Preserving cultural identity in the Dao ethnic village of Que Lam.

In Phu Thong commune lies a small village called Dia Cat, home to the Que Lam Dao ethnic community for generations. Despite changing times, the villagers still preserve their traditional cultural values. In particular, the elderly are becoming the "keepers of the flame," silently passing on their ethnic identity to the younger generation.

The children were excited to be taught by the older adults how to embroider traditional clothing.

At nearly 70 years old, Mrs. Trieu Thi Giang still possesses a clear, resonant, and powerful voice for her pao dung singing. Each line she sings seems to carry the breath of the mountains and forests, sometimes heartfelt and profound, sometimes lively and joyful. For her, pao dung is not just a song, but also a memory, the very soul of Dao culture preserved through the years.

Ms. Trieu Thi Giang shared: "Ever since I was in school, I used to hear people singing pao dung, and I learned by eavesdropping. Even now, I still love it and often sing pao dung in my local area whenever there's a festival."

Besides preserving the Páo Dung folk songs, the Dao Quế Lâm people in Địa Cát also maintain the traditional craft of tailoring and embroidering traditional costumes. In the village, there are still more than 10 elderly people skilled in embroidery, meticulously crafting each stitch to create vibrant and colorful outfits. What is particularly valuable is that this craft is not only preserved for themselves but also passed down to the younger generation.

Ms. Trieu Thi Dam, one of the skilled embroiderers in the village, said: "I have taught many people. Last year, I opened a class for young children, and I also taught 6-7 adults in the village how to embroider proficiently." Twelve-year-old Trieu Thuy Dung from Dia Cat village said: "Ms. Trieu Thi Dam often teaches me how to embroider. She even sewed a set for me, and I love it. I often wear it for school performances."

Thanks to that perseverance, many children in the village today know how to hold a needle, learn to embroider simple patterns, and have their own traditional costumes to wear during festivals, holidays, and community activities.

Furthermore, the traditional craft of making crossbows, once closely associated with the working and hunting lives of the Dao people, is also being preserved in Dia Cat village. For over 40 years, Mr. Dang Minh Chu has diligently made crossbows by hand, from selecting the wood and bending the blades to making the bowstring. Mr. Dang Minh Chu said: "In the past, crossbows were used to ward off wild animals, but now they are mainly used for celebrating the Lunar New Year. I still sell them at the market, and although the income isn't much, I want to preserve the craft and maintain our ethnic identity."

From the poignant pao dung songs and vibrant hand-embroidered costumes to the traditional crossbow-making craft, the Dao Que Lam people in Dia Cat are preserving their ethnic cultural values ​​day by day. The elders in the village not only help preserve their identity but also contribute to fostering pride, ensuring that Dao culture continues to be passed on to future generations.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202605/giu-ban-sac-van-hoa-o-ban-dao-que-lam-e6b45c7/