Thanh Cong Cooperative, established in 2019 in Dan Chu ward, Hoa Binh city, has provided vocational training for rural, ethnic minority labourers, while helping them in selling bamboo, rattan, and brocade products, and preserving the Muong people’s culture.
Thanh Cong Cooperative in Dan Chu ward, Hoa Binh city, has helped preserve and promote brocade weaving, and create jobs for locals.
Phung Thi Tiep, from Mat Tren hamlet, Dan Chu ward, said in 2010, she and other five women in the neighbourhood established a brocade weaving group, and they then joined Thanh Cong Cooperative.
"Brocade weaving helps raise income for my family,” she said.
Quach Thanh Cong, director of the cooperative, said with its members being locals who have experience in rattan, bamboo, and brocade weaving, Thanh Cong offers unique products.
From a membership of only seven, the cooperative now gathers 20 official members, and around 40 seasonal workers, he added.
To continue preserving cultural traits in brocade weaving and generating jobs for rural, ethnic minority people, the cooperative has coordinated with the farmers’ unions of Dan Chu and other communes and wards in organising refresher courses for its members and local women.
In 2022 and 2023, there were four training classes for industrial sewing with 120 members, two for bamboo and rattan weaving with 60 members, and two others for brocade weaving with 60 members, helping satisfy workforce demand of businesses and craft villages in the locality.
Last year, the cooperative’s revenue exceeded 3.3 billion VND (130,499 USD), and the average monthly income of its labourers reached 11.9 million VND.
Nguyen Duc Thinh, Chairman of the Dan Chu Ward People’s Committee, said the Muong people make up over 40% of local population, expressing his hope that Thanh Cong Cooperative will create more jobs to raise income for rural labourers, contributing to local socio-economic development.
After being instructed by her grandmother and mother, Ho Y Du in Hang Kia hamlet, Hang Kia commune in Mai Chau district could embroider difficult and elaborate patterns on her first brocade dress that she made herself. According to the customs of the H’Mong ethnic group in the district, any girl must make a beautiful brocade dress for herself when she turns 10 to mark her maturity as well as to demonstrate the ingenuity and diligence of H’Mong girls.
In recent years, the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage values of ethnic groups in Thai Binh ward in Hoa Binh city has achieved important results, with tangible and intangible cultural values given attention.
Quang Tien commune in Hoa Binh city, home to over 1,300 Muong ethnic minority people, has worked to preserve and promote the traditional cultural traits of the group.
Lac Son district, home to an array of tangible and intangible cultural heritage items of the Muong ethnic group, has paid due attention preserving and promoting the values of their unique culture.
With rich knowledge of medicinal materials in nature, Dao ethnic minority people in Tu Son commune of Kim Boi district have practiced traditional medicine for generations and brought their long-standing therapies into play in the current life.
