Vietnam Women's Union

To safeguard the unique decoration of Red Dao people’s traditional costumes, Bac Kan provincial authorities have made field trips to study and support the practice in Ngoc Phai commune, Cho Dong district, where a majority of women still wear their traditional costumes in their daily lives.

Trieu Thi Sinh from Ban Cuon 2 hamlet in the commune has more than 60 years of experience in weaving and embroidering costumes. It takes a Red Dao woman up to one or even two years to finish a full traditional outfit by herself. The sophistication in every step of the process has made the uniqueness of Red Dao people’s costumes, distinguishing them from other tribes’ clothes.

Head of Cho Don district’s Cultural and Information Office, Ha Thi Khanh said that the district’s authorities have assisted locals in fully restoring the manual decoration of Red Dao ethnic costumes while taking actions to pass on the indigenous techniques to younger generations.

In the coming time, local residents will be provided with financial support to display and promote their products, which are expected to generate income for them.

Thanks to the efforts made by local residents and authorities, the art of the Red Dao people’s costume decoration in Ngoc Phai commune, Cho Don district was recently recognised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage.