After climbing the steep slope, our vehicle slowed down amidst the bumpy hairpin bends, a series of curves that seemed to have no end. The road to Ta Xi Lang resembled a thread winding across the mountainside, sometimes visible, sometimes hidden amidst layers of white clouds. The higher we climbed, the thinner and colder the air became. Amidst this vast landscape, Ta Xi Lang appeared peacefully at an altitude of over 1,300 meters above sea level.
As we approached the commune headquarters, before our car even came to a complete stop, enthusiastic greetings rang out from the roadside. Comrade Tran Dinh Trong – the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Commune Party Committee – along with several local young men, had been waiting since early morning.
The Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the commune shook hands firmly and said: "Today we have guests visiting the village, the villagers are very happy. The village's vehicle is ready, let's go, it's not too late, the distance is short but it rained last night so it will take a lot of time."
Indeed, the distance from the commune center to Ta Dang village is only a little over 7 km, but it's enough to challenge anyone setting foot on this land for the first time. The dirt road is narrow and slippery after the rain. The old motorbike slowly "crawled" up the steep slope, its wheels slipping on the thick mud. Every time the motorbike fell into a pothole, the young men quickly jumped down, some pushing, others placing stones on the ground.
At a steep bend in the road, while waiting for the excavator to clear the recently eroded soil, Comrade Tran Dinh Trong pointed into the distance, his voice filled with pride: "That's Ta Dang village. The people live amidst the mountains and forests; their economy is still struggling, but their way of life and customs are preserved. That is an invaluable asset – the foundation for the commune to orient its tourism development towards preserving ethnic culture."
According to the introduction by the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, since the implementation of the two-tiered local government system, the new apparatus has operated more synchronously and decisively in each development orientation.
The commune's Party Committee has identified three key breakthroughs, with the primary focus being on training and nurturing young cadres and building a local workforce knowledgeable in the area. Developing the economy and tourism while preserving culture is a long-term strategy, attracting investment in infrastructure; especially transportation, electricity, telephone coverage, and internet access, which are fundamental conditions for expanding trade and connecting the highlands with the outside world. Ta Xi Lang has 98% of its population being Hmong. Each house, each flute melody, each flared skirt, each song... creates a unique charm rarely found elsewhere.
Preserving its identity amidst the pace of modern life means preserving its soul, keeping Ta Xi Lang moving towards the future without losing itself.
The excavator finished leveling the ground, and our vehicle continued "crawling" down the final slope leading to Ta Dang. The deeper we went, the more picturesque the scenery became. At the mountaintop, the cultural identity of the Mong ethnic group is still preserved, from the wooden houses, the sound of the flute, the songs, to the clothing, food , and way of life. Recognizing this inherent resource, the Ta Xi Lang commune government has chosen this place as a model for community-based tourism development.
It's only mid-October, but in Ta Dang, the peach and plum blossoms are already blooming early, adding to the scenery. Under the moss-covered wooden eaves, Hmong women sit spinning flax, dyeing with indigo, and painting with beeswax. The scent of wood smoke and indigo blends together, warming the entire earthen courtyard.
The Ta Dang Village Mong Ethnic Culture and Traditional Costume Preservation Club was established by the Ta Xi Lang Commune Women's Association in early 2024, with 12 members aged 15 to 60, aiming to restore linen weaving, indigo dyeing, and beeswax painting techniques, and to teach the younger generation to love and be prouder of their ethnic costumes.
Ms. Sung Thi Co, head of the Mong ethnic costume and culture preservation club in Ta Dang village, meticulously embroidered each stitch onto a skirt on the porch of her house while happily chatting: "In the past, everyone in the village knew how to weave and draw with beeswax. But then the young people went away to study and work, and for a time, we didn't hear the sound of weaving anymore. Now, with the club, we both work and teach, and occasionally perform for tourists. Everyone is happy because the old craft has been revived."
Comrade Ly Thi Xong, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Ta Xi Lang commune, said: "We believe that developing tourism should not involve sacrificing our cultural identity, but rather that culture itself should serve as a foundation for tourism. Every house, every way of life has its own value."
Visitors to Ta Xi Lang will not only enjoy the scenery but also have the opportunity to live with the Hmong people, listen to the sound of the Hmong flute, learn linen weaving, and cook traditional dishes.
Along with preserving the traditional clothing and culture of the Mong ethnic group, the commune is also aiming to develop the native peach tree as a key economic crop in Ta Xi Lang. The peaches here are long-lasting, have beautiful foliage, and are sought after by traders from many places during Tet (Lunar New Year). Therefore, the commune government actively promotes and encourages people to expand the cultivation area, combining it with promoting tourism during the peach blossom season, creating a unique identity for this region.
Despite only 2 out of 5 villages having concrete roads leading to the village center, national electricity not yet reaching all villages, 5 clusters of residents lacking phone signal, and frequent natural disasters causing landslides and isolation, the Ta Xi Lang people remain undeterred.
In every wooden house, the light of the Party still shines on the diligent hands of the Hmong people weaving linen; outside, the peach and corn fields remain lush and green; children receive a full education, women earn additional income from embroidery and weaving, and commune officials stay in the villages, discussing economic development and building model villages with the people... These are the achievements of new approaches and new thinking from the young cadres and the consensus of the people.
Today, Ta Xi Lang is like a note in the symphony of renewal in the mountains and forests. The cultural identity of the Mong ethnic group here is both a heritage and a resource for Ta Xi Lang's progress. Despite hardships, the Mong people of Ta Xi Lang still maintain unwavering faith and hope in the leadership of the Party, determined to move forward on the path of development and building a new life.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/gin-giu-ban-sac-van-hoa-dan-toc-mong-o-ta-xi-lang-post885049.html
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