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"No man is as pure as the men of the Cua River."
No girl is as virtuous as the girls of Tan Chau.
Days of weaving silk and growing mulberry trees
"Serving one's father and caring for one's mother is no hardship."
In the entire alluvial plain of the Mekong Delta, An Giang is perhaps the only place that specializes in mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing, and silk weaving. When the floodwaters recede, a vast stretch of sandy soil along the Tien and Hau rivers, extending from Tan Chau to Cho Moi and across to the Cambodian border, is covered with lush green mulberry fields.
In the entire alluvial plain of the Mekong Delta, An Giang is perhaps the only place that has the tradition of growing mulberry trees, raising silkworms, and weaving silk.
The tradition of mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing, and silk weaving in Tan Chau has existed for an unknown period. It is quite possible that over 400 years ago, people from Central Vietnam migrated south to reclaim land and establish settlements, bringing with them the traditions of their homeland and the craft of mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing, and silk weaving along the banks of the Mekong Delta.
Going back in time, a household with a small hand loom had at least two pairs of weavers, while a large weaving factory needed 6-7 pairs, with each pair weaving 800-1,000 meters per month. After its golden age, in the 1970s, silkworms woven with nylon threads gradually replaced traditional silk. Lãnh Mỹ A silk faced the risk of disappearing, and the looms used for weaving it in the Tân Châu silk region were gradually dismantled. Today, the "Tân Châu silk land," with its rich history, has fewer than 20 households remaining, including the Tám Lăng establishment.
It is the meticulous craftsmanship of the weavers of Tan Chau that has created the "premium" silk known as My A silk - the queen of silk.
Tan Chau silk is considered the pride of the people from An Giang province.
As a true native of the Mekong Delta, Nguyen Thanh Nhat (a fourth-year student at An Giang University) had the opportunity to visit and experience the renowned silk weaving craft: “The names Tan Chau silk or My A silk are not unfamiliar to people in An Giang. This is a premium silk with a characteristic deep black, lustrous color, and it feels cool when worn. Therefore, this type of silk is not only famous in Tan Chau but also in An Giang and neighboring areas.”
Visiting the Tam Lang workshop, Thanh Nhat had the opportunity to witness firsthand the process of skilled artisans creating silk fabric, from machine weaving to dyeing and ironing to produce the finished product. One of the most memorable experiences for Thanh Nhat was being able to personally pick the mulberry fruit, the main ingredient that creates the deep black color of the silk fabric. In addition, she listened to the artisans share their experiences, the difficulties involved in creating silk fabric, and the challenges of maintaining the craft village.
Tan Chau silk is a purely Vietnamese product with a strong national character.
It is known that Lãnh Mỹ A silk is a type of smooth, luxurious, deep black silk. The special thing about this product is its non-stretch and non-absorbent properties, making it very breathable in the summer and surprisingly warm in the winter.
To achieve the deep, lustrous black color and smooth, cool feel of Mỹ A silk, skilled artisans must invest considerable time and effort through numerous stages. The silkworm feeding period is the most challenging time of the silkworm farming profession. Workers must be constantly present beside the trays and mulberry cutting boards. They sleep for one or two hours at night, then wake up to spread leaves to feed the silkworms. When the silkworms are mature and plump, they are placed on frames to spin their silk, and the weaving village becomes even more vibrant at this time.
The workers toil continuously with the weaving machines.
Next comes the silk reeling process. Hundreds of charcoal braziers burn fiercely to boil the water, then the cocoons are placed in copper pots. The reeler, with one hand holding a large chopstick and stirring continuously, uses the other hand to turn a wheel that spins the silk until only the silkworm carcasses remain in the pot.
One of the highlights of Tan Chau silk village lies in the use of the fruit of the Mac Nua tree to dye silk. Although it is a natural dye, it is very durable and beautiful. The Mac Nua tree is a dark-colored woody plant with thin leaves and clusters of round, plump fruits similar to longan. After harvesting, the Mac Nua fruits are sorted by size. Usually, people choose the large, green fruits, discarding the ripe ones because they no longer contain sap. The Mac Nua fruits are crushed and mixed with water to form a thick yellow solution, which turns black when exposed to air and heat.
One of the highlights of Tan Chau silk village lies in the use of the fruit of the Terminalia catappa tree to dye silk.
The silk dyeing process is considered crucial and meticulous because the silk is not just dipped once, but hundreds of times to ensure each thread is thoroughly and evenly dyed. Afterward, it is dried. Drying requires good sunshine for four days. The dyeing and drying process takes approximately 40-45 days. The result is shimmering silk with a uniquely mysterious black color, soft, durable, and highly absorbent.
Speaking with Travellive, Thanh Nhat shared: “What impressed me was hearing the loud sound of the weaving machines as soon as I arrived, along with the sight of the workers constantly busy. I'm already used to the sound of the weaving machines. This was also the first time I saw and touched silk. In my opinion, the fabric is unlike any other; it's glossy and jet black.”
The silk dyeing process is considered important and elaborate.
Tan Chau silk is a purely Vietnamese product with a strong national character. Garments made from Tan Chau silk provide the wearer with a comfortable, breathable feeling in the summer and warmth in the winter. Therefore, it truly deserves to be called the "queen" of silks.
Lãnh Mỹ A is a type of smooth, lustrous black silk, considered noble and elegant.
