Lao PDR - Ethnic minorities - A skein of washed hemp drying outside in a Hmong Lai village

After being boiled in ash water and washed in the river, a hemp skein is dried outside in Ban Tatong, Phongsaly province, Lao PDR. Making hemp fabric is a long and laborious process; the end result is a strong durable cloth with qualities similar to linen which the Hmong women use to make their traditional clothing. In Lao PDR, hemp is now only cultivated in remote mountainous areas of the north. The remote and roadless village of Ban Tatong is situated along the Nam Kang river (an offshoot of the Nam Ou) and will be relocated due to the construction of the Nam Ou Cascade Hydropower Project Dam 7.

Add to Cart Add to Lightbox Download

Filename: A0026631cc_1.jpg
Copyright: Tessa Bunney
Image Size: 4000x2999 / 1.6MB; Asia Lao Lao PDR Laos PDR Southeast Southeast Asia Tessa Bunney countryside ethnic ethnic minorities life minorities minority remote rural hemp cannabis sativa cannabis sativa plant fibre fiber fabric cloth material Hmong Lai Hmong Lai traditional clothing costume mountainous textiles durable woman female hill tribe tribes heritage laborious process processing Ban Tatong Nam Ou skein dry drying Phongsaly Phongsali province village
Contained in galleries: Lao PDR - Hemp, Tessa Bunney - All pics

After being boiled in ash water and washed in the river, a hemp skein is dried outside in Ban Tatong, Phongsaly province, Lao PDR. Making hemp fabric is a long and laborious process; the end result is a strong durable cloth with qualities similar to linen which the Hmong women use to make their traditional clothing. In Lao PDR, hemp is now only cultivated in remote mountainous areas of the north. The remote and roadless village of Ban Tatong is situated along the Nam Kang river (an offshoot of the Nam Ou) and will be relocated due to the construction of the Nam Ou Cascade Hydropower Project Dam 7.