NDO – After the bees leave their hives, the hive remains become the main materials for Dao Tien ethnic minority people in Hoai Khao hamlet in Quang Thanh commune, Nguyen Binh district, Cao Bang province, to decorate patterns on their traditional clothes.

To paint patterns on traditional costumes, Dao Tien people can use waxes from many types of bees. However, waxes from ong khoai (apis dorsata) still bring the highest efficiency. Pattern painting techniques of Dao Tien people showed that they have a rich and delicate knowledge and live in harmony with nature.

Beeswaxes are cooked several times to get the essence.

Rustic kits are made up of materials found in nature.

Beeswaxes are heated to paint on Dao Tien’s clothes.

A Dao Tien woman carefully prints the beeswax under a traditional method.

Unique patterns on the clothes of Dao Tien women.

VAN TIEPTranslated by NDO