Hmong Batik Workshop 

(Full day)

Hmong Batik Workshop in Sapa - Full Day Cultural Experience

“In every drop of wax, a story begins. In every cloth, a journey ends”
— unknown
Traditional Hmong batik pattern in indigo with wooden tool used for wax dyeing

Duration: Full Day

Start time: 8.30am

Location: ETHOS Community Centre, Sapa

Learn Traditional Batik Techniques from Hmong Artisans

Spend the day learning from My, one of Sapa’s most skilled and engaging Hmong artisans. With fluent English and a natural gift for storytelling, My brings the ancient traditions of Hmong batik and hemp textile preparation to life in a workshop that is both hands on and deeply meaningful.

The day begins with a quiet introduction to the process of creating hemp fabric, still practiced by the Black Hmong people today. You’ll learn how to peel and twist the raw fibres before using a traditional pounding tool to soften and prepare them. A large wooden cylinder acts as an anvil, while a heavy hardwood stick is used to beat the fibres; a meditative and physical process that reflects the deep connection between culture, land and material.

Next, you will work with a panel of natural hemp cloth, applying beeswax to create your own batik design using a traditional copper and bamboo batik tool. As you draw, My will share the symbolism behind Hmong motifs, weaving personal stories into the fabric of the experience. This is not just a craft workshop it’s a rare opportunity to understand the spiritual and cultural significance of hemp and indigo within Hmong society.

After a home style lunch (vegetarian and vegan options available), you will dye your textile in a natural indigo vat. You’ll also learn about the Black Hmong calendaring process. This is the finishing technique that gives the cloth its signature sheen. You will leave with a one of a kind piece of fabric that reflects the heritage of the northern highlands.

This workshop is suitable for adults and young people aged 12 and up. It is capped at four participants to ensure a meaningful, personal experience.

Create your own Hmong batik on hemp using traditional tools, indigo dye and symbolism. A full-day immersive, cultural workshop guided by expert artisan and storyteller, My.

Hands-on textile craft, storytelling, and cultural immersion in Vietnam’s northern highlands

Inclusions:

• All materials, tools and instruction

• Home style lunch and refreshments

• English speaking artisan guide

• Your own indigo dyed hemp batik panel to take home

Community based tourism (CBT) is a form of tourism where local communities are directly involved in developing, managing, and benefiting from tourism activities within their area. It emphasises community ownership, cultural preservation, and sustainable practices, offering visitors authentic experiences and fostering economic opportunities for residents. 

Prices - Hmong Batik workshop 1 Day Experience

1 person - $75 per person

2 people - $65 per person

3 people - $55 per person

4 people - $50 per person

“The lines we draw in wax are not just patterns, but pathways between cultures.”
— Unknown
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Please travel with respect. Dress modestly, support local crafts, protect nature, be patient, and stay safe. Connect, learn, and contribute positively during your ETHOS journey. Please refer to our terms for booking conditions for all ETHOS experiences.

A group of people in traditional colorful clothing, posing together for a photo against a beige background.

To learn more about Hmong culture and other ethnic minority communities in Northern Vietnam, please click here

A young woman wearing a traditional colorful embroidered Hmong clothing with bead and spike embellishments, smiling at the camera against a dark background.

To learn more about Hmong clothing, please click here

Images of the ETHOS Batik workshop using hemp fabric, specialist tools and an expert, English speaking Hmong artisan teacher.
Close-up of a person's hand using a narrow tool to etch a pattern onto a piece of fabric with intricate geometric and sun-like designs in brown and white.
A black, round stone or clay bowl filled with dark liquid, possibly water or oil, with two wooden sticks resting on the rim, surrounded by ash and burnt charcoal.
Two women and a girl working on traditional hand-painted fabric designs, sitting on the floor with tools and a large bowl of charcoal nearby, on an outdoor balcony with decorative balustrades.
A woman in traditional clothing demonstrating weaving or crafting with natural materials, while another person observes.
Close-up of a person's hand holding a piece of cheese with a metal spatula in a sizzling pan on a stove.
Close-up view of a patterned fabric with a quilting design, featuring geometric shapes and a quilt cutter with a wooden handle on the left side.
Close-up of a wood carving tool with a round, spiral metal wire design at the tip, lying on a dark fabric surface.
A traditional embroidered cloth with red fabric, featuring intricate black, white, and red geometric patterns and designs, laid on a dark quilted surface with blue straps attached.
Close-up of multiple metal tattoo needles on a blue fabric background.
Person holding a small ladle and a small stirring stick over a traditional charcoal furnace used for making homemade liquor or spirits.
Close-up of a woven textile with a black and white geometric pattern, and a long, slightly rusted metal tool placed on the right side.
A woman with a woven hair clip is creating intricate geometric designs on a piece of fabric using a fine brush. She is seated at a wooden table outdoors, with plants and a decorative stone railing in the background.
Close-up of a patterned baik with small red and yellow applique details
Group of eight women smiling, holding embroidered cloths, standing in a room with a pink wall and traditional musical instrument hanging on it.
A woman is painting a detailed geometric design on a flat surface using a small brush.
An elderly woman with gray hair wearing a denim jacket and a colorful shirt, working on a detailed art project with a brush on a piece of cloth or paper, sitting at a table in which artistic or graphic work is being created.
Close-up of a hand drawing intricate geometric patterns on fabric with a black marker, with a blurred background.
A person holding a metal ring filled with brown seeds or grains, with a wicker basket and a ball of twine in the background.
Close-up of a hand holding a brush, applying gold leaf to a decorative cloth with intricate patterns.
A woman with dark hair and hoop earrings sitting on a rock or concrete surface, viewed from above.
A woman with dark hair and large hoop earrings is looking at a tablet or phone while sitting on a patterned rug.
Person's hand holding a small chisel and carving intricate geometric patterns into fabric or leather craft.
A woman with dark hair tied back, wearing earrings and a colorful striped long-sleeve shirt, is tending to a fire with charcoal and ashes, holding a small bowl or container.
A young woman dressed in traditional attire is doing embroidery while an elderly woman in a purple shirt, sitting on a small stool, observes her.
Close-up of a folded fabric with a red and white flag patch sewn onto it.
Two balls of twine or natural fiber rope placed on a wooden surface with a bamboo or wooden panel background.
Woman with black hair smiling, crouching in a garden surrounded by green plants, wearing a black traditional embroidered jacket and turquoise rubber boots.
A woman with long black hair in a ponytail secured with a white scrunchie, wearing a dark embroidered jacket, hangs cloth strips on a string outside a brick building.
A person wearing a patterned long-sleeve shirt uses a small tool to work on an intricately carved wooden surface with geometric and floral designs.
A young woman and an older woman, both wearing traditional embroidered clothing and headscarves, are engaged in a craft activity involving weaving or knitting with natural fibers against a brick wall background.
A batik tool resting on a patterned blue panel of Hmong batik.
A person with long dark hair holding batiked fabric with red, blue, and black geometric patterns, traditional textile art.