Linen weaving by Mong ethnic minority women in Ha Giang

Located in Quan Ba district, Ha Giang province, Lung Tam is a small valley surrounded by rocky mountains. It is a land where the Mong ethnic minority people have lived for generations and found fame from weaving, creating many unique brocade products.

Making linen from flax requires a lot of work, with all stages done manually. (Photo: VNA)

What makes the Mong-made flax clothing distinguishable from others is the sophisticated brocade patterns and the beeswax drawing. The craftswomen use heated beeswax to paint traditional decorative patterns of the Mong people on the sheets. (Photo: VNA)

The Mong women split the threads carefully to obtain sheaths. The flax sheaths are then crushed in stone mortars to soften them until only the tough threads remain. After being boiled several times in water mixed with ash and beeswax, the linen threads become softer and whiter. This is when the Mong women work with their looms. (Photo: VNA)

In the Mong community, weaving is used to measure a woman’s dexterity, industriousness, and dignity. (Photo: VNA)

Lung Tam flax fabric is not only transformed into colourful dresses, scarves, and handbags but is also used for decorative products at hotels and restaurants as well as souvenirs and paintings. (Photo: VNA)

VNA