Peaceful Khau Dang

The village of Khau Dang still preserves many traditional cultural characteristics.

The people of Khau Dang still preserve many traditional cultural characteristics.

Beloved stilt houses

Amidst the summer sunshine, we crossed the picturesque Yêu Pass, and after traveling more than 2km from the center of Bằng Thành commune, Thái Nguyên province, we reached the village of the Sán Chỉ ethnic minority - Khâu Đấng. Situated high up, Khâu Đấng is enchanting, shrouded in clouds, with a pristine atmosphere and simple stilt houses nestled at the foot of majestic mountains.

Together with Ms. Hoang Thi Mong, Secretary of the Khau Dang village Party branch, we visited the stilt house of Mr. Hoang Van Cau. Mr. Cau is a respected figure who has served as village head for 32 years and is wholeheartedly dedicated to the development of Khau Dang today. Like other people in the highland villages, Mr. Hoang Van Cau is simple, quiet, and has bright, sparkling eyes.

Mr. Cau's stilt house is over 30 years old, with sturdy, square pillars that have stood the test of time. Leaving our sandals below, we walked barefoot up the smooth, cool steps. In front of the house is a large open area, often used for drying corn, rice, and other grains.

Mr. Cau's stilt house has 54 pillars; 3 main rooms, 2 smaller rooms, and 3 veranda rooms. The central room is the ancestral altar, with spacious rooms on either side. The fireplace is located in the middle of the house, a shared space where the warm fire of the family is kindled.

Currently, Khau Dang has 36 households but still preserves 33 traditional stilt houses. The houses here share a common feature: they are all built against the mountainside, with the main facade facing south and the staircase leading up from the east. Mr. Cau explained that the locals believe that when the sun rises, the first rays of sunlight will shine up the staircase to the house, thus making it easier for the family to prosper and thrive.

Sitting on the porch, looking out at the mountain with white clouds swirling around it, Mr. Cau spoke in a warm, deep voice: "I was born and raised here, and since childhood, my elders have told me to preserve my roots. The San Chi people came here to live, relying on the forests and mountains, and only learned to cultivate terraced rice fields in 1990, and their lives began to improve."

I always remind my grandchildren: We are the San Chi ethnic group, and we must preserve our traditional culture; our clothing, stilt houses, language… these are the core elements.

Promoting traditional cultural values

A fireplace in a traditional stilt house.

Upon arriving in Khau Dang, it's easy to see the love and commitment of the local people to preserving their traditional culture. Along the way, from elderly women to tiny babies, everyone is wearing traditional clothing.

Touching the intricately embroidered trim on her dress, Mrs. Hoang Thi Xuan (67 years old) shared: "Girls in Khau Dang start learning embroidery and tailoring at the age of 12. First, they learn to sew the hem of the dress, then they learn to embroider. Here, children go to school and we all work in the fields wearing traditional clothing. So everyone has several sets to rotate, and a most beautiful one to wear on important occasions or festivals."

The traditional clothing of the San Chi ethnic group is not brightly colored, mainly consisting of indigo fabric with elaborate hand-embroidered details. The outer garment is made of two pieces of indigo fabric sewn diagonally to the right, with the edges bordered by a red stripe, and the length of the hem reaching the calves.

Accompanying the San Chi costume is a belt. The belt is woven from wool and dyed fabric threads in various colors, adorned with silver or metal ornaments, creating a striking accent. Along with it are sparkling silver necklaces and bracelets; the necklace is also tied at the back of the neck with an elaborate, colorful decorative band.

The most distinctive feature of the San Chi girls' attire is their high bun hairstyle, adorned with numerous accessories. The bun is secured with a white pin, topped with a bronze drum face, and the right side is decorated with hairpins featuring clusters of small bells.

Pointing to the hairpins wrapped around her bun, Trieu Thi Linh (born in 2003) said: "Before I thought of using these pre-made hairpins, it took me an hour to do my hair. But that was only for special occasions; when I went to work, I just used a headscarf for convenience. Before, my friends and I often wore traditional clothes to school, and everyone complimented us on how beautiful we looked, so we were very proud."

Besides stilt houses and traditional clothing, the people here have also preserved many cultural identities, such as: the Spring Festival; characteristic rituals…

With its natural advantages, cultural heritage, and people, Khau Dang is becoming one of the community tourism destinations receiving investment and support for development. Currently, transportation, electricity, and public infrastructure are being completed. Nine families have registered to operate homestay services, renovating their houses, yards, and fences, and displaying traditional items of the San Chi people.

Locals enthusiastically embarked on implementing models of growing clean vegetables and raising native livestock to develop the economy and serve tourists who came to visit and experience the area.

Speaking about future directions, Ms. Hoang Thi Mong, Secretary of the Party Branch of Khau Dang village, confidently stated: "The villagers are very enthusiastic, and everyone is ready to start developing community tourism. Khau Dang can currently accommodate 50 tourists overnight. Hopefully, in the near future, Khau Dang village will become more beautiful, more well-known, and soon welcome groups of tourists to visit and experience its cultural values."

With its unique cultural values preserved intact, along with its picturesque natural landscapes, friendly people, and a spirit of readiness for innovation, Khau Dang is converging many elements to become an attractive destination on the journey to explore the highlands of Thai Nguyen.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202507/binh-yen-khau-dang-25b0dcc/