[In Photos] Vibrant red in traditional costumes of Pa Then ethnic minority women
As a minority community with fewer than 10,000 people, the Pa Then people residing in Lam Binh District, Tuyen Quang Province, possess a rich cultural heritage. Among their cultural treasures, alongside the distinctive fire dance ritual, the traditional costumes of Pa Then women stand out as a vivid symbol, clearly recognised through their striking red colour.
In Pa Then culture, red represents fire and light, conveyed with deep emotion through every stitch and thread, brought to life by intricate brocade patterns. Red is the dominant colour in traditional clothing, harmoniously blended with white, black, and yellow, creating a composition that is at once vibrant, warm, and full of vitality.
The traditional costumes of the Pa Then women include a blouse, skirt, bodice, belt, and headscarf. Entirely handmade, each outfit requires considerable time, meticulousness, and skill. In Thuong Minh Hamlet, Hong Quang Commune, Lam Binh District, the craft of traditional embroidery and weaving is still preserved. From selecting raw materials, spinning yarn, dyeing fabric with forest plants, to the embroidery techniques themselves, everything is carried out using traditional methods. The decorative motifs are more than embellishments; they express aesthetic sensibility and local knowledge of nature and the environment. Completing a full outfit can take creators from several months to a year.
One of the most distinctive aspects of Pa Then costumes is its system of brocade motifs. Geometric patterns such as lozenges, triangles, and circles are associated with symbols of terraced fields, mountain springs, stilt-house roofs, and other elements of nature. The embroidery techniques of the Pa Then women demand a high degree of precision. The embroidery process itself is a deeply personal form of artistic expression. With the growing influence of modern culture, the daily use of traditional clothing has become less common. However, instead of allowing this heritage to fade, many mountainous localities have proactively launched programmes to revive traditional crafts in conjunction with developing community-based tourism and building new-style rural areas.
In Lam Binh, brocade weaving training courses are regularly held, attracting Pa Then women to participate. The integration of cultural preservation with economic development has created new momentum for safeguarding heritage while generating income for local communities. Traditional Pa Then clothing is an inseparable part of intangible cultural heritage. These garments play an essential role in preserving identity, fostering community bonds, and educating younger generations about their roots.
The preservation of traditional cultural values, including costumes, is integrated into the national target programme for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for 2021–2030. This is not only a way to protect heritage, but also a means of creating livelihoods, promoting sustainable tourism, and preserving the cultural diversity of Viet Nam’s 54 groups.
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