As a cultural beauty and the brainchild of the Pa Then ethnic community in Quang Binh district, Ha Giang province, traditional costumes have become one of the nuances to recognize cultural and ethnic characteristics, the signs to distinguish the Pa Then ethnic group from other ethnic communities.

Pa Then traditional costumes are also a bridge between generations, preserving authentic aspects of life from one generation to the next. With sophistication, gentleness and uniqueness, the traditional costumes of the Pa Then ethnic group contribute to enriching the cultural picture of the ethnic groups, making an important contribution to preserving the cultural values of Quang Binh district.

The stages of weaving, embroidery, and fabric grafting of the Pa Then people are all manual, using traditional methods. In the past, textile materials were made from cotton and jute fibers, but now they are mainly wool and colored threads.

After fibers are died, they are woven into square pieces of brocade, or spread out in small or large sizes and applied directly to the fabric of shirts, scarves, and dresses. Red is the main color of women's costumes.

The Pa Then ethnic group has an extremely rich collection of patterns, which is preserved and passed down from generation to generation. These are geometric patterns distributed into horizontal strips, serving as dividing lines for other patterns on scarf, chest, waist, hem, elbows and body of the dress.

Complicated patterns like human shapes, dog legs, crab eyes, calves, buffalo horns, patterns are used as highlights on the chest, waist and sides of the skirt. In addition, the patterns of pine trees, plants and some familiar medicines of the Pa Then people are unique ones, further honoring the beauty of the outfit.

During traditional festivals, Tet holidays, and weddings, Pa Then people always wear their ethnic traditional costumes. However, over time, due to objective and subjective reasons, the traditional cultural features of the Pa Then people, especially traditional costumes, are at risk of being lost and mixed.

To preserve and promote the value of traditional costumes of the Pa Then people in the area, the People's Committee of Tan Bac commune, Quang Binh district, Ha Giang province has organized competitions and exchanges on traditional ethnic costume performances between generations.

The local authorities have also called for students to wear national costumes one day a week and organized contests to learn about how to weave traditional costumes of the Pa Then ethnic group in order to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of Pa Then people.

Khanh Vy