In order to enrich cultural products in service for tourism progress, Da Nang has been implementing a number of activities to promote the value of ethnic cultural heritages, including the age-old craft of Co Tu brocade weaving.

Co Tu artisans demonstrate on-site traditional brocade weaving skills at the Museum of Da Nang. Photo: X.D

At the end of 2022, the Cultural Heritage Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the Department of Culture and Sports and the Hoa Vang District People's Committee organised a practical training on intangible heritage ‘the Co Tu minority group’s brocade weaving’. This is an activity under the project of connecting heritage models with tourism itineraries to develop communities of ethnic minorities with similar heritage.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, the Head of Intangible Cultural Heritage Management Office of the national Cultural Heritage Department said that the project is an activity to implement the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism- developed plan on implementing the national target programme for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the 2021 - 2030 period.

This project uses intangible cultural heritages with similar characteristics of ethnic minorities to form destinations in the heritage tourism journey at regional or inter-provincial and inter-regional scales.

In particular, brocade weaving of the Co Tu residents in both Hoa Vang and Dong Giang districts in Quang Nam Province was selected as the place to implement the project, associated with the Quang Nam - Da Nang travel itinerary.

“This is an opportunity for people who are practicing traditional weaving of the Co Tu minority group to share their experiences and skills in preserving and promoting the value of ethnic cultural heritage associated with tourism development”, said Ms. Trang.

Participating in the project, Ms. Tran Thi Phuong, from Gian Bi village, Hoa Bac Commune, Hoa Vang District said that weaving brocade fabric is not easy, it takes a lot of time and effort. On average, it takes 10 to 15 days to weave a brocade cloth. Meanwhile, the cost of brocade weaving products is not high, only fluctuates around VND1 million apiece, so this time-honoured traditional craft finds it hard to attract artisans.

“We are able to exchange experiences in vocational training and have the skills to introduce brocade weaving products to tourists. In particular, through the project, women in the brocade weaving profession also feel more secure because they are supported by the competent authorities to woo more consumers for their products so as to stabilise their income and improve their family's economy”, said Phuong.

Till date, brocade weaving of the Co Tu people is being gradually restored with quality products. Recently, the municipal administration issued a project to develop policies to support the preservation and promotion of Co Tu ethnic culture in the area in the 2022- 2030 period.

Hoa Vang is a district on the move, yet it still holds a deep appreciation for tradition and the beauty of its timeless culture. So far,  20 local artisans in Hoa Vang have remained dedicated to the craft. To develop this profession, for nearly a year now, the district’s authorities have launched a cultural education tour, bringing tourists to Co Tu villages and they are very interested in brocade weaving products.

In addition, there have been more training courses on tourism service skills for the Co Tu people in a more professional way to develop the type of heritage tourism in the area.

As assessed by Director of the Museum of Da Nang Huynh Dinh Quoc Thien, the Co Tu ethnic group still retains and cherishes relatively intact valuable traditional cultural elements, including weaving and costumes. This is one of the factors contributing to the formation of the unique cultural space of the Co Tu ethnic group inhabiting on the Truong Son mountain range.

Co Tu brocade weaving shows the intense vitality of the ethnic minority culture. Each Co Tu textile product is valuable in many ways as it is considered to be a tool in ensuring living needs and the symbol of wealth. In particular, brocade weaving products are also likened to works of art, containing many quintessence and unique features in the national cultural treasure.

“Co Tu brocade weaving will become a unique heritage tourism product of Hoa Vang District in the near future. On that basis, specialised agencies should continue to develop more potential heritages to turn them into tourism products serving both locals and tourists”, said Thien.

Reporting by XUAN DUNG - Translating by A.THU