Dao ethnic women in Sung village, Cao Son commune (Da Bac) have been keeping their culture in everyday clothes.

Sung hamlet, Cao Son commune is the village of the Dao Tien people. like in many other hamlets and villages of Dao ethnic people, the people here still keep the habits, the way of eating and living from a long time ago. They live in low-roofed houses with many rooms, the entrance is usually arranged at the head of the house. Regarding costumes, the main color Dao women often choose is indigo and black, embroidered with patterns in the flap. 

Dao women's clothing shows gentleness but it is really subtle. In terms of cuisine, the way of preparing dishes of the people is very popular and not sophisticated. The two most memorable specialties are sour meat and Hoang wine. Especially, with the support of AFAP Vietnam, Sung village has transferred its economic structure, developing community tourism in association with preserving national cultural features from 2017 to the present. Exploiting the beauty that the nature bestowed, preserving and promoting the inherent identity of their own group, Sung village has been an attractive destination for foreign tourists to visit and experience.

According to statistics, the Dao community currently accounts for over 20% of the population in Da Bac district, scattered in the communes of Toan Son, Cao Son, Vua Nua, Tan Minh, Doan Ket, Tan Pheo, Nanh Nghe, Tu Ly and the town of Da Bac. The typical culture of the Dao people is expressed in 2 branches: Dao Tien and Dao Quan Chet. Dao Quan Chet live in mainly in Ma village, Tu Ly commune. One of the indispensable cultural features of the Dao Quan Chet people is the Dancing Tet - a custom of naming and celebrating new rice ceremonies in October and November each year.

The conservation and development of the unique cultural features of the Dao people in the district have been paid attention to in recent years. The preservation of Dao cultural identity is also associated with the development of tourism and the local community tourism through the Resolution No.09 of the Da Bac District’s Party Committee, dated on 26 May 2015 on the district’s tourism development by 2020 with a vision to 2030, the project of the District tourism development to 2020 with a vision to 2030 approved by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 1908 / QD-UBND, dated 29/6/2017.

Since 2019, the People's Committee of the district has collaborated with the board of Son Dong of Dao ethnic people in the three provinces including Hoa Binh, Son La and Phu Tho to organize the Spring Festival of Dao ethnic people in Bai hamlet, Cao Son commune. At the same time, this festival is scheduled to be restored every year. 

At the end of 2019, the district held a conference on promoting tourism and agricultural investment for the first time. In addition to other ethnic groups, Dao ethnic identity with culture, customs, houses, costumes, folk songs, dances, traditional musical instruments and folk festivals has been introduced and promoted tourists from all over the country and overseas.

Related Topics

Kim Boi: Cultural life building efforts produce fruitful outcomes

Provincial leader inspects construction site of Mo Muong conservation space

A “fire keeper” of Muong culture

Bringing art to the people in remote and disadvantaged areas

---

Bringing art to remote areas - promoting ethnic culture

Hoa Binh city - Vibrant community activities at cultural houses

Building a cultural conservation area for Muong ethnic group in Luy Ai hamlet

Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district of Hoa Binh province, is widely regarded as the cultural heartland of the Muong ethnic group. Among its many traditional communities, Luy Ai hamlet (formerly Ai hamlet) stands out as a rare location where the customs and way of life of the Muong Bi people remain largely intact.

Truong Kha temple festival celebrates Muong cultural heritage

The Truong Kha temple festival, a distinctive cultural event held every three years in Vu Ban township, Lac Son district, returned recently with vibrant rituals and folk traditions of the Muong people. Located next to the Buoi River in the Muong Trao fields, the Truong Kha Temple is dedicated to the three Kun Dol deities, revered for teaching farming techniques, irrigation, weaving, and protecting the harvest.

Hoa Binh city residents enjoy upgraded cultural houses

The demand for spaces serving community activities of residents in various areas across Hoa Binh city has been satisfied as local cultural houses now feature modern, spacious facilities thanks to the effective implementation of Resolution No. 49/NQ-HDND issued on December 28, 2021 by the city People's Council, which approved the plan for reorganising, converting, and allocating land for the construction, repair, and expansion of cultural houses in Hoa Binh’s villages and residential areas until 2025.

Enhancing cultural and spiritual life in remote and ethnic minority areas

At the end of May, the Hoa Binh Provincial Ethnic Arts Troupe organized a series of performances for residents in Region 2 and Region 3 communes across the province. Bringing art to ethnic communities in remote, isolated, and especially disadvantaged areas has become a meaningful activity. These are not merely artistic performances but also journeys to disseminate cultural values, enrich spiritual life, and contribute to preserving the cultural identity of ethnic minorities.