Located 10 kilometers south of Phan Rang city, My Nghiep village in Ninh Thuan province, is a traditional brocade weaving village of the Cham ethnic people. Legend has it that, in the 17th century, a woman named Po Nagar, known as the founder the Cham people, who taught the Cham to work, produce, and live off the land, came to this area and passed on weaving to Ong Xa and Chaleng, a couple living in Ca Klaing village, now My Nghiep village. Since then, the traditional brocade weaving craft has been preserved and developed by villagers.
My Nghiep village’s showroom displays brocade products and stages weaving demonstrations (Photo: Ngoc Anh/VOV5)
My Nghiep village has 700 households – 4,000 people – many of them are experienced artisans who have engaged in the craft for a long time.
A villager named Dong Thi Hong Gam said weaving a piece of brocade cloth involves multiple stages: rolling, soaking, drying, dyeing, and starching the cotton fibers, and each stage requires meticulous attention.
“This is a traditional craft that each person in the family should succeed in doing. The most important and most difficult stage is making the cotton fibers from harvested cotton plant and weaving the threads,” Gam told VOV.
She aded there are two types of loom: a short frame for weaving face cloths and fabrics of small format, and a long frame for tablecloths and fabrics of a larger size.
Last year the Ninh Thuan province People's Committee promulgated a plan for developing craft villages until 2030 which combines preserving and developing craft villages with tourism development.
A large investment has been made in traditional craft villages, said Dang Sinh Ai Chi, Vice Chairman of Phuoc Dan town’s People's Committee, adding a showroom has been built, where locals can introduce their products to visitors and support village artisans who provide vocational training to local children.
Ancient patterns that carry the unique identity of the My Nghiep brocade weaving village have been restored, Chi explained.
These patterns embody the philosophy of life, customs, religion, and artistry of the Cham people. To create the delicate patterns, the weavers must possess a keen aesthetic sense and have experience in mixing colors. Traditional My Nghiep products are especially attractive because of their unique design, patterns, and colors.
Visitors enjoying a weaving demonstration by My Nghiep villagers (Photo: Ngoc Anh/VOV5
According to Thuan Thi Trao, sales manager for the My Nghiep Brocade Weaving Cooperative, normally, silk scarves are in high demand.
“Our products include backpacks, handbags, purses, baskets, hats, and bedspreads, which are often sold at tourist sites, trade fairs, and special exhibitions. Any family which has a daughter also has a loom. If they have 3 daughters, they have 3 looms. We create many items for tourists. Skilled artisans gather at the village showroom to demonstrate the weaving craft and pass it down to others,” said Trao.
Visitors come to My Nghiep village to admire the colorful brocade fabrics and hear stories about the Cham culture and weaving craft.
Grace Thomson, a tourist from Australia, told VOV that this is the first time she went with her brother-in-law and elder sister to Vietnam.
"The brocade products made by Cham talented ladies are so beautiful and intricate. Through each product, I can know the culture of Cham people and Vietnamese nation,” said Grace.
To preserve and develop the weaving craft, the My Nghiep Brocade Weaving Cooperative has worked with travel agencies inside and outside the province. Local villagers have organized courses to teach children how to be professional tour guides, have developed a craft village website, and have participate in trade fairs and exhibits nationwide to promote their products.
Ngoc Anh