Preserving the cultural identity of the Pà Thẻn people.

In recent years, Tuyen Quang has transformed the fire-jumping festival into a large-scale cultural and tourism event. On December 5, 2025, the province held its first provincial-level Pa Then Fire-Jumping Festival in Tan Trinh commune, attracting numerous tourists and art troupes. The festival space fully recreated traditional rituals: from offerings, drumming, and fortune-telling to the moment when Pa Then young men step barefoot on the blazing red coals.

Women of the Pà Thẻn ethnic group in Tân Trịnh commune preserve the traditional weaving craft. Photo: Mộc Lan.

Mr. Nguyen Huy Phong, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: “I had seen many pictures and videos of the fire-jumping ceremony, but only when I stood in the festival space in Tan Trinh, heard the rhythmic drumming and flute playing, and saw the Pa Then men jumping on the burning coals barefoot, did I truly feel their extraordinary spiritual strength. This is not just a ritual, but the very soul and cultural pride of the people.”

If the fire-dancing festival is the soul, then the costumes and brocade are the proud face of Pà Thẻn culture. Pà Thẻn women's costumes are striking in red, the color symbolizing the fire god and good fortune. The patterns on the costumes are meticulously hand-embroidered, featuring rhombuses, triangles, waves, etc., reflecting the worldview and aspirations for fertility and peace.

The traditional brocade weaving craft is gradually experiencing a strong revival. Many training classes have been opened right in the villages, attracting women and young people to participate. Brocade products are not only worn during holidays but also become souvenirs for tourists, such as handbags, scarves, and wallets. Notably, some brocade products made by women in Tan Trinh have been introduced to the international market, contributing to increased income and affirming the vitality of the local culture.

Along with festivals and traditional costumes, the Pà Thẻn people also preserve many beautiful customs in their daily lives: harvest prayer rituals, ancestor worship ceremonies, wedding customs, traditional house architecture, etc. The stilt houses with palm leaf roofs, the kitchen located in the center, the sounds of stringed instruments, flutes, and love songs still resonate during festivals, creating a rich and distinctive cultural tapestry.

Working alongside the community, the Tan Trinh commune government has made many efforts in preserving and spreading cultural values. Ms. Mai Thi Niem, Chairwoman of the Tan Trinh Commune People's Committee, shared: "Tan Trinh is where the Pa Then ethnic community has lived for a long time, and any cultural value of the people is a precious asset of the commune."

In recent years, the commune has focused on restoring the fire-jumping festival, opening brocade weaving classes, establishing folk art clubs, and supporting households in developing community tourism. The commune hopes that every citizen will be a cultural ambassador, so that the Pà Thẻn identity continues to spread and create sustainable livelihoods for the people.

Recognizing the unique value of Pà Thẻn culture, Tuyên Quang has oriented its development towards community-based tourism, drawing on this cultural asset. Many experiential tourism models in Tân Trịnh are attracting the attention of tourists: watching fire dance performances, participating in brocade weaving classes, making traditional cakes, experiencing local cuisine, visiting traditional houses, etc.

Some households have boldly opened homestays, shops selling brocade fabrics and souvenirs; women and young people have found new sources of livelihood. Tourists visiting Tan Trinh can immerse themselves in community life, listen to stories told by village elders, and watch artisans perform traditional music such as the khene (a type of stringed instrument) and love songs – experiences that create a unique charm rarely found elsewhere.

The development of tourism also provides an impetus for the people to preserve their identity. Cultural values that were once at risk of fading are now being strongly "reawakened," becoming a source of pride for the entire community.

In the modern era, as traditions are preserved and identity is respected and promoted, the Pà Thẻn people will continue to shine, contributing to the enduring vitality of Tuyên Quang, a land rich in cultural identity.

Hai Huong

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/van-hoa/202512/giu-gin-ban-sac-van-hoa-pa-then-85a2355/