Experiencing Thai Brocade Weaving in Mai Chau

Visiting the tourist villages of the Thai ethnic people in the highland communes of Mai Chau, Mai Ha, and Bao La, travelers can easily encounter images of women diligently spinning silk, dyeing fabric, and skillfully weaving on traditional looms.

Women in Lac Village, Mai Ha Commune, diligently reeling silk and spinning thread.

The loom that weaves vibrant brocade patterns has been a lifelong companion to Mrs. Ha Thi Thao in Nhot Village, Mai Chau Commune. She shares that Thai women highly value weaving, regarding it not only as a measure of talent, diligence, and skill but also as a livelihood and a means to preserve traditional culture. Consequently, from the age of 12 or 13, she was taught the art of brocade weaving by her mother, a craft she later passed down to her three daughters.

Mrs. Ha Thi Thao (Nhot Village, Mai Chau) has spent nearly 60 years preserving traditional brocade weaving.

Unlike other villages that focus heavily on food and accommodation services, Nhot Village attracts visitors through traditional culture, stilt house spaces, local daily life, and particularly the brocade weaving experience. The villagers currently maintain about 60 looms. Mrs. Ha Thi Thao’s family is the most active, operating four looms and frequently welcoming groups of tourists to explore and experience the traditional craft.

Cotton harvesting typically takes place at the end of the year. During their lunch breaks, women in Lac Village (Mai Ha Commune) clean the cotton seeds, fluff the fibers, and roll them into small “cocoons” for spinning. The spinning process requires great dexterity to ensure the thread is smooth and even before being dyed. Ms. Ha Thi Mai reveals: "Spinning is a crucial stage requiring both skill and experience, as it forms the foundation for intricate patterns and the subsequent dyeing and weaving steps."

Similar to other ethnic minority groups, the Thai people in the highlands of Mai Chau follow a meticulous process: planting cotton, fluffing fibers, spinning, creating natural dyes, setting up the loom, and finally weaving the finished product. The patterns are diverse, primarily featuring geometric shapes, ancient scripts, flora, and fauna. As these are handmade products, every step—from arranging the threads to counting the colored strands—must be precise. The weaver’s experience, aesthetic sense, and creativity are decisive in creating a harmonious and beautiful layout.

Foreign tourists visit and shop for handmade woven products at the Hoa Ban Brocade Weaving Facility.

In addition to maintaining the craft within households, several facilities and cooperatives have integrated traditional weaving with tourism. Hoa Ban Brocade Weaving Facility is a favorite experiential spot for international tourists, where they can participate in drying raw materials, making natural dyes, embroidering, and weaving.

The Chieng Chau Brocade Weaving and Tourism Service Cooperative operates 40 looms, creating jobs for over 100 women. Their products—ranging from handbags, scarves, and clothing to backpacks and wallets—are well-received both domestically and internationally. Each item is entirely handmade with vivid patterns deeply rooted in Thai cultural identity.

Along with the traditional craft, Mai Chau’s brocade products spread ethnic pride. During important community events, locals still prioritize wearing traditional costumes. While these products were once only for domestic use or bartering, today’s handmade scarves, blankets, pillows, and souvenirs have become highly attractive to both domestic and foreign tourists, promoting ethnic culture and increasing local income.

Hand-woven brocade fabrics with exquisite patterns, showcasing the talent and aesthetic vision of Mai Chau’s Thai artisans, receive great admiration from visitors.

According to Mr. Ha Trung Thao – Chairman of the Mai Chau Commune People’s Committee, domestic and international tourists are increasingly seeking experiences imbued with ethnic identity. Traditional brocade weaving is a valuable resource for developing cultural and community-based tourism for the Thai people. Alongside other tourism products, brocade weaving—linked with indigenous experiences and heritage—continues to create a unique appeal for the highland and mountainous destinations of Mai Chau.

Bui Minh