Visiting the Hmong villages in Son La, it's not uncommon to see Hmong women sitting on their porches, patiently and meticulously using bamboo pens to draw patterns with beeswax onto layers of fabric. This is an indispensable step in completing a part of their traditional costume. Hmong women usually use yellow or black beeswax, melted and heated to create the patterns. The drawing tool consists of two copper leaves attached to a bamboo stick about 10-15 cm long, creating a compartment for the wax and a triangular copper nib. Depending on the pattern, the artist chooses a large nib for sketching lines and a small nib for creating delicate patterns. The patterns are mostly memorized and passed down from generation to generation.

Ms. Giang Thi Dua, from Khau Pum village, Muong Chien commune, said: "Since I was 15 years old, my mother taught me how to draw with beeswax on fabric. This work requires very meticulous technique; each stroke must be even so that the patterns are beautiful and follow the correct pattern. The artist must adjust the temperature of the fire so that the wax melts just enough, doesn't smudge, dries quickly, and has good adhesion so that when dyed with indigo, the patterns take on the desired color."

Mong women in Khau Pum village, Muong Chien commune, teach the technique of drawing with beeswax on fabric.

The technique of creating patterns on fabric using beeswax requires a high degree of patience, meticulousness, and experience, demanding mastery of each movement. The beeswax must be heated to the right temperature; if it's too hot, it will spread, and if it cools too quickly, it will solidify, causing the lines to break. The brush must be moved evenly so that the wax lines are neither too thick nor too thin. The patterns mainly consist of familiar shapes such as squares, crosses, rhombuses, triangles, circles, and sawteeth. From seemingly simple straight and angled lines, Hmong women skillfully combine them to create balanced patterns on the fabric. Each line is created through memory and the skillful hands of the craftswoman, giving the traditional clothing its unique beauty.

Ms. Mua Thi Me, from Pa Khen 3 residential group, Thao Nguyen ward, shared: After completing the step of creating patterns with beeswax, the fabric is dyed with indigo multiple times to create the characteristic dark blue background. When the indigo color reaches the desired intensity, the fabric is washed to remove the wax layer. The areas that were previously coated with wax but did not absorb the indigo dye will reveal lighter colored patterns on the indigo background. Finally, the fabric is dried, flattened, and used to make traditional clothing.

Intricate patterns are visible on the linen fabric.

From a traditional craft, beeswax painting on fabric is gradually becoming an attractive cultural experience for tourists in the Mong ethnic villages of Son La. In Hua Tat village, Van Ho commune, Ta Xua, and Ngoc Chien, homestays have incorporated this activity into their services. Tourists can learn about the meaning of the patterns, directly use bamboo pens dipped in beeswax, and create lines on the fabric under the guidance of local women. Many places have also created products such as scarves, bags, wallets, and decorative items from beeswax-patterned fabric as souvenirs to sell to tourists.

Mr. Trang A Chu, owner of A Chu Homestay in Hua Tat village, Van Ho commune, shared: "We encouraged women in the village to participate in guiding and serving tourists in the beeswax painting experience. From preparing the materials and using bamboo pens to creating patterns, tourists can practice by hand. This is one of the experiential services that has received many positive feedbacks from tourists, creating additional income for the women while contributing to promoting and preserving traditional crafts in the locality."

Foreign tourists experience painting with beeswax on fabric in Hua Tat village, Van Ho commune.

Excited to experience beeswax painting on fabric firsthand at a homestay in Hua Tat village, Van Ho commune, Ms. Tran Thi Kim Dung, a tourist from Hanoi, said: "This is my first time experiencing beeswax painting, and I really enjoyed creating my favorite patterns on fabric with my own hands. The handcrafted products here make me want to take them home to keep as souvenirs, gifts, and to share with family and friends. This experience makes our trip to explore the highlands even more interesting and meaningful."

Hmong women in Pa Khen 3 residential area meticulously create beeswax lines on linen fabric.

Preserving the technique of creating patterns with beeswax is also preserving a part of the cultural identity of the Hmong people. Innovating this activity into experiential services allows tourists to directly explore the unique cultural beauty of the highland people, thereby adding appeal to community-based and cultural tourism products in Son La.

Hoang Nghia