Unique women's costumes of one of the smallest ethnic groups in Vietnam
(Baonghean.vn) - The O Du are one of the five smallest ethnic groups in Vietnam, and are also the only ethnic group living in Tuong Duong, Nghe An. For a long time, the cultural customs and unique identity of the O Du have been lost. Very few people know and remember the traditional costumes of their people.
Ms. Vi Thi Dung (daughter-in-law of the O Du ethnic group), in Vang Mon village, Nga My commune, Tuong Duong district, is one of the few people who still know how to weave, embroider, and sew O Du ethnic costumes. She said: "To make a costume requires perseverance, meticulousness, and takes a lot of time because all the steps must be done by hand." Photo: Dinh Tuan |
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| For a long time, the costumes of the O Du people have been similar to those of the Thai people and have been influenced by Thai culture. The skirts, belts and headscarves of the O Du people are all woven from silk. Photo: Dinh Tuan |
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| However, while the skirts of Thai women are often embroidered with many types of patterns, mostly simulating natural images such as flowers, animals, the sun, and colorful shapes, the skirts of O Du women are often embroidered with zigzag shapes and are smaller than those of Thai women. Photo: Dinh Tuan |
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| The skirt and shirt of the O Du women are usually black. The O Du women's shirt has long right sleeves, there are no short sleeve shirts. However, the length of the shirt is just above the chest, just touching the waist. The shirt has no buttons, but is tied with four diagonal strings; the belt and head scarf are not embroidered with patterns. Photo: Dinh Tuan |
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| According to Ms. Mac Thi Tim, Head of Vang Mon village, Nga My commune (Tuong Duong), "In recent years, all levels and sectors have regularly invested funds to restore the unique cultural features of the O Du ethnic group; the Party cell and the village management board have also regularly propagated, so the people have gradually become aware of preserving the cultural identity of their people." Photo: Dinh Tuan |
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It is known that the current selling price of each complete costume set including: skirt, shirt, belt, headscarf is from 700,000 - 1,000,000 VND/set. Photo: Dinh Tuan |
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| If the unique cultural features of the O Du ethnic group are preserved and developed, it will probably bring advantages to the people in developing community tourism, contributing to sustainable poverty reduction for the ethnic group that is only found in Tuong Duong, Nghe An. Photo: Dinh Tuan |
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