Cham ethnic people in Chau Phong commune ( An Giang province) live concentrated in 3 hamlets Phum Soai, Chau Giang and Hoa Long with over 5,000 people, all following Islam.
This place is not only famous for Mubarak Mosque - a national architectural and artistic relic - but also for its long-standing traditional brocade weaving profession, which plays an important role in preserving the unique cultural beauty of the locality.
The family of Mrs. Saphia (47 years old, living in Phum Soai hamlet) is a typical household "keeping the fire" of the traditional profession of the Cham people in An Giang. 
Ms. Saphia introduces Cham wedding dress. Photo: Tran Tuyen
Born and raised in a family of 6 siblings, Saphia is the only member to follow in her ancestors’ footsteps. At the age of 7, little Saphia was taught by her grandmother how to spin yarn, dye fabric, weave patterns, etc.
"To have a beautiful brocade, it needs to go through many different stages such as soaking the fibers, bleaching, creating patterns, dyeing, rinsing the fabric, drying, pressing, stringing, winding and weaving" - Ms. Saphia shared.
The unique feature of the traditional Cham silk dyeing technique is the colorful colors taken from nature such as: tree sap (klek), tree bark (pahud), mac nua fruit... Therefore, the silk does not fade when used for a long time but even becomes shinier.
Mrs. Saphia is the fourth generation to maintain the Cham brocade weaving craft in Chau Phong. Photo: Tran Tuyen
According to Ms. Saphia, the brocade products of the Cham people in Chau Phong still retain typical traditional patterns such as hammocks, shuttles, fan blades, saw teeth, flowers and leaves... These patterns carry meanings about nature and daily life.
The intricate patterns on the fabric are a testament to the rich imagination and skillful hands of Cham women. Each finished brocade piece is the crystallization of patience, perseverance and pride in the national cultural identity.
Xarong - an indispensable outfit for Cham men. Photo: Tran Tuyen
The two traditional products here are sarongs and scarves, priced from 60,000 to 200,000 VND. In addition, her facility also produces handbags, backpacks, hats, wedding dresses, etc. These are items that are popular with tourists, especially foreign tourists, when they buy them as souvenirs during each trip to visit the craft village.
“Brocade weaving is not only a profession but also an indispensable part of the spiritual life of the community” - a Cham woman who has been involved in the profession for nearly 40 years confided.
Not stopping at preserving the craft, Mrs. Saphia also passed on the craft to the 5th generation - her granddaughter Shakina, since she was 12 years old. Now, at the age of 17, with her skillful hands, this girl has created many exquisite brocade products for daily use.
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Shakina continues her family's traditional profession. Photo: Tran Tuyen
The brocade weaving craft of the Cham people in Chau Phong commune was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2023. This recognition is a worthy recognition of the traditional cultural values of the Cham people.
Recently, Chau Phong Cham village established a community tourism cooperative with 12 members. The cooperative is tasked with connecting households to build and develop local community tourism products, which are expected to contribute to preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the Cham people, while also bringing sustainable economic benefits.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/gia-dinh-nguoi-cham-5-the-he-giu-lua-nghe-truyen-thong-2437557.html
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