As part of the Rockefeller’s initiative to foster cross-border collaboration and capacity building between and among institutions and individuals in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (VME) was awarded a grant (a continuing effort, which started in 2001) to create a network of museums, cultural institutions and experts in Yunnan part of China, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. An outcome of such effort will be a traveling exhibition entitled “Tai Textiles in the Greater Mekong Sub-region: Continuity and Change” schedule to open in December 2004 at the VME. The exhibition will invite visitors to meet the Tai people and learn about Tai culture as they take an imaginary journey along the Mekong River. Visitors will understand the differences and commonalities among the Tai people in the various GMS countries while admiring textiles used in everyday life, rituals and festivals.

Pictures below illustrate exchanges and discussions between VME researchers and collaborating institutions in Lao PDR, Vietnam and Thailand in preparation for the exhibition.