(VOVworld) – The Thai ethnic group lives in various regions of Vietnam and their costumes differ by region. On today’s edition of Colorful Vietnam-Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, VOV reporter Lan Anh gives an insight into the costumes of the white Thai in Muong Lay district, Dien Bien province.

Thai women in their traditional costumes (Photo: Lan Anh)

Visitors to Vietnam’s northwestern region are amazed at Thai girls in their traditional attire: a close-fitting blouse, a black long skirt and a special brocade head scarf called “Khăn piêu”. From childhood girls are taught how to fasten “Xài yêu”, a cloth belt, so as to have an S body shape. Researcher Luong Van Thiet of the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology told VOV:“The Thai costumes subtly promote female beauty. People say Thai girls are pretty and actually they know how the make use ò their attire. Thai girls are tall with fair skin and long hair”.

Traditionally, the black Thai wear a black blouse with a high collar, while the white Thai wear a white blouse with a heart-shaped collar. Lo Thi Que lives in Hoc village in Muong Lay district, Dien Bien province:“This blouse is close-fitting, showing the female body shape. The blouse is white and its collar is decorated with black patterns, making the wearer’s neck more beautiful”.

A blouse has two rows of silver buttons in the front: one with female butterfly-shaped buttons and the other with male butterfly-shaped buttons. A girl wears a blouse with an even number of buttons, while the odd number of buttons is for married women. Tong Thi Vuong lives in Dan village, Muong Lay district, Dien Bien province:“The buttons are not only for decoration, but also have spiritual meaning. Before a bride moves to her groom’s house to live, she brings with her a blouse with gold or silver buttons that her parents made for her. She keeps that blouse and wears it on the funeral day of her parent”.

Lo Thi Que says that despite changes of life, white Thai girls in Muong Lay still look feminine in their traditional dresses: “The costumes are now modified. Previously, people wore self-made indigo costumes, not the glossy, velvet costumes of today. There are two types of Thai robes: pull-over robes with decorative patterns in the armpits for older ladies. This type of robes is worn when the wearer is dead. Girls wear close-fitting robes with front decorative patterns”.

A bride in her So luong dress (Photo: Lan Anh)

The white Thai women also wear a traditional long dress called “Sở luông”, which is black, roomy and covers the wearer’s knees. Sở luông is worn during ceremonial events: weddings, house warming and funerals. Dieu Thi Chuyen is a local of Chi Luong village: “The bride should wear the black long dress over a close-fitting blouse. She must look simple and frugal”.

A white Thai skirt has black with a colorful hem on the inner side, which is revealed when the wearer walks. The waist which connects the blouse and skirt is decorated with a cloth belt. Vuong told us: “The belt is made of blue, green or pink cloth. Yellow color is not allowed. The green color goes well with the white blouse and black skirt”.