Located 12 kilometers from the center of Phan Rang-Thap Cham, peaceful My Nghiep village lies along the Dinh River. The traditional weaving craft of Khanh Hoa’s Cham community, passed down through generations, continues to be preserved and passed on.
What makes My Nghiep special is its traditional hand-weaving techniques. The Cham weavers sit at wooden looms, keeping their shuttle moving in a steady rhythm all day. Clothing, headscarves, waistbands, and fabrics for religious rites, festivals, and weddings are all hand-woven by the skilled Cham artisans.
Luu Thi Em, a member of the My Nghiep Cham Brocade Weaving Cooperative, said that, in the past, Cham brocade was characterized by two colors, black and white. Today, artisans use a wider range of colors to create more diverse and sophisticated designs.
"Elderly people and families with newlywed sons or daughters wear this scarf. It takes a full four days to weave two decorative chains. We work on it every day and stop only when there’s a family affair. We mostly weave during our spare time. Nowadays, Cham people rarely place custom orders themselves. It’s mainly tourists who buy them," Em told VOV.
The motifs woven into My Nghiep brocade often feature ancient symbols closely associated with Cham culture, including the Lamp God, the God Shiva, and the dragon. The artisans preserve some 30 traditional patterns, including diamond grids, climbing plants, apricot blossoms, and four-petaled flowers. Petals, vines, and leaf buds are stylized as soft, graceful geometric lines.
Lam Thi Minh, another member of the My Nghiep Cham Brocade Weaving Cooperative, said they are working to preserve their heritage for future generations. "Some of our artisans have researched and restored several ancient patterns that had been forgotten over time. These motifs are very precious and are mostly used to make traditional waistbands. The households that can still produce them are mostly run by elderly artisans. Only a few artisans still possess the knowledge of these intricate patterns," according to Minh.
The My Nghiep Cham Brocade Weaving Cooperative has involved 70 member households dedicated to traditional hand-weaving. Currently, around 400 households in the village are engaged in the craft.
Phu Van Ngoi, the cooperative’s director, said the cooperative was invited to demonstrate the traditional weaving process at the Cham Cultural Festival in late June this year in Khanh Hoa province. Ngoi said, "Our outstanding artisans were selected to participate in the festival to demonstrate the full process of making a finished textile. We took this opportunity to introduce Khanh Hoa’s traditional Cham weaving craft to visitors and tourists."
To preserve and develop the craft village, local artisans are continuously refining their product designs to suit modern tastes and market demand. Local authorities are helping the village establish links with domestic and international fashion enterprises, expand market access, and increase the value of Cham brocade products.
