Leaving Nam Dam village, Lung Tam village is also a must-visit destination. Hempt is a precious “treasure” of the Hmong people, especially associated with the lives of women. Besides, we can learn about their linen fabric and buy some special souvenirs of Ha Giang.
Located on the banks of the Mien River, Lung Tam is a progressive white Hmong village, filled with silt. Therefore, life there is quite prosperous and convenient for livestock and agriculture. Also because of that, the Hmong people there have a high awareness of preserving and developing their traditional profession.
How to get Lung Tam village
It’s only 10km from Nam Dam village, search on Google Maps for “Lung Tam linen cooperative,” and you will get there. Opposite is the gate of the center of Lung Tam commune.
From Nam Dam Village, head towards 4C highway towards Yen Minh – Dong Van. Go through Tam Son town for about 3km down the mountain and be paid attention to the tight turn (Coc Ma hamlet to the 3-way junction with a sign pointing to Lung Tam). Or the best way is to use a smartphone and search on Google Maps for “Lung Tam linen cooperative.”
Hempt fabric – the measure to evaluate Hmong women
Hempt is a type of linen fabric made from the fibers of the flax plant. The flax, and specifically, linen fabric, is considered an indispensable product in the life of the Hmong people. Especially, hempt fabric has an important meaning in the spiritual life of the Hmong people. In addition, growing flax and weaving linen also show the virtues of hard work, endurance, and skill of Hmong women.
In the life of the Hmong people for generations, the elderly in the family always remind their descendants to reserve a flat, fertile land to plant hempt trees. This consciousness has been passed down from generation to generation. Seeing which family grows hempt trees on their land, people will know that that family has hardworking, skillful, and diligent women. Children from the ages of 5 to 6 are taught by their grandmothers or mothers how to strip, spin and weave linen.
How hempt fabric is made
To have a piece of hempt fabric, the people in Lung Tam village have to go through more than 40 entirely handmade steps. First, the tree bark is peeled to get the fibers. The rolled bark bundles are tightly wrapped and pounded to remove all the pulp, leaving only the long fibers, which are then cut and rolled into large fiber threads. The linen threads are boiled several times in ash water, and once in beeswax water to make them whiter and softer. Then, Hmong women weave the white linen threads into fabric. From there, artisans begin meticulously drawing colorful patterns on the fabric to create complete products.
Hempt shop – An unignorable gift in Lung Tam village
At the Lung Tam Linen Cooperative, you can experience how hempt linen is made. In addition, to expand their product beyond their village, locals have learned how to design creative and suitable souvenir products, or apply linen fabric into modern fashion items, such as bags, wallets, and clothing. You can support them by buying their products, not only to have a unique souvenir of Ha Giang, but also to help them maintain their traditional linen weaving profession.
If you have difficulty when visiting Lung Tam village to experience the process of doing hempt fabric, or if you are having trouble planning your Ha Giang trip, such as renting motorcycles, cars, Easyriders, or tour guides, please contact LOKA Ha Giang. We will assist you in the most appropriate way.
My name is Giap Van Hai, I am a travel enthusiast and always want to share the beauty of Ha Giang with everyone. With a deep love for the mountains and the typical culture of Ha Giang people, I decided to establish Loka Ha Giang – a website specializing in Ha Giang tourism services. We provide travel services such as Ha Giang Loop, Ha Giang Trekking, Ha Giang Easyrider