(HBO) – Upon arriving in Lac Village – located in Chieng Chau, in the Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh province – you will understand why the locals here have come to call Vi Thi Thuan, a Thai ethnic minority woman, "Co Tien”, or "Fairy” in English.
"Fairy” Vi Thi Thuan looks at the products made by a local
worker at the Thuan Hoa Social Protection Centre.
Her matronly name comes from her
dedication to caring for others and her ability to weave magic out of a
difficult situation.
Thuan decided to build a house for people
with disabilities in a bid that would not only allow them to make a living, but
also preserve the traditional art of brocade weaving. As such, the Thuan Hoa
Social Protection Centre was established on May 1, 2018.
Over the past decade, hundreds of women
with disabilities and those from difficult backgrounds have come to the centre,
which offers them stable employment and the opportunity to earn a living for
themselves.
The centre currently accommodates 35
ethnic minority women, including 11 people with disabilities, who are provided with
jobs and a stable income ranging from 2.5 to 4 million VND per month.
It was very challenging at the beginning
as this craft is difficult even for able-bodied people to master; for people
with disabilities, it can be a thousand times more difficult, Thuan recalled.
"I myself had no experience, only my courage
and enthusiasm, and so there were many times where I did not know what to do
first, and what to do later,” she said. "Fortunately, all the members here live
together in harmony, like the name of the centre "Thuan Hoa”. Thus, when
confronted with any challenges, we always encourage each other to overcome them
together.”
After many ups and downs, in 2016, the
centre was able to build a new workshop and separate rooms for 20 of the women living
here, as well as a showroom, two stilt houses for homestay services, and a
large yard for camping and the display of Thai ethnic minority items.
"Many difficulties remain ahead of us, but
we are still dedicated to crafting and selling traditional handicrafts that
reflect the cultural beauty of Thai people,” Thuan added.
In addition, she plans to develop a large
garden full of local flowers from the northwestern region in the future and
create a cultural space of Thai ethnic community in Mai Chau to serve tourism.
Thuan was awarded the title of brocade
weaving artisan by the Vietnam Craft Village Association three years in a row
from 2010 to 2013, and honoured by the President of the Vietnam Women’s Union
as an example of an excellent businesswoman from an ethnic minority group.
Xoe dance, an unique art form of the Thai ethnic minority group in Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh province has existed for a long time and passed down through generations. Xoe dance is not only a popular dance in the Thai community but also a unique cultural feature, an indispensable part in the Thai ethnic minority people's cultural and spiritual life.
The Bac Son pre-school in Hung Son commune, Kim Boi district is effectively implementing a model of preserving and promoting cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group.
Through ups and downs, many unique cultural features of the Muong ethnic minority group are facing risks of falling into oblivion. However, with a strong determination, Lac Son district of Hoa Binh province has deployed synchronous solutions to preserve and promote the locality's cultural heritage values.
If Tan Lac is considered the core of the cradle of Muong culture in Hoa Binh, Phong Phu commune is the cultural centre of Muong culture in Tan Lac district. Luy Ai hamlet in Phong Phu commune is where customs and traditions of Muong Bi are preserved. Luy Ai hamlet was chosen to build a space to preserve Muong ethnic culture. The district is seeking support from the province and coordinating with relevant agencies to devise a plan on preservation of Muong cultural spaces associated with developing tourism products and improving the lives of local residents.
Nguyen Manh Tuan, a Muong ethnic man in Ba Hang Doi town, Lac Thuy district, is known as a young, dedicated, and outstanding artisan who has made significant contributions in collecting, restoring, and preserving national cultural values.
The Government Office with Document No. 2082/VPCP-KGVX, dated March 29, 2024, sent out the opinion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha regarding the submission of the "Mo Muong" and "Cheo art" dossiers to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
