Cultural exchange of three ethnic groups

For nearly 300 years, the Kinh - Hoa - Khmer people have lived together on the land of Ca Mau with a spirit of solidarity, mutual support and development. Although each ethnic group has its own cultural identity, living together for generations has created a harmonious exchange and connection, creating a unique and diverse cultural identity of Ca Mau.

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

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Quynh, member of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association, if we talk about cultural exchange between the three Kinh - Hoa - Khmer ethnic groups in Ca Mau land, we must consider the period of coexistence of the three ethnic groups, which has existed since the land reclamation and opening up.

Sharing historical data, Mr. Quynh said that the Kinh people in Ca Mau mainly came from the Ngu Quang region (Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Quang Duc (Hue), Quang Nam and Quang Ngai). The Chinese followed the migration from China during the Ming Dynasty in 3 groups, led by Mr. Duong Ngan Dich who founded My Tho city, Mr. Tran Huu Xuyen who founded Dong Nai and Mr. Mac Cuu's group who settled in Ca Mau. Some of the Khmer people came to Ca Mau to reclaim land first and some settled from Cambodia.

During the period of land reclamation, building hamlets and villages, stemming from the need for safety in the process of exploring new lands, facing dangers from deep forests, poisonous waters, wild animals, foreign invaders, people had to unite to fight against danger and overcome the situation. During the process of living together, people not only united, but in the community of ethnic groups also shared with each other the culture from their homeland, about rituals, long-standing customs and practices, folk beliefs, to then together preserve and pass on to future generations the good values... And from there, cultural exchange gradually entered the spiritual life of each person.

When mentioning Kinh people, people think of Lunar New Year; Khmer people have traditional Chol Chnam Thmay festival, Sene Dolta festival, Ook Om Bok festival, Ngo boat racing; Chinese people have Thien Hau festival, Lantern festival... These festivals are mostly held by people at communal houses, temples, pagodas, shrines, hermitages and have the presence of ethnic communities participating. More specifically, the festival culture of ethnic groups is carried out according to folk beliefs and religious beliefs. The annual traditional rituals of ethnic groups are a whole system of festivals to serve the needs of cultural and spiritual life of ethnic people, carrying many cultural and social values ​​and educational meanings full of profound humanity. Not only that, these types of culture, art and festivals always show their unique characteristics, especially their folk traditions, closely linked to the real life of solidarity for nearly 300 years of the three ethnic groups: Kinh - Hoa - Khmer in the homeland of Ca Mau, and are no longer the property of any one ethnic group.

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

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

On the occasion of Thien Hau festival (Ca Mau city), many Buddhists from everywhere come to visit.

Cultural exchange not only enriches the spiritual life of people in general, but over time also naturally selects, helping these cultural phenomena to become more and more perfect, reducing inappropriate activities, contributing to building the culture of Ca Mau people in line with the trend of civilization and development. That is not only the driving force for the development of all economic, cultural and social aspects of the province but also contributes to preserving the national cultural identity, protecting traditional cultural heritages, including cultural and artistic forms, in line with the current economic development trend and to building a civilized lifestyle suitable for the new era of the country.

---

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 about 41,212 people; followed by the Chinese with 2,234 households and 8,760 people; and the remaining 19 ethnic minorities include: Muong, Tay, Thai, Nung, Cham, Gia Rai, Ede, Si La, Co Ho, Xtieng, Chu Ru... with about 221 households and 681 people. In recent times, with the attention of Party committees and authorities at all levels, the lives of ethnic minorities have been stable both materially and spiritually. In particular, cultural, physical training and sports activities in ethnic minority areas on the occasion of ethnic minority holidays and Tet and the National Great Unity Day are organized, attracting a large number of ethnic minority people to participate. Since then, the cultural and spiritual life of ethnic minorities has been increasingly improved; the fine traditional cultural customs and practices of ethnic minorities continue to receive attention from Party committees and authorities at all levels, creating conditions for preservation and promotion.

---

Quynh Anh

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