 90 % covered by stone with difficult climate and communication is most unfavourable for economic development. In recent years, linen weaving has become a way out for the livelihood of the local people as well as tourism development in the rocky region.
Mr Phan Quay Chien of Dao ethnic minority owns the biggest linen weaving household in the commune. He explained that first, flax must be planted on the mountain. In June, the crop will be collected and linen fibre taken out and dried. The fibre will be spun into yarn then woven into linen cloth. Dyeing is an important part for traditional linen. Indigo liquid gives the linen a permanent dark blue after drying. The cloth is then made into Tapu dress, Nai pant, and skirts of Dao and Mong ethnic minorities.
The linen weaving is a long tradition of the ethnic minorities. Dao and Mong people like the linen for it is stronger than cotton and closely associated with their belief. They believe that when they die the linen will taken them to meet the ancestors and re-birth for the next life.
According to old lady Sung Thi May, an artisan of over 80 years old in Sung Trai commune, the linen weaving requires special skill, a criteria showing the talent and quality of Mong girls before their marriage. The work starts from taking out the bark, making it into fibre, then yarn and long process of weaving.
Mr Ta Van Lam, Chairman of Sung Trai People’s Committee said that the commune has a population of over 2,000 people with average food output of 338kg per person. 50 households are engaging in linen weaving, supplying to the market hundreds of traditional clothes a day. Each household earns some VND1 million a month. Though Sung Trai people still live on planting maize and raising cows, linen weaving help them reduce poverty.
Each household runs a workshop with increasing number of workers. Mr. Chiem’s family hired 6 workers with two sewing machines. They can make 10 Tapu suites a day. Linen suites are most appreciated by ethnic minorities as they are both warm and strong. The average price is VND25,000 a Tapu dress. His family can earn over VND1 million a month during the Tet. In addition to products for local consumption, his family also receives orders from foreign tourists worth nearly VND1 million. The special products need careful work and dyeing for three months.
The linen weaving is developing and becoming a tourist attraction, Dao and Mong people are hospitable and ready to introduce their craft villages and traditional products. According to Mr. Lam, the main motifs are still in shapes of geometry, rectangular, square and diamond-shape. The colours are mainly blue, red, violet and yellow. Besides clothes, they also make blankets, curtains, towels. However to meet the demand of tourists, they should also make pillows, scarves, bags in linen with traditional motifs more eye-catching to tourists, Mr. Lam concluded.
Tuyet Ha
Vietnamese
