Today, My Nghiep weaving village is located in Phuoc Dan town, Ninh Phuoc District, 12km from the center of Phan Rang - Thap Cham City to the south along National Highway 1A.

Bau Truc Pottery Village along with My Nghiep Weaving Village are considered the two most quintessential representatives of the Cham ethnic people here. These are also two of the oldest craft villages in Southeast Asia.

The road in the centre of My Nghiep Village with colorful houses of the Cham people. The village has 700 households with about 4,000 people, there are up to 500 skilled weavers, who have experienced long-term attachment to the loom.

The most impressive thing in the village is that the products are made entirely by hand, passing from one generation to the next in the form of "mother-to-child transmission". Women are responsible for weaving, while men are responsible for cutting brocade sewing into products.

History records that the village was formerly known by the Cham name ‘Ca Klaing’, while its Vietnamese name was ‘My Nghiep’. In the 17th century, a woman named Ponagar came to this land, realized that the climate here was suitable for growing cotton. She taught weaving for Ong Xa and Chaleng, a couple living in the village. Since then, along with Bau Truc Pottery Village, My Nghiep has developed to this day.

The main gate to My Nghiep village.

The main material that makes My Nghiep weaving brand is cotton fabric grown locally. After that, it has to go through many stages, from pitting for cotton fibers to rolling, soaking, drying and dyeing. Every stage needs the workers’ meticulous attention. To create the delicate and unique patterns, the weavers must possess an acute aesthetic sense and experience in mixing colors.

In order to create a brocade plate with vibrant colors, exuding the quintessence of Cham traditional culture is an elaborate process of the women in My Nghiep Village. The visitors can hardly find repetition or duplication of patterns and styles even though the fabrics are made by an artisan.

Pattern symbols bearing the identity of the Cham ethnic group.

Pattern symbols bearing the identity of the Cham ethnic group: the shape of the canopy, the stylized dragon, the genie, the Siva.

In addition to rough brocade products, My Nghiep currently has many other diverse products, including bandannas, Cham scarves, handbags, wallets, shirts, jackets, skirts, hats and linens.

Brocade weaving has long been a cultural symbol of the Cham ethnic group and their brocade products are favored nationwide.

Vietnam-International Silk and Brocade Festival opens

The 5th Vietnam-International Silk and Brocade Festival opened in Hoi An ancient city, the central province of Quang Nam, on August 8, with many exchange activities and performances with a strong identity.

Festival honours Vietnam’s traditional silk, brocade weaving

The 5th Vietnam-International Silk and Brocade Festival will take place in Hoi An ancient city, the central province of Quang Nam, from August 7-9, aiming to introduce and honour Vietnam’s traditional silk and brocade weaving.

Vietnamese brocade, silk introduced in RoK

Brocade and silk products made by Vietnam’s northern craft villages are being displayed at an exhibition that opened in Seoul, the Republic of Korea (RoK), on July 18. 

H’re people’s brocade weaving recognised as national intangible cultural heritage

The traditional brocade weaving of the H're ethnic minority people in Ba Thanh commune, the central province of Quang Ngai, has been recognised as national intangible cultural heritage.

Vietnam, Japan honour traditional silk, brocade weaving

An exchange event introducing the woven silk and brocade products of Vietnam and Japan opened in Hoi An ancient city in the central province of Quang Nam, as part of the 16th Hoi An-Japan Cultural Exchange.

Source: NDO