Preserving Dao culture in every home.

Over 30 years ago, the first Dao people left the northern mountainous region to settle in the Central Highlands. Their baggage included not only their hardworking hands, but also the rich cultural heritage of their ethnic group, preserved in their homes, rituals, and traditional clothing.

The spacious stilt house was built with the dedication of Mr. Dang Phuoc Toan.

Stilt houses in the heart of the Central Highlands

Amidst the lush green coffee and mulberry hills of Dam Rong 1, glimpses of low-lying stilt houses emerge, reminiscent of remote highland villages in the North.

Mr. Dang Phuc Toan's house (49 years old, Da Pin village) was built in 2015. Despite being over a decade old, the house still looks brand new. He smiled and explained: "The traditional stilt house style prevents direct sunlight from entering, so the wood, paint, and bricks are more durable and less prone to deterioration. This style also makes the space feel spacious and always cool, no matter how hot it is outside."

But what makes Mr. Toan and many other families in Da Pin retain this type of house is not just its practicality. For them, stilt houses are not simply places to live, but also a thread that preserves memories of their homeland in this new land.

The village currently has nearly 200 households, of which about 85% are Dao ethnic people. They migrated from Lang Son , Bac Kan, and other provinces to Dam Rong 1 to settle, bringing with them the longing for their homeland as they began a new life. Thanks to the fertile land and their diligence, hard work, and eagerness to learn, the lives of many families have gradually improved. However, in their traditional stilt houses and daily lives, memories of their homeland always remain.

Mr. Toan shared: “In the past in Lang Son, we could only grow one rice crop and one corn crop, it was hard work and we still lacked food. In Dam Rong 1, the land is more fertile, so life has improved a lot. But the people still build stilt houses so that their children and grandchildren remember their roots. Thousands of kilometers away from home, seeing these familiar roofs makes us feel closer.”

The stilt houses of the Dao people in Dam Rong 1 have now undergone many changes to adapt to modern life. Previously, in the North, the upper floor was used for living, while the lower floor was for livestock and food storage. In the Central Highlands, however, the lower floor is built more spaciously and has become the main living space. The upper floor is still reserved for more formal occasions such as ancestor worship, receiving guests, or holding traditional ceremonies.

Ms. Bang Thi Phuong said that hand embroidery is a way to show pride in traditional culture.

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It's time-consuming, but only those who don't know how to make it buy it; most people who know how still prefer to sew it themselves. When I wear it out and people compliment me on how beautiful it looks, I feel so happy and proud.

Ms. Bang Thi Phuong

Clothing embroidered with memories.

For the Dao women here, sewing traditional clothing is not just about making a garment, but also about preserving memories and passing on culture through generations. In Pang Bah village, Ms. Bang Thi Phuong moved from Lang Son to Lam Dong more than 10 years ago. In her simple house, she still dedicates a small corner to storing her traditional costumes. She recounts that since she learned to hold a needle, she was taught embroidery by her grandmother and mother. The stitches and needlework have accompanied her as she grew up, becoming a familiar part of her life.

Dao women's traditional clothing features many elaborate details such as headscarves, bodices, outer jackets, belts, silver bracelets, chain necklaces, and trousers. Familiar images like birds, flowers, and trees are depicted through sophisticated cross-stitch embroidery. Therefore, these outfits are always carefully preserved and only worn on weddings, festivals, holidays, or during important rituals. But whenever visitors inquire about them, the eyes of the Dao people here light up with joy and pride as they proudly show them off.

Dao women shine brightly in their traditional attire.

Nowadays, busy farming work leaves less time for sewing and embroidery. A complete outfit can sometimes take more than 3 months to embroider the patterns and almost a year to finish.

Before her two daughters got married, their mother personally sewed dresses for them to wear during the traditional ceremony. From the bodice and headscarf to every detail on the dress, she meticulously cared for each garment, imbuing them with a mother's love and wishes for her daughters' important day.

In Dam Rong 1 commune, over 50% of the population are ethnic minorities, with 17 different ethnic groups living together. The Dao people are mainly concentrated in the two villages of Da Pin and Pang Bah. After more than three decades of settling and establishing their villages, the lives of the people have become increasingly stable. Despite the ever-changing pace of modern life, the Dao people here still preserve their beautiful traditional cultural features, adding a unique color to the diverse cultural landscape of their new homeland.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/giu-van-hoa-dao-trong-tung-nep-nha-442136.html