Mrs. Mua Y Ganh introduces traditional brocade blanket products of the Mong people.

Mrs. Mua Y Ganh has spent nearly 30 years working to turn Pa Co brocade from a self-sustaining product into a commodity that generates incomes for the local community.

To create livelihoods and improve life for the Mong women, the non-governmental organisation Oxfam-Quebec implemented a two-year project in Pa Co to help local women develop economic models, she said, adding that as the vice president of the women's union of the commune, she worked with project staff to encourage local women to join a flax planting and weaving model.

According to Ganh, many locals have mastered the craft of brocade weaving and beeswax painting – the traditional crafts of the Mong people in Pa Co. However, understanding customer preferences and effectively promoting the products remains a challenge.

The women’s union of Hoa Binh province, in collaboration with the Vietnam Women’s Museum, has helped women from Pa Co commune display their beeswax-painted brocade products in Hanoi. This not only provides an opportunity to showcase their products but also creates a platform for women to learn how to access markets, calculate costs, and build strategic plans for their brocade products.

The production unit led by Ganh has grouped nearly 100 members from Pa Co commune. As the owner of this model, Ganh is responsible for selling finished products in Hanoi and foreign markets.

Mrs Sua, a member of the unit said since joining the model, her family's living conditions have improved.

According to Ganh, Craft Link, a non-profit social enterprise, supported the consumption of all the brocade products made by members of the unit.

Tran Thi Tuyet Lan, General Director of Craft Link, said the project funded by Oxfam – Quebec helped her enterprise connect with the unit.

Over the past 29 years, Craft Link has helped consume brocade products, and actively provide local women with various skills such as model management, production organisation, and market development, she noted.

Beeswax brocade products are always 'hot sellers' at the Craft Link’s display area at the Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature). Moreover, they are also showcased in several countries across Oceania and Europe, Lan said.

These are positive signals to maintain and develop the traditional craft village model in Pa Co in the future, she went on.

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