“Signals” in Mong ethnic costumes

Hmong girls' costumes are often very distinctive. They often wear traditional costumes at festivals such as Tet, weddings and in art performances.

In Nghe An, the Mong people mainly live in the high mountains of Ky Son, Tuong Duong, and Que Phong districts. A few live near Muong Xen town (Ky Son), Xa Luong and Luu Kien communes (Tuong Duong). Wherever they live, the Mong community always maintains their traditional lifestyle. Mong women are very fond of their community's traditional costumes.

The Mong women's costume consists of a skirt, a shirt, leggings, a hat and an umbrella. The flared skirt looks very elaborate. One can find frills and moon and star motifs like in the Thai people's costumes. The split shirt usually has fewer motifs. The traditional skirts and dresses of Mong women are usually woven from linen. The colors of the motifs are derived from trees, leaves and wild fruits. Nowadays, the design of Mong women's costumes has changed a lot. The colorful costumes are loved by Mong girls. The hat imitates the crown of the queen and is more or less similar to the hats of women in the royal court in the past.

Mong women wear many silver bracelets on their wrists and necks. Silver coins and strings are often decorated on their slit shirts. During festivals, Mong girls often carry equally colorful umbrellas.

Each type of Mong women's clothing has its own meaning. According to a Mong elder in Nam Can commune (Ky Son), the headdress with the appearance of the ancient royal court is a message of the community's dream of a rich, even regal life in the future.

Mr. Lau Xai Phia, 75 years old, in Nam Khien village, Nam Can commune, said: The traditional costumes of the Mong people have existed for hundreds of years. The Mong people originally lived in their own territories. Each region had its own “king”. They were truly powerful lords. According to legends, Mong kings often had many wives. Their “wife selection” often attracted young women in the region. Many young women came to watch the selection because they wanted to become “queens”, who only wanted to show off their beauty. However, everyone wanted to be the most beautiful in the eyes of their “king”. The young women embroidered “crowns” according to their own image and brought them to the festival.

Whether or not they were chosen to be queens, the young women were proud of the costumes they made themselves. Since then, a tradition has been formed. Even though today, in the Hmong lands there are no more powerful kings, the young women still like to wear crowns.

During festivals, Mong girls often carry umbrellas. It is not only to protect against the sun and rain or to create a "background" for their colorful costumes. The umbrella is a special item in Mong women's costumes. The umbrella is often carried in the wedding procession of the Mong people in Nghe An. The wedding procession carries the umbrella to the bride's house, then carries it back. People believe that the umbrella will carry the soul of the bride and groom. There is also a legend related to this concept. In the past, during their migrations, Mong people always had to run away from ghosts. People believed that ghosts would not find them if they hid under the taro tree. From then on, people wove cloth to make umbrellas imitating taro leaves and ghosts would not find them. From then on, the Mong people often carried umbrellas to ward off evil spirits.