This paper investigates the role of Hmong intercultural communication through story cloth products sold by Hmong Lao vendors at a night market in Luang Prabang City. Data relied on 14 Hmong story cloths obtained from four Hmong Lao vendors. Findings revealed that the Hmong Lao vendors sold traditional story cloths which reflect aspects of Hmong life in harmony in nature with nature elements as portrayed in trees, crops, and animals. This reinforces Hmong identity and their strong attachment to agriculture and joint gender work cooperation. Themes including work diligence and strong family ties are also supported as seen in story cloths. There are also a few story cloths created by Hmong youth using embroidered English captions with themes about family, harvesting, and travelling. Other interesting story cloths referred to Biblical elements about the birth of Jesus and his resurrection. The findings also showed that Hmong Lao vendors were young and used limited intercultural communication strategies to convey Hmong cultural information about story cloths because of their limited competencies to other languages. Most cultural sharing among researchers proved productive with the use of Hmong language which explains why intercultural communication between tourists was weak.

Credit : Prommin Songsirisak // Albert Lisec // Jutharat Jitpranee

https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/irdssru/article/view/158569