Working in eco-friendly textile marketing has brought me many memorable experiences, but perhaps this trip to the Mekong Delta, specifically to An Giang to visit the Tám Lăng family's Lãnh Mỹ A silk weaving workshop, has left me with the deepest impressions.
On Friday night, October 4, 2024, I, along with my colleagues from Bảo Lân Textile, departed from Thủ Đức riverside park, while a group of fashion journalists followed later from District 7.
At 10 p.m., our bus began its journey, taking us away from the hustle and bustle of Saigon toward the peaceful Western region. Everyone on the bus didn’t talk much, choosing instead to rest in preparation for the long journey ahead.
Around 4 a.m. on Saturday, October 5, 2024, we arrived at Tân Châu town, An Giang. At that time, the sky was still dim, but the first rays of dawn were starting to peek through. Looking out the window, I saw vast, peaceful fields. The atmosphere was serene, with only the sound of birds chirping. It was such a stark contrast to the noisy, bustling Saigon – a peacefulness that’s hard to describe.
After resting and enjoying a delicious pork chop rice dish at Long Xuyên restaurant, we made our way to the "Tám Lăng Silk Weaving Workshop" owned by Nguyễn Hữu Trí, the youngest son carrying on the family tradition of weaving Lãnh Mỹ A silk. We began our tour of his family's weaving workshop. It was here that I truly appreciated the value of traditional weaving, a craft that his family has preserved for generations despite the many challenges and hardships.
The workshop was located right within his home, not very large, but filled with the essence and meticulous craftsmanship of this artisanal trade. I had the chance to witness the artisans weaving silk firsthand. Their hands moved quickly and skillfully on the looms, and the shimmering silk threads gradually formed into soft, elegant fabric under the daylight. What stood out was that every step of the process, from weaving and dyeing to drying, was done manually and involved significant effort.
We continued to the dyeing and drying areas for Lãnh Mỹ A silk. The most impressive aspect for me was the dyeing process using the resin from the mac nua fruit, a fruit native to this fertile delta land. Although this season's mac nua fruits didn’t meet expectations, Trí's family remained steadfast in their commitment to the craft. The resin of the mac nua fruit creates the mysterious, glossy black color for Lãnh Mỹ A silk. Additionally, the local people use this fruit for medicinal purposes, particularly for treating parasites. This further deepened my admiration for Trí's family and their perseverance in preserving this traditional craft.
After touring the workshop and discussing the challenges of maintaining the trade, especially the shortage of materials and skilled artisans, I began to understand some of the pressures Trí and his family face. The story of the quiet, diligent artisans who work tirelessly to create precious Lãnh Mỹ A silk left me with a heavy heart.
The trip wasn’t just about visiting and learning. At noon, we stopped at Vườn Xoài restaurant for lunch under the shade of lush mango trees. The local cuisine of the Mekong Delta truly surprised me with specialties like braised cá linh (a type of fish) and bitter melon hot pot with snakehead fish. The rich flavors of each dish gave us a true sense of the rustic, simple nature of the people and their cuisine.
By mid-afternoon, we boarded the bus back to Saigon. Upon returning to the city, my boss and I had the opportunity to stop by District 5, where we enjoyed iconic Chinese dishes like stir-fried noodles, sweet and sour ribs, and chicken soup. The vibrant atmosphere and bold flavors of the dishes wrapped up the trip on a perfect note.
By 11 p.m. that Saturday night, I arrived home, my heart still brimming with emotions from the journey. I had not only gained a deeper understanding of the Lãnh Mỹ A silk weaving craft but also immersed myself in a rich cultural and traditional space. This journey to An Giang made me even more appreciative of the value of Vietnam's traditional silk weaving and proud that I’m contributing, in a small way, to promoting these values through the work I’ve been passionate about for so long.
This trip wasn’t just a journey to the countryside; it was a journey back to timeless values and a craft that I believe still needs to be preserved and nurtured.