Thanh Hoa (VNA) - Lan Ngoai village, nestled in the heart of Pu Luong Nature Reserve in the central province of Thanh Hoa, is dedicated to preserving and promoting its traditional brocade weaving. Here, Thai ethnic minority women keep alive the art of creating unique patterns that reflect the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Brocade weaving - unique traditional craft of Lan Ngoai village
The brocade weaving craft dates back to the 18th century (around 1749), when the Ha and Lo families - two major Thai ethnic clans in Thanh Hoa - settled in the area. The fertile valley in the locality allowed local residents to grow cotton and mulberry and raise silkworms, providing materials for weaving. After 276 years of development, the village was officially recognised as a traditional craft village by the provincial People’s Committee in 2021.
Ha Thi Nhan, 80, a resident in Lan Ngoai village, has practised brocade weaving for 65 years. Growing up to the rhythmic sound of weaving from her mother and grandmother, she learned to harvest cotton and mulberry leaves and raise silkworms. Nhan said that her mother began teaching her the craft when she was 10 years old, starting with simple weaving and later progressing to designing and colour-coordinating traditional textile patterns.
“Every Thai girl is taught how to weave brocades by her mother and grandmother from a young age,” Nhan said, adding that for Thai women in Lan Ngoai village, preserving the traditional craft is not merely a means of livelihood but also a responsibility to safeguard the cultural heritage of their ancestors.
According to Nhan, creating beautiful brocade products involves numerous meticulous steps, from growing, harvesting, and processing cotton to spinning it into thread. The process requires skills and patience.
She said that the most challenging part of brocade weaving is creating the patterns. Designs may depict plants, animals, diamonds, or eight-petaled flowers, each carrying its own meaning and telling stories that reflect a deep connection to nature and cultural significance.
Today, Lan Ngoai is no longer a quiet Thai village. The rhythmic sound of looms and colourful brocade products signals the craft’s revival, which not only boosts incomes for residents but also helps preserve the unique cultural heritage of the Thai community in Pu Luong.
Weaving craft remains foundation for sustainable tourism development
In recent years, Pu Luong commune's authorities have been reviving and developing the craft in Lan Ngoai village, linking it to tourism development. Over the past five years, Lan Ngoai has become an attractive tourism destination where visitors can observe, experience the production process, and purchase unique handmade products.
Currently, as many as 105 households in Lan Ngoai are directly engaged in the craft, earning 6–7 million VND per person each month. Beyond serving local demands, their handmade products are highly favoured by tourists, particularly international visitors.
Roistacher Bob, an 82-year-old tourist from the US, said he was fascinated by the cotton spinning and hand-weaving process.
According to Ha Van Tung, Head of Pu Luong Commune’s Division of Economic Affairs, the community-based tourism model linked to brocade weaving craft in Lan Ngoai village has become a highlight of the locality’s tourism, contributing to preserving the cultural heritage while providing sustainable income and fostering economic development based on tourism potential.
The local authorities have collaborated with the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism to provide advanced training courses for handweaving workers. In 2024, Muong Khoong brocade scarf was recognised as a 3-star OCOP product. The commune is striving to have two more OCOP products in the near future.
The People’s Committee of Pu Luong commune is actively coordinating with tour operators, especially those in Hanoi, to attract international visitors to the Lan Ngoai brocade weaving craft village, while seeking resources to expand craft training and product displays./.
