San Diu Cultural and Tourism Village

Not only does it offer unique cultural spaces, but it also boasts vibrant folk games, a bustling market atmosphere, and a food court... these are just some of the things visitors can discover and experience at the San Diu Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village (Binh Dan commune, Van Don district). This is one of the attractive destinations recently inaugurated by Van Don district in early December 2024.

Located not far from the center of Van Don district, the San Diu Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village, situated in Voong Tre hamlet, Binh Dan commune, was built on the basis of renovating the old commune cultural house. The village has been invested in and given a "new look" with unique exhibition spaces.

faf — The spacious grounds of the San Diu Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village in Binh Dan commune (Van Don).

Upon arriving at this new destination, visitors will be introduced by local guides to the unique cultural features of this place known as the "land of the San Diu people." According to the village elders and leaders, Binh Dan is home to a large San Diu population, and its culture is preserved quite intact. The entire commune has 386 households with over 1,500 inhabitants, of which 85% are San Diu, making it one of the communes with the largest San Diu population in Van Don district.

Here, the most distinctive aspects of culture and tradition from ancient times to the present day are preserved, aspects that many other places no longer retain, such as: cuisine, costumes, Soọng Cô singing art, Đại Phan festival, and other customs, beliefs, and rituals. Therefore, this land has long been a cultural destination attracting many tourists and research groups to admire the scenery and learn about the unique culture of the Sán Dìu people.

The San Diu Cultural and Tourism Village is not only a place for preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, but also a center for connecting and introducing unique cultural identities to a wide range of tourists. Therefore, the most attractive and appealing part is the exhibition space showcasing the cultural heritage of the San Diu ethnic group in Binh Dan commune. Particularly noteworthy is the exhibition space displaying men's and women's clothing, including everyday and festival attire, with women's clothing standing out, featuring bodices, skirts, headscarves, and jewelry.

The spacious and attractive exhibition space draws visitors.

Particularly impressive are the displays of wedding rituals, ancestor worship, and traditional houses. The wedding ritual space is highlighted by a reenactment of the steps in a wedding ceremony, including many rituals that are still practiced today, such as: the engagement ceremony, age comparison, announcing the wedding date… and also unique rituals when welcoming the bride, such as: call-and-response singing, the flower and wine offering ceremony…

Next, equally interesting is the exhibition on ancestor worship. This includes an introduction and emphasis on the Great Banner Ceremony with rituals such as climbing a knife to the sky, wading through burning coals barefoot, and performing the Hành Quang dance… In addition, there are exhibition spaces showcasing traditional rammed earth houses, a kitchen corner, a traditional room, and a village gate…

The exhibition spaces here are vividly recreated, illustrated with a system of 1:1 scale statues, a modern sound and lighting system, touch screens, etc. Furthermore, there is a large courtyard where ceremonies, cultural and sports activities, ethnic food festivals, and numerous stalls displaying and selling agricultural products of the San Diu ethnic people of Binh Dan commune are held, allowing visitors to admire, shop for souvenirs, and enjoy the experience.

faf — Visitors enjoyed taking photos with the cultural atmosphere inside the exhibition area.

To attract tourists in the future, according to the leaders of Binh Dan commune, the commune is orienting its investment and development towards experiential tourism and community-based tourism. Accordingly, it will establish several complexes offering cultural and culinary experiences; organize unique festivals, cultural and artistic activities, and recreational events combined with the beautiful and peaceful landscape of Binh Dan, a predominantly agricultural commune. At the same time, it will strengthen connections between tours and routes with ecological and community-based tourism landscapes in neighboring communes such as Doan Ket and Ha Long.

With the focus on investing in the cultural and tourism space of the San Diu ethnic group, this can be considered a unique cultural and experiential tourism destination, contributing to the creation of a unique tourism value chain, connecting with other tours, routes, and distinctive scenic spots in Van Don.

Source