Opportunities for Nghe An brocade to reach further

Preserving the soul of brocade weaving amidst the vast forests.

Returning to western Nghe An in early 2026, just one year after the Thai ethnic group's brocade weaving tradition was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, we truly understood the vibrant life force of each thread and stitch. In Dinh Yen village, Yen Hoa commune, Mrs. Lu Thi Duyen diligently works at her loom every day.

For Ms. Duyen, weaving is not just a duty but an instinct for Thai women. The skirts with familiar patterns that she weaves are not only worn during festivals or for family needs, but have now become sought-after items by tourists and small traders.

Ms. Duyen shared: "In the past, we wove clothes for our husbands and children to wear; now we weave to sell them and earn money for our children and grandchildren's education, so that people from the lowlands can know the beauty of our mountain people's weaving." In the house opposite Ms. Duyen's stilt house, the women, including Loc Thi Tam and Luong Thi Hong, are also diligently weaving fabric. They are all members of the Thai ethnic brocade weaving club in Yen Hoa commune.

"Taking advantage of their free time, during periods of agricultural inactivity, the women and mothers weave fabric to sell, bringing in an income of 2-3 million VND per month," said Tran Thi Sen, Head of the Economic Department of Yen Hoa Commune.

Currently, many weaving and embroidery clubs are maintained in the western part of Nghe An province. In Con Cuong district, Ms. Vi Thi Hong in Nua village, Con Cuong commune, is a "living encyclopedia" of ancient Thai patterns. Ms. Hong is not only skilled in weaving, embroidery, and basketry, but she is also a source of inspiration for the Yen Khe Brocade Weaving Club. She often tells her students that a truly high-quality brocade must possess the "soul" of the mountains and forests and the "heart" of the weaver.

Under her skillful hands and those of the club members, traditional costumes and rattan products made from entirely natural materials and colors have been transformed into fashionable handbags, scarves, and wallets, opening up a new direction for the craft village. In 2024, Ms. Vi Thi Hong's rattan wallets surpassed thousands of other products nationwide to win Second Prize at the Vietnam Handicraft Products Competition.

Up in the highlands of Ky Son, where clouds cover the area year-round, Ms. Lau Y Denh in Muong Long village, Ms. Vu Y Ma in Huoi Tu commune, and others recount stories of the innovations in the embroidery craft of the Mong people in this remote region. The rough cotton and linen threads are transformed by the skillful and meticulous hands of Ms. Denh and the women of the embroidery club into exquisite decorative pieces, skirts, and blouses, reflecting the rich cultural identity of the ethnic minority. From this, the embroidered brocade products of these women have become a "specialty" of the "gateway to heaven" region. The women of this highland region are no longer confined to the kitchen, but have become economic agents and skilled managers in cooperatives.

A launching pad for heritage to reach further.

In Chau Tien commune, the Hoa Tien brocade weaving cooperative has long been considered the "capital" of exquisite brocade products from the people of western Nghe An province. Established with the goal of professionalizing the traditional craft, the cooperative is not only a place to preserve natural dyeing techniques using leaves and roots from the forest, but also a "connecting point" to bring village products to the international market. Unlike industrial products, each piece of fabric at Hoa Tien is a unique work of art, entirely hand-woven from pure silk threads.

Under the guidance of dedicated artisans like Ms. Sam Thi Bich, the cooperative has skillfully incorporated ancient Thai patterns into modern fashion designs, from scarves and handbags to high-end fabrics exported to Europe and Japan. Not only does it provide stable employment for hundreds of Thai women, the Hoa Tien Cooperative is also a model example of heritage preservation combined with sustainable business, contributing to affirming the position of Nghe An brocade.

The traditional brocade weaving craft in Nghe An is facing a great opportunity to become a pillar of the rural and mountainous economy through the "Ethnic Chic" model. Brocade is no longer sold as raw fabric but has been crafted into souvenir products. A hand-embroidered Hmong costume made by Ms. Lau Y Denh can fetch millions of dong, while small accessories like wallets and bags are best-selling items for international tourists at Pu Mat National Park, in supermarkets, OCOP product booths, trade fairs, and markets. Through organizations like Craft Link and promotional programs, Nghe An brocade has appeared in fashion collections in France and Japan. This is proof that cultural preservation is linked to sustainable economic development.

The recognition of "National Heritage" in June 2025 brings a new lease of life from the practical policies of Nghe An province. The province has issued a specific roadmap to support individuals and organizations in preserving traditional crafts. Specifically, the Project for the Preservation and Development of Traditional Craft Villages in Nghe An Province for the period 2023-2030 provides 100% tuition support for traditional weaving and embroidery training classes in villages. Instructors receive expert remuneration.

Textile production and business establishments receive support ranging from 30% to 50% of the cost for purchasing upgraded machinery (modern sewing machines, product finishing equipment). For textile products that meet OCOP standards, the province also provides full support for the cost of building trademarks and traceability labels for products achieving 3 stars or higher. Furthermore, the province supports 100% of the cost of booths at international trade fairs and exhibition areas at key tourist destinations.

The journey of brocade fabrics from the mountains to the city streets is not just a story of trade, but a repositioning of cultural values ​​in the market economy. With the support of timely policies and the burning passion of artisans like Ms. Hong and Ms. Denh, the weaving and embroidery craft is truly becoming a sustainable green "gold mine".