Hundred-year-old rice paper village recognized as national heritage

TPO - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has just recognized the Soong Co folk performing art of the San Diu people and the rice paper making craft of Tho Ha in Bac Ninh province as national intangible cultural heritage.

According to the people of Tho Ha village, the village’s rice paper making craft has been preserved and developed for hundreds of years. Tho Ha village is located in Van Ha ward, Bac Ninh province. The villagers have the “secret” to making rice paper that is famous far and wide.

The rice used to make Tho Ha rice paper is good quality rice, washed and soaked thoroughly in water mixed with salt in the right proportion, then ground into flour. The flour is spread into a thin layer on a mold, steamed, then dried on a bamboo rack.

Currently, Tho Ha village has hundreds of households making rice paper. Many domestic and foreign tourists have chosen this century-old craft village as a tourist destination in Bac Ninh province.

Tho Ha rice paper village (Bac Ninh province) was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. Photo: Nguyen Thang.

Soong Co is a unique, lyrical folk song form closely associated with the spiritual life of the San Diu ethnic group in many wards and communes in Bac Ninh province such as Phuong Son, Chu, Luc Ngan, Kien Lao, and Nam Duong.

Soong co means “love song”. The lyrics are simple, rich in metaphors, with a soulful, profound sound. It is a means for boys and girls to express their feelings, for parents to teach their children about morality, and for the community to remind each other to unite and bond.

During festivals, weddings, and housewarmings, people sing Soong Co with excitement. The opening lines are usually gentle, then gradually push the emotions to a climax, bringing a special appeal to the listener. The uniqueness of Soong Co lies not only in the melody but also in the flexible and creative performance.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/lang-nghe-banh-da-nem-tram-tuoi-duoc-cong-nhan-di-san-quoc-gia-post1758473.tpo