Lam Binh brocade captivates tourists.

In Lam Binh district ( Tuyen Quang province) these days, the plum trees along the roadside are blooming with clusters of white flowers, standing out against the green slopes of the forest and rocky mountains… After finishing planting rice in the fields near her house, Ms. Ngo Thi Chin (in Na Ban village, Thuong Lam commune, Lam Binh district) goes to her loom, and the rhythmic “click, click” of the shuttle moving the thread back and forth makes the squares of fabric grow longer…

After a few phone calls, the women from the same village gathered together. With nimble hands, some sewed indigo-dyed fabric for pillows, others spun cotton and spun yarn… the sounds of laughter and chatter filled the stilt house.

In Lam Binh, women weave brocade during their free time between farming seasons.

Ms. Ngo Thi Chin introduced her part-time job: "The first step is to get the cotton, then thresh it, then pull the yarn, then twist it, and after twisting it, wrap it around the pillars of the stilt house to stretch the yarn for the loom. I weave whatever patterns I like, whether it's images of lilac flowers, carnations, animals... One piece of fabric is 1.8 meters long, and three pieces joined together make one side of a blanket. If I worked directly, I could make many products in a day, but I always do it whenever I have free time. The women here all work in the fields and only have time to work at noon and in the evening."

Taking guests up to her stilt house, artisan Chau Thi Sen (52 years old) in Bo village, Thuong Lam commune, introduced a set of blankets, pillows, and seat cushions still smelling of fresh indigo dye, made by her daughter-in-law when she first came to her husband's house. She said that although not many young people know how to make them anymore, in the Tay villages of this picturesque Na Hang lake area, the beautiful custom is still preserved: when a daughter-in-law comes to her husband's house, she makes blankets, pillows, and seat cushions to give to her grandparents, parents, and siblings on her husband's side of the family, one set for each person. This shows the filial piety of the new daughter-in-law and also demonstrates to her husband's family that she is skillful and capable… Therefore, the craft of weaving, embroidering, and making brocade blankets, pillows, and cushions is still diligently preserved by the Tay people, especially the women here, as an integral part of their lives.

The brocade of the Tay people in Lam Binh features patterns such as rhombus shapes, eggplant flowers, and phay flowers, etc.

"I started weaving when I was 15. Back then, no girl who didn't know how to weave wanted to be a wife. My parents grew cotton for me to weave at home. After returning from the fields, I would thresh the cotton, fluff it, spin the yarn, set up the loom, find patterns, and weave everything from blankets and pillows to diapers for my children later on. After Tet (Lunar New Year), I would immediately find a place to sit and weave. Every family with a daughter in the village wove their own fabric. When I got married, I had 13 or 14 blankets. In the past, I made them all myself, but now I buy some from the market," said artisan Chau Thi Sen.

Lam Binh is a land where the unique cultures of over 10 ethnic groups converge, with traditional festivals rich in folk colors, picturesque landscapes, and the traditional brocade weaving of the Tay, Dao, Mong, and Pa Then ethnic groups. To contribute to the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 2nd Lam Binh District Party Congress, term 2020-2025, one of the breakthrough contents is "developing the tourism industry ." The Lam Binh District Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center has focused on training in professions linked to the local advantages such as: tour guiding, culinary techniques for tourists (food preparation, beverage mixing), and souvenir production such as rattan and bamboo weaving; embroidery, and traditional brocade weaving…

By the picturesque Na Hang Lake, the custom of making blankets, mattresses, pillows, and seat cushions as gifts for grandparents, parents, and siblings on her husband's side of the family is still preserved.

Ms. Ma Thi Hong, Director of the Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center of Lam Binh district, said that to encourage people to preserve and develop their traditional ethnic products, the Lam Binh Brocade Cooperative was established at the beginning of 2021 with 7 members. To date, the cooperative has over 30 members, divided into many groups with shared interests located in various communes, such as groups with a shared interest in weaving brocade scarves and blankets; embroidery groups; groups for sewing and designing brocade products; and groups promoting and introducing traditional Lam Binh products on social media.

"Seeing the potential and strengths of brocade as a product highly favored by tourists, and also as a product that can generate income for workers of all ages, especially rural women, I feel very happy and proud to have contributed my small part in preserving and promoting the traditional brocade weaving craft. This not only preserves cultural values ​​but also creates sustainable livelihoods and increases income for the people of Lam Binh highland district," said Ms. Ma Thi Hong.

Not only do these spring-themed attractions create jobs and increase income for the people, but they have now become a unique tourism product that many visitors choose when coming to Tuyen Quang.

Preserving and promoting the traditional brocade weaving craft not only safeguards cultural values ​​but also creates positive conditions for Lam Binh to develop tourism, generate sustainable livelihoods, and increase income for the local people. In spring, small, beautiful brocade balls are tossed into the air during the Long Tong festival and hung on the verandas of stilt houses, symbolizing a new year of favorable weather, good health for everyone, and peace and happiness for the village.

Source: https://vov.vn/du-lich/tho-cam-lam-binh-niu-chan-du-khach-post1077883.vov