Cultural exchange among three ethnic groups

For nearly 300 years, the Kinh, Hoa, and Khmer people have lived together in Ca Mau with a spirit of solidarity and mutual support for development. Although each ethnic group has its own cultural identity, their intermingling over generations has created a harmonious blend and connection, resulting in the unique and diverse cultural identity of Ca Mau.

The Cultural and Sports Festival of the Kinh, Hoa, and Khmer ethnic groups in Ca Mau province is an opportunity to strengthen solidarity. Photo: HUYNH LAM

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Quynh, a member of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association, when discussing cultural exchange between the Kinh, Hoa, and Khmer ethnic groups in Ca Mau , one must consider the period of cohabitation of these three groups, which has existed since the time of land reclamation and settlement.

Sharing historical data, Mr. Quynh stated that the Kinh people in Ca Mau mainly originated from the Five Quang regions (Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Quang Duc (Hue), Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai ). The Chinese migrated from China during the Ming Dynasty in three groups: Mr. Duong Ngan Dich established My Tho, Mr. Tran Huu Xuyen established Dong Nai, and Mr. Mac Cuu settled in Ca Mau. Some Khmer people had already arrived in Ca Mau to clear land, while others came from Cambodia to settle.

During the period of land reclamation and settlement, the need for safety stemmed from the challenges of exploring new lands and facing dangers from the wild forests, ferocious animals, and foreign invaders. Therefore, people had to unite to overcome these dangers and conquer the circumstances. In this process of cohabitation, people not only united but also shared their cultures from their homelands, including ancient rituals, customs, and folk beliefs, preserving and passing on these valuable traditions to future generations. From this, cultural exchange gradually became an integral part of each person's spiritual life.

When mentioning the Kinh people, everyone thinks of the Lunar New Year; the Khmer people have the traditional Chôl Chnăm Thmây New Year, Sene Dolta festival, Ook Om Bok festival, and Ngo boat racing; the Chinese people have the Thien Hau festival and the Lantern Festival... These festivals are mostly organized by the people at communal houses, temples, pagodas, shrines, and hermitages, with the participation of various ethnic communities. More importantly, the festival culture of these ethnic groups is based on folk beliefs and religious beliefs. The annual traditional rituals of each ethnic group constitute a whole system of festivals serving the cultural and spiritual needs of the people, carrying many cultural, social, and educational values ​​with profound humanistic significance. Moreover, these cultural, artistic, and festival forms always demonstrate distinctive characteristics, most notably folk traditions, closely linked to the shared life of the three ethnic groups: Kinh, Hoa, and Khmer, in Ca Mau province for nearly 300 years, rather than belonging exclusively to any single ethnic group.

Cultural exchange has contributed to a rich cultural and spiritual life for the community. People participate in traditional festivals without discrimination based on ethnicity or religion.

Mr. Quynh shared: “Cultural exchange is not just about interaction, but also about mutual transformation during the cohabitation of the three ethnic groups Kinh, Hoa, and Khmer in the new land of Ca Mau. Today, cultural exchange not only contributes to maintaining and enriching cultural values, but also to filtering them. Accordingly, outdated, superstitious, and unscientific rituals, festivals, and beliefs that are no longer suitable, do not adapt to the actual conditions, and do not meet the current needs of the majority will be eliminated and disappear.”

During the festival honoring the Goddess Thien Hau (in Ca Mau City), a large number of Buddhist followers from all over come to pay their respects.

Cultural exchange not only enriches the spiritual life of people in general, but over time also naturally selects and refines these cultural phenomena, reducing inappropriate activities and contributing to building a culture in Ca Mau that is in line with the trends of civilization and development. This is not only a driving force for the all-round development of the province's economy, culture, and society, but also contributes to preserving national cultural identity, protecting traditional cultural heritage, including various forms of arts and culture, in line with current economic development trends and building a civilized way of life suitable for the new era of the country.

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The province currently has 21 ethnic minority groups with 12,154 households and 50,653 people. The largest ethnic minority group is the Khmer with 9,699 households and approximately 41,212 people; followed by the Hoa with 2,234 households and 8,760 people; and the remaining 19 ethnic minority groups, including the Muong, Tay, Thai, Nung, Cham, Gia Rai, Ede, Si La, Co Ho, Xtieng, Chu Ru, etc., with approximately 221 households and 681 people. Over the past period, thanks to the attention of Party committees and authorities at all levels, the lives of ethnic minority people have stabilized both materially and spiritually. In particular, cultural, physical education, and sports activities in ethnic minority areas are organized during ethnic minority festivals and the National Unity Day, attracting a large number of ethnic minority people to participate. As a result, the cultural and spiritual lives of ethnic minorities are increasingly improved; the good traditional customs and practices of ethnic minorities continue to be given attention and support by Party committees and authorities at all levels to preserve and promote them.

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Quynh Anh

Source: https://baocamau.vn/giao-thoa-van-hoa-3-dan-toc-a38593.html