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.
Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.
The most prominent and defining feature in the prehistoric era of Hoa Binh is the Hoa Binh Culture. The Culture was first discovered in Hoa Binh. The significant prehistoric culture represents not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia and southern China. Through excavations of cave sites in the limestone regions of Hoa Binh, French archaeologist M. Colani introduced the world to a "Stone Age in Hoa Binh province – Northern Vietnam" in 1927. On January 30, 1932, the First Congress of Far Eastern Prehistorians, held in Hanoi, officially recognised the Hoa Binh Culture.
Known as the "Land of Epic History”, Hoa Binh province, the gateway to Vietnam’s northwest, boasts a strategic location and a unique cultural tapestry woven by its ethnic minority communities.
The People's Committee of Luong Son District recently held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Sau Communal House in Thanh Cao Commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural site.
Recognising the importance of cultural heritage preservation in protecting and promoting the value system of Vietnamese culture, and serving socio-economic development in the new period, Party committees and local administrations in Hoa Binh province have identified it as a key task in the cultural development strategy. The province has been making efforts in mobilising resources, creating consensus among people and engaging ethnic communities in preserving and promoting cultural identity.
Hoa Binh province has captured growing attention both domestically and internationally for its distinctive cultural heritage and rich history. Most notably, it has been renowned for its famous Hoa Binh culture, considered the cradle of ancient Vietnamese civilisation. Looking ahead to significant milestones in 2025 and the 140th anniversary of province establishment in 2026, Hoa Binh Newspaper presents a comprehensive overview of the province's development across economic, social, cultural, tourism, and security domains.
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