(VOVWORLD) - The Pa Then is one of the 14 ethnic groups in Vietnam with a population of fewer than 10,000. They live mainly in Bac Quang and Quang Binh district of Ha Giang province and Lam Binh district of Tuyên Quang province. It’s easy to differentiate the Pa Then from other ethnic groups by the colors of their clothes. Pa Then men wear indigo outfits, while the women stand out in bright red dresses.
 Red clothes differentiate Pa Then women from other groups. (photo: Bao Cong Thuong) |
Red is the dominant color of Pa Then women’s clothing, with white and black accents. Phu Thi Thien is an artisan in Quang Binh district. "In the old days, Pa Then people lived in the high mountains. Red is the color of fire, which is associated with the Fire Dance Festival. The women wear red clothes as a symbol of fire and belief in a better future.”
Phu Thi Duyen of Quang Binh district said: "I love bright red color. When many people wear red clothes to festivals, the scene is very beautiful. We have to preserve our group’s characteristics. We wear our traditional clothes everywhere, so people know who we are.”
The Pa Then women's costumes are intricately woven and embroidered, including head scarves, bras, skirts, pants, and shinguards. Ly Thi Toan of Lam Binh district said: “The Pa Then used to live in the mountains. The embroideries on their costumes were inspired by nature and by their houses. The Pa Then keep dogs as family guards, so their costumes often have a picture of a dog's head.”
 Pa Then women make their own beautiful clothes. (photo: Bao Cong Thuong) |
Pa Then women have their own embroidery method. The Mong and Dao women draw with beeswax on fabric or embroider patterns by hand, while the Pa Then use looms to weave the patterns, according to artisan Phu Thi Thien.
“The Pa Then embroider directly on the loom, unlike other ethnic groups who weave the fabric and then embroider on the fabric. The patterns represent animals and other things associated with daily life. After weaving, we cut pieces of fabric and sew them together to make clothes,” said Thien.
Pa Then women often wear a white-collared shirt inside a red collarless vest. The entire shirt is decorated with bright colors. They wear a belt to adorn the waist. Mrs. Ly Thi Toan said: “A headscarf is wrapped several times around the head. There are tassels on either side of the face. Like other ethnic groups, Pa Then women wear silver necklace and bracelets.”
Artisan Phu Thi Thien says the dominant color is red, but there are different details for different ages. “Children’s clothes have two colors – red and black. Teenage girls’ clothes are similar to that of adults, but they wear white belts and red headscarves. Married women wear black belts and black headscarves. Old women don’t tie their headscarf, and don’t wrap it several times around their head as young women do.”
Pa Then costumes show off the women’s tailoring skills. Woven patterns are accentuated by hand-embroidered motifs in harmonious colors. This adornment makes their costumes and their culture unique.