Members of the Thom Luong Brocade Embroidery Club gather to embroider and exchange experiences in preserving their traditional craft
The village is home to 165 households with a population of 782, of whom more than 95% are Dao people. Despite the challenges of daily life, local residents have successfully preserved many distinctive cultural traditions, including brocade embroidery.
For the Red Dao, traditional attire is more than clothing; it is a source of pride and a symbol of ethnic identity. During weddings, the Cap Sac (Coming-of-Age) Ceremony, Lunar New Year celebrations and village festivals, Red Dao women wear elaborately hand-embroidered garments distinguished by their striking red colours. Each costume embodies cultural values that have been passed down through generations.
Although now in her sixties, Mrs Hoang Thi Lai still deftly threads needles and arranges coloured yarns. According to her, completing a traditional outfit takes several months and involves numerous painstaking stages. Every garment features intricate patterns complemented by silver ornaments. Many motifs, such as multi-pointed stars, symbolise the power of nature and the universe, as well as aspirations for prosperity, peace and a fulfilling life.
“In the past, almost every Red Dao woman knew how to spin thread, weave cloth, dye fabric with indigo and embroider traditional garments. Before marriage, a young woman was expected to prepare clothing for herself and her family by hand. Embroidery was therefore not only a daily task but also a measure of a woman’s skill, diligence and industriousness,” Mrs Lai explained.
Today, many families in Thom Luong continue to pass the craft on to younger generations. After school or during weekends, children as young as seven or eight are taught by their mothers and grandmothers, who patiently guide them through each stitch. Motifs embroidered on headscarves, belts and bodices - including birds, leaves, flowers and harrows - reflect the Red Dao people’s traditional livelihoods, beliefs and customs.
Red Dao women in Thom Luong Village wear traditional costumes during festivals, Lunar New Year celebrations and community events
What began as informal gatherings where women embroidered together and shared experiences inspired Ms Ban Thi Chieu to encourage more women in the village to preserve the craft. In September 2022, the Thom Luong Brocade Embroidery Club was established with 22 members. The club has since grown to more than 40 members and holds regular meetings twice a month.
Beyond creating jobs and generating additional income for women in the highlands, brocade embroidery plays an important role in safeguarding the cultural heritage of the Red Dao people. Amid the pressures of modern life, the women of Thom Luong remain steadfast at their embroidery frames, ensuring that the vibrant colours of traditional brocade continue to flourish in the mountainous village.
Nguyen Thanh Hieu
Vietnamese source: Tuyen Quang online
