The "locomotives" developing Homestay based on Thai culture
Hoa Tien village is a village of Thai ethnic people that still retains the ancient cultural features from ancient times. In recent years, in order to preserve and promote cultural values as well as to exploit inherent advantages for economic development, the model of community tourism development based on culture and cuisine has been strongly invested and developed by the locality.
Mrs. Sam Thi Xanh, a daughter of Hoa Tien village, is very knowledgeable about Thai culture and has pioneered in introducing Thai culture here to tourists.
To meet the tastes of tourists who want to find unique identities imbued with the cultural values of the Thai people, in addition to self-studying and self-enriching knowledge about the traditional culture of the nation and the customs of the local people, Ms. Xanh has also collaborated with travel companies to build interesting tourism programs, write new lyrics for many songs based on the melodies of Thai folk songs and stage and re-stage the works so that tourists have memorable experiences when participating in community tours in Hoa Tien village.
Ms. Sam Thi Xanh confided: “When coming to Hoa Tien village, tourists will listen to folk songs and dances of the Thai people, weave brocade with the locals, enjoy traditional dishes... Personally, I can sing, weave and even perform the melodies of my people for tourists to see.”
The owner of Nga Duan Homestay, Ms. Lo Thi Nga, is also one of the active women in Hoa Tien village. Currently, her family manages a traditional stilt house used as a "home stay" to welcome tourists.
The ancient stilt house built decades ago by Mrs. Lo Thi Nga and Mr. Sam Van Duan looks quite massive and is decorated with many traditional household utensils of the Thai ethnic group. Coming to the house of her family, visitors can easily feel the skillful hands of the woman when every corner of the kitchen, every porch, the dining area, the sleeping area and the resting place are meticulously and thoughtfully cared for.
Mrs. Nga is also one of the elderly women who still maintain the traditional brocade weaving profession and visitors to her family are very excited to experience this very familiar job. “I am very happy because since doing business in community tourism, my family has been trusted and chosen by many tourists. This not only helps the family increase their income, but more importantly, more and more people love the culture and traditional values of the Thai people,” said Mrs. Nga.
Also talking about the Hoa Tien brocade weaving craft, artisan Sam Thi Bich, Head of the Hoa Tien brocade cooperative, said: “The brocade weaving craft in Hoa Tien village has existed since ancient times. When I grew up, I saw my grandmother and mother weaving brocade. And according to the village elders, Hoa Tien brocade has been around for hundreds of years.” According to Ms. Bich, the brocade weaving craft has gradually faded away due to the influx of cheap industrial fabrics, and on the other hand, brocade has not been encouraged and preserved.
It is very gratifying that over the past 10 years, brocade of the Thai people in Quy Chau in general and Hoa Tien in particular has gradually been revived. The functional sectors have invested in supporting capital, training in silk dyeing techniques and improving the design and quality of goods... The Thai people in Hoa Tien have brought to the market hundreds of rich and diverse products. From brocade panels, clothes, bed sheets, tablecloths to briefcases, wallets, ties... The craft village has revived, Hoa Tien women have had jobs during their free time. At the Hang Bua and Tham Om festivals... these products have become meaningful souvenirs, favored by tourists.
Right at the house of artisan Sam Thi Bich, traditional Thai costumes are displayed for visitors to see. Most notably, there are two looms always on hand so that visitors can experience the process of weaving and making traditional brocade costumes. In addition, Ms. Bich also set up an area for guests to enjoy traditional dishes. This area is also given an interesting name by the homestay owner: "Joy is for sale here".
Bringing Thai culture closer to tourists from all over the world
In recent years, Hoa Tien village, Chau Tien commune has been on the tourist map and is a destination for those who love community tourism and like to explore new places. However, Hoa Tien community tourism can hardly be successful without the local people who know how to preserve and conserve their ethnic culture and are making efforts to promote good values to a large number of tourists from near and far.
With the same meaning, since 2014, Hoa Tien village has established the Thai Cultural Preservation Club. From the first 8 members who shared the same hobby of singing Thai folk songs, the Club has now grown to 38 members, including those who have been awarded the title of Meritorious Artist such as Ms. Sam Thi Vinh. Currently, the Club does not only operate in one area of folk songs and dances, but has many different areas. Mr. Lo Duc Mau is the Chairman of the Club specializing in ancient Thai language and script; Ms. Sam Thi Vinh focuses on teaching Thai folk songs such as Suoi singing, Lam singing, Nhuon singing, Hap Lai singing...; Ms. Sam Thi Xanh is in charge of folk songs and spirituality.
As a person who was awarded the title of Meritorious Artist of Thai Language and Writing and also the Chairman of the Thai Language and Writing Club, Mr. Lo Duc Mau (66 years old), Hoa Tien village, said: “Every summer, I open classes to teach Thai language and writing in the locality. For example, in 2022, I opened 2 classes; in 2023, I opened 1 class. The people who come to study are mainly young people from students to university students. Even volunteer students who come to the locality also take the opportunity to register for my classes. I am able to popularize Thai language and writing to the younger generations, so I am very happy to be able to contribute part of my efforts to the work of spreading and developing my ethnic culture.”
Members of the Thai Cultural Preservation Club, from young to old, have also become “ambassadors” to promote and introduce community tourism. Therefore, every time a group of tourists comes to Chau Tien, the Club stages a program and organizes cultural and artistic performances for tourists. The women will also be chefs who cook traditional dishes of the local people to introduce to tourists.
The efforts of the members have made the Thai Cultural Preservation Club of Hoa Tien village develop day by day and have reached the provincial level model. In addition, the Club has also attracted many members from other communes to participate in many increasingly rich and useful activities... The efforts of the members have also contributed significantly to preserving traditional values and bringing the culture of the Thai people of Quy Chau district closer to tourists from all over the world. This is also a factor that creates the unique features of the Hoa Tien - Quy Chau community tourism area.
According to Mr. Sam Van Tuc - Vice Chairman of Chau Tien Commune People's Committee, in Chau Tien, Hoa Tien village has implemented community tourism, which has contributed to preserving and promoting traditional cultural values; exploiting and promoting the strengths of natural tourism resources and local cultural values to serve tourists. And those who have contributed greatly to these activities are the leaders, preserving the "soul" of Thai culture here. In addition, community tourism has initially created new livelihoods, contributing to increasing income, improving life, gradually eliminating hunger and poverty for people and gradually eliminating the custom of shifting cultivation and nomadic living; at the same time, raising people's awareness of forest protection and environmental protection.
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