"Sowing" national cultural identity

Amidst the deep green mountains and forests, where the stilt houses of the Dao ethnic group in white pants lie peacefully on the hillside, Tan Dong Kindergarten, Tran Yen commune, Lao Cai province appears like a small garden nurturing "green shoots" of culture. There, the model "Happy school associated with national cultural identity" does not stop at the slogan on the wall but is also shown in each lesson.

In the 2025-2026 school year, Tan Dong Kindergarten has 245 children, most of whom are Dao ethnic children. Understanding that ethnic identity is the most quintessential value of a community, the school's Board of Directors and teaching staff have made efforts to make culture a "source" to nurture comprehensive development for children.

Since 2022, the school has coordinated with parents, authorities, elders and artisans to carry out many activities to promote the identity of the Dao people wearing white pants. Teacher Nguyen Thi Thu Trang - Principal of Tan Dong Kindergarten said: "Culture only truly lives when it is present in children's daily lives. We want children to grow up with pride that they are Dao, children of this mountain forest."

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Ms. Vi Thanh Thao, a Nung ethnic teacher teaching 5-year-old children, shared about the initiative "Measures to help children preserve and promote local cultural identity": In each class, the learning space is built as a miniature cultural landscape. Accordingly, the "Local Culture" corner becomes the heart of the classroom. Brocades, festival images, and daily necessities of the Dao people are vividly displayed, labeled in both Vietnamese and Dao. Children listen to stories, look at pictures, learn New Year greetings in Dao; and explore costumes and customs through close experiences.

In parallel, the creative STEAM corner helps children “touch” culture through science and art such as: building a model of a stilt house, making brocade curtains, decorating ao yem, creating toys from bamboo. These small activities not only train dexterity but also help children recognize traditional materials and the sophistication of handicrafts. Teachers also enrich the experience with audio flipbooks, wordwall games about Dao ethnic costumes and dishes, making technology a bridge between tradition and modernity.

At Tan Dong Kindergarten, to help children easily access traditional culture, the school has organized experience sessions with local artisans. Among them, Ms. Vi Thi Tham - a prestigious person in the Dao ethnic community, regularly participates in these experience sessions. She enthusiastically guides children on how to hold a needle, choose thread, fold clothes...

Along with that, the “Dao ethnic cultural bridge” club was established, where children learn typical bell dances. Artists directly choreograph and teach them to children. The school’s “Seasonal bell” performance also won a high prize at the “Melody of Youth” contest, becoming the morning exercise music, helping culture to permeate into children naturally.

In addition, online exchanges with other schools via Zoom open up the experience of a “cross-border classroom”. Dances, greetings, and stories about festivals help children understand more about the beauty and diversity of ethnic cultures. During the school year, children also visit Khe Dat village, watch folk songs and cap sac dances; and go to Yen Bai Museum to see models of stilt houses, fireplaces, and traditional costumes.

The innovation of Tan Dong Kindergarten has created consensus between parents and the school in teaching, especially extracurricular lessons on traditional culture, contributing to helping children become more confident and courageous when entering higher levels of education.

Presented by: Huu Huynh

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/geo-mam-ban-sac-van-hoa-dan-toc-post887523.html