In southern Vietnam, over-100-year-old Cham brocade weaving craft captivates tourists

On Tuesday, artisans and locals in the Cham village of Chau Phong were busy with various stages of brocade weaving, crafting distinctive Cham textiles that are transformed into handbags and traditional garments for sale to visitors. 

Say Mah, a skilled Cham artisan in Chau Phong, shared that brocade weaving is a long-standing tradition passed down through generations. 

She has devoted her entire life to weaving beautiful brocade fabrics adorned with intricate patterns. 

"Creating a piece of brocade fabric involves many steps," Mah said.

"There were times when the craft faced hardships, but I remained committed. 

“This traditional craft suits the Cham people well, and by preserving our traditional methods, we produce beautiful brocade."

The brocade fabric produced by Mah is used to make scarves, hats, handbags, and traditional Cham outfits, with prices ranging from VND50,000 (US$1.9) to VND300,000 ($11.4) per item. 

Today, Mah and many local households involved in brocade weaving are actively developing their craft into a tourism attraction. 

"An Giang’s Cham village is a convergence of cultural values, spiritual beliefs, and the traditional brocade weaving craft," said Ly Chan An, director of Vietravel’s Long Xuyen branch.

"To develop this heritage, the locality should design a Cham–Kinh–Khmer cultural tour to promote the cultural beauty, clothing, music, and cuisine of the local people."

Nguyen Van Hop, vice-chairman of the Chau Phong Commune People’s Committee, stated that the Cham brocade weaving craft draws around 10,000 domestic and international visitors to the commune each year. 

In 2024, the local government launched the Cham Chau Phong community tourism cooperative, comprising 12 members, to boost tourism. 

Visitors can explore the local mosque, admire ancient Cham architecture, hear traditional Rappana drumming, and experience Cham culture first-hand.

“The brocade weaving craft has existed here for over 100 years. We are committed to preserving this traditional Cham craft, organizing cultural festivals to stimulate tourism and help increase the income of local residents,” Hop stated.