The linen fabric must be dyed multiple times to have a rich, durable indigo color. (Photo: Khac Kien)

From daybreak, Mong women in Lao Ty Phung hamlet, Lai Chau province, awaken to prepare for indigo dyeing. Despite the rapid pace of modern life, this craft is preserved as the community’s soul.

Vang Thi Su, a resident of Lao Ty Phung, recalls the past when her mother taught her to spin yarn, weave cloth, and pick indigo leaves for making dye water. To achieve a rich indigo color, the fabric must be dyed multiple times and dried evenly under the sun. Today, she teaches her daughter and other young people, as they make skirts and dresses, keeping the heritage alive.

Su told VOV, “If we work quickly, we can make three or four sets of clothes a year; otherwise, just one or two. For a traditional Mong outfit, we must use indigo leaves for dyeing. If not, the colors fade quickly.”

(Photo: Khac Kien)

Lao Ty Phung hamlet is home to 100 Mong households, 85 of which still practice indigo dyeing. Every stage is done entirely by hand, from harvesting flax in the forest to stripping the bark, pounding it into fibers, spinning, boiling, and weaving. Once a piece of linen is woven to satisfaction, the Mong women begin the dyeing process. Indigo plants are soaked in water for about a week, producing a thick, dark blue-black liquid, under which the cloth is repeatedly dipped and soaked, then sun-dried, decorated with beeswax patterns, embroidered motifs, and finally cut and sewn into garments.

Ho A Su, Deputy Head of Lao Ty Phung hamlet, explains that it takes many stages to make a piece of Mong cloth.

“We encourage villagers to preserve this cultural heritage, passing it from mothers to daughters and then to grandchildren. If we keep our traditions alive, visitors can truly appreciate their beauty,” according to Su.

As society develops, traditional Mong attire has also been modernized and refined as gifts for visitors. Yet, for the Mong people of Lao Ty Phung and other mountain hamlets in Lai Chau, handmade linen remains the first choice—not only for its beauty but as a reminder to their children of an irreplaceable cultural symbol.

Mong women embroidering the dyed cloth (Photo: Khac Kien)

According to Le Xuan Dung, Deputy Chairman of Tân Phong ward People’s Committee, the Mong people’s indigo dyeing usually takes place in July and August.

“In addition to dyeing for their own use, villagers now also prepare indigo for sale, creating additional income for their families. The ward authorities will continue encouraging locals to preserve their cultural identity by linking it with community tourism. The traditional indigo craft will be prioritized to offer visitors hands-on experiences,” said Dung.

Keeping the indigo color on linen means preserving the cultural color of the Mong in Lai Chau. Whether worn at local markets, on town streets, or sold to visitors, each traditional garment carries the culture beyond the mountains. In this way, the ancient craft contributes to the socio-economic development of Lai Chau province.