Preserving national identity associated with tourism development

Women's Union of Phu Mau village, Chieng Yen commune, Van Ho district promotes members to preserve national cultural identity.

There are 5 ethnic groups living together in the district, including Thai, Mong, Muong, Dao and Kinh. Each ethnic group has its own unique culture, with traditional values ​​expressed through costumes, languages, traditional occupations, festivals, customs, practices, rituals... Ms. Ha Thi Than, President of the Women's Union of Van Ho district, said: To preserve and promote the cultural identity of ethnic groups, the association has established art teams and clubs; preserved and developed the brocade embroidery craft; taught the young generation traditional cultural values ​​and folk games.

Up to now, the whole district has 115 clubs and mass art teams of groups and villages, with women as the core members, regularly participating in cultural exchange activities, performing arts, and performing on holidays, New Year's, and local events, contributing to preserving and promoting the beauty and traditional cultural values ​​of the nation.

The District Women's Union focuses on building and replicating economic development models, community tourism associated with preserving and promoting traditional cultural values. Coordinates the organization of classes to teach intangible cultural heritage of ethnic groups to women members. Creates conditions for women to participate in training courses to learn knowledge, improve skills; supports loans for women to start businesses from traditional occupations.

Mong ethnic women in Hua Tat village, Van Ho commune, Van Ho district preserve the traditional craft of making do paper.

Van Ho commune has 1,150 women members, operating in 13 branches. The association is maintaining 13 women's art troupes. Each team has 14-20 members, from 14 to 60 years old, participating and performing on holidays, anniversaries, and events of the country and locality, contributing to the development of the commune's art movement. The art troupes themselves choreograph dances, invest in costumes and props, contributing to the preservation and maintenance of folk songs and dances of the nation.

As a person who understands the culture of the Dao ethnic group, Ms. Dang Thi Xuan, Suoi Lin village, Van Ho commune, has devoted much effort to preserving and conserving traditional dances and songs. Not only has she inspired the passion for love duet singing, antiphonal singing, bell dancing, and xoe dancing, but she has also taught her children and grandchildren the technique of embroidering traditional costumes.

Ms. Xuan shared: In the current period of strong cultural integration between ethnic groups, if we do not preserve and teach, then soon, traditional values ​​will disappear. Over the years, I have actively encouraged women to join the village's art troupe, practicing and teaching dances together. I myself regularly participate in the village's initiation and elevation ceremonies or perform ritual reenactments organized by the district and province.

In Phu Mau and Na Bai villages of Chieng Yen commune, the community tourism model has been implemented by a number of women's union member families since 2021, changing the thinking and working methods of women in creating green living spaces and raising awareness of preserving national culture.

Dao ethnic women in Suoi Lin village, Van Ho commune, Van Ho district teach brocade embroidery techniques to the younger generation.

Ms. Ha Thi Khuyen, owner of Ha Khuyen homestay in Phu Mau village, shared: We maintain wearing traditional costumes in daily activities; renovate the stilt house to suit the community tourism model but still maintain the original architecture of the Thai ethnic people's houses. At the same time, we develop tourism experiences such as planting and harvesting rice, catching stream snails, bathing in the stream, making con balls, participating in folk games, enjoying cuisine and enjoying the fresh air of the village. Since the beginning of the year, the homestay has welcomed about 500 visitors to visit and experience, bringing income to the family.

With practical and effective work, the Women's Union of Van Ho district has done a good job of preserving and promoting the traditional cultural identity of each ethnic group, contributing to bringing ethnic cultures to tourists, creating sustainable livelihoods for the people.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/van-hoa-xa-hoi/giu-gin-ban-sac-dan-toc-gan-voi-phat-trien-du-lich-YaCbaKaHR.html