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Lung Tam Village - The Art Of Linen Weaving
Lung Tam village, situated in Quan Ba district of Ha Giang, is one of the longest standing traditional craft villages in Vietnam, specializing in linen weaving. The H’Mong believe that the linen thread is the connection between the spiritual world and their ancestry. It is said that when someone passes away, they need to be buried in a linen outfit so that they could find their way back to their ancestors and so that their ancestors could find them. They also believe that a H’Mong woman after being married needs to have a linen outfit with her when she moves into her husband’s house, so that his ancestors would accept and give her their blessings. Linen weaving has extraordinary cultural significance and has become a generational source of income for the H’Mong people.
Where is Lung Tam weaving village?
Lung Tam weaving village lies at the foot of the mountains in Lung Tam commune, Quan Ba district, Ha Giang province. In the beginning there were only 10 households in the village, but gradually the people migrated from the mountains, now Lung Tam village is home to more than 100 households, mostly the H'Mong.
How to get there
From Ha Giang city center, move along route 4C towards Ha Giang - Quan Ba. Go through Tam Son town about 3km down the pass, towards Coc Ma town. Here there are 7 consecutive bends, at the 7th bend, turn onto the small road leading to Lung Tam village.
Traditional weaving process
Flax bark is the main raw material for weaving fabric in Lung Tam. Flax is often grown on flat land at the foot of the mountain for easy harvesting. When the season comes, the flax plant will have all its leaves plucked and only the stem will be kept.
Next, it will be soaked in water and then chopped into small fibers. The flax fiber is wound onto a frame and then spun until it softens and can be steamed or boiled. All stages of weaving are done according to traditional methods of the H'Mong people.
What to visit near Lung Tam Village?
Quan Ba Twin Mountain
The beautiful mountains, which resemble a woman’s chest, are located in Quan Ba Village, about 40 km from Ha Giang city center. Legend has it, she was a fairy that came to earth, fell in love with a H’mong man and bore him a child. The Jade Emperor found out and made her go back but her child was too young, so she decided to leave behind her pair of breasts on earth to feed him.
Quan Ba Heaven's Gate
Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate is one of five most famous Heaven’s Gates, along with Linh Quy Phap An Heaven’s Gate (Lam Dong), Nghinh Phong Heaven’s Gate (Vung Tau), O Quy Ho Heaven’s Gate (Sapa) and Tri Ton Heaven’s Gate (An Giang). Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate or Quan Ba Pass is a must-visit in Ha Giang where you can admire the majestic beauty of the northern mountainous region.
Sung La Valley
Sung La valley is located on 4C highway (also known as the Happy Road) about 20 km from the town of Dong Van. The Sung La Valley, where the movie Pao’s Story was filmed, is perfect for those who prefer a quiet and peaceful getaway. From afar, it’s truly an impressionist painting with endless fields of purple buckwheat flowers, complemented by the golden sunshine and tied together by the green of the surrounding mountains.
Ma Pi Leng Pass
Ma Pi Leng Pass, a mountain pass located in Ha Giang province, connecting the towns of Dong Van and Meo Vac, is 20 km long and at the altitude of 1,500 m (4,900 ft). This spectacular mountain pass, whose name means "bridge of a horse's nose" in the Hmong language, is one of Four Great Passes in Northwest Vietnam, along with O Quy Ho Pass, Pha Din Pass and Khau Pha Pass.
Ma Pi Leng is a famous destination for travel enthousiasts, especially fans of adventure, for its breath-taking scenery, rugged cliffs and bends almost everywhere along the roads, making it one of the most impressive passes in Vietnam. Check out our article for a detailed Ma Pi Leng guide.
Values of Lung Tam weaving village
Lung Tam provides a variety of one of a kind products, including clothing, handbags, scarves, wallets, coasters, etc. Each product is made from a meticulous process and their designs are truly works of art, showcasing unique symbols that reflect H’Mong culture. That is probably why Lung Tam hemp products are so renowned nationwide and internationally, being exported to more than 20 countries in the world.
If you ever have the chance to visit Ha Giang, stop by this traditional craft village and pick up one of the products to take home with you. This is a great way to directly support local businesses and keep the beautiful culture alive for years to come.
