Hang Kia and Pa Co communes of Mai Chau district are home to a large number of Mong people, who are known for the traditional craft of brocade weaving - an essence of their ethnic group.
Mong women in Hang Kia commune of Mai Chau district still uphold the traditional brocade weaving to create costumes deeply imbued with their ethnic group's cultural identity.
Located about 40km from the district's centre, this region's mountainous terrain sits over 500 meters above sea level, with the highest peak reaching 1,500 meters in the Hang Kia - Pa Co Nature Reserve. For generations, local Mong women have meticulously maintained their heritage through the intricate process of brocade weaving.
Sung Y Mua, a woman in Hang Kia hamlet of Hang Kia commune, said Mong women take immense pride in creating their traditional clothing, a labour-intensive nd time-consuming process requiring skills, patience, and dedication. From growing flax to weaving on handlooms, every step is done manually. The colorful brocade patterns they produce are rich in cultural symbolism, reflecting the aspirations and unique culture of the Mong people.
In Hang Kia and Pa Co, it is common to see Mong women working on brocade during their daily routines. Even while walking to the market or fields, they can be seen spinning flax fibres into thread. The fabric is later boiled, washed, and sun-dried multiple times before it is ready for drawing and embroidery. The entire process, from weaving to embroidering intricate and colourful designs, takes about a month.
A wide range of products made from brocades are sold by Mong women at a common market of Hang Kia and Pa Co communes, Mai Chau district.
Traditionally, brocade fabrics were used to make everyday clothing for family members. However, with the rise of tourism, brocade products have become popular souvenirs, thus enhancing the region's appeal. Improved roads from Mai Chau's centre to Hang Kia and Pa Co have also boosted goods flows, enabling brocade products of Mong people to reach a wider market. Today, many households still maintain weaving looms, and some, like Vang Y Danh in Hang Kia hamlet of Hang Kia commune, have invested in industrial sewing machines to produce a wider range of brocade items.
Mai Chau district is committed to preserving this cultural heritage by promoting the traditional craft through tourism and socio-economic development projects aimed at supporting ethnic minorities.
Lac Thinh commune, Yen Thuy district, is home to 1,635 households, of which 82% are ethnic minorities, mainly Muong people. In recent years, the commune has prioritised to developing cultural clubs, aiming to both enrich the community's spiritual life and preserve traditional cultural values.
Suoi Ben is a remote village located about 40km away from Luong Son town, bordering Kim Boi district, with the majority of its households being Dao.
Lac Son district in Hoa Binh province is a treasure of cultural heritages, boasting 13 provincial-level relics and landscape sites. Of them, two are special national relic sites, namely the Xom Trai cave archaeological site and the Lang Vanh rock shelter, as well as one national relic site - the Muong Khoi Revolutionary Base. These landmarks reflect the region's rich cultural and historical significance.
In the afternoon of September 27, the Provincial Museum collaborated with the Culture and Information Department and the Department of Education and Training of Hoa Binh City to organize a promotional event to introduce the outstanding cultural heritage values of the city at Phuc Tien Primary and Secondary School in Quang Tien Commune.
In a bid to preserve and introduce Muong culture to a wider audience across the country, in August, artist Vu Duc Hieu officially brought to the capital city pottery works inspired by the Muong ethnic community in Hoa Binh province by creating a rich cultural space at 85 Nhat Chieu street in Tay Ho district.
The movement "All people unite to build cultural life" has become a cornerstone of community development in Lac Son district, aligning with national rural development goals and local patriotic initiatives.
