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| Ban Cuon village is located along provincial road 254, surrounded by lush fields and cinnamon forests. |
Go collect "gifts" from the forest.
With 178 households and nearly 800 inhabitants, Ban Cuon is home to four ethnic groups: Kinh, Tay, Nung, and Dao, with the Dao ethnic group accounting for 99% of the total population. The people here still preserve many traditional crafts such as weaving, brocade making, embroidery on clothing, the Dao people's traditional medicine, and the Pao Dung folk songs and the Coming-of-Age ceremony. Currently, Ban Cuon is divided into two areas, Ban Cuon 1 and Ban Cuon 2, to facilitate management by the local government and community life in each area.
We arrived at Bản Cuôn 1 while the mist hadn't yet completely lifted. As arranged, Ms. Triệu Thị Đường, a cheerful Dao woman carrying a bamboo basket, greeted us and prepared us for our first bamboo shoot harvesting trip of the season. Following Ms. Đường, we walked along the forest trail, where droplets of drizzle still clung to the leaves.
As she walked, Ms. Duong recounted: "The bamboo shoot season in Ban Cuon usually begins in November of the previous lunar year and lasts until April of the following year. But the peak is in January and February of the lunar calendar, when the spring rains bring the necessary moisture for the bamboo roots to sprout young shoots. Searching for bamboo shoots in the spring requires keen eyesight; you have to look for shoots that have just emerged from the ground. If you pick shoots that have grown taller, they will be bitter."
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| People in Bản Cuôn often go into the forest to dig up bamboo shoots. |
In the cinnamon forest interspersed with the remaining bamboo trees, the locals chatted animatedly while using hoes to rake the ground in search of bamboo shoots. The tiny, newly sprouted shoots, hidden beneath layers of decaying leaves, were like a discreet gift from the forest.
For the Dao people here, the bamboo shoot season has become an indispensable part of their working and productive life. Each trip to harvest bamboo shoots is an opportunity to immerse themselves in nature, to remind each other that, when receiving gifts from the forest, they should work together to protect the forests of their village so that they remain ever green.
As the baskets of bamboo shoots grew heavier, Ms. Duong excitedly led us to explore Beng Khot Cave. In the Dao language, Beng Khot means "stone cave." Located within the rocky mountain in front of Ban Cuon village, it has quietly existed alongside the peaceful life of the local people for thousands of years. The path to the cave is only about 200 meters from the village, making it very convenient for visitors.
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| The Beng Khot cave features uniquely shaped stalactites and stalagmites. |
In stark contrast to the narrow entrance, the interior of the cave is a magnificent world of uniquely shaped stalactites and stalagmites. High, wide arches create an airy space. Stalactites hanging from the ceiling glisten in the light, creating a magical scene, like stepping into a fairy tale.
Mr. Trieu Quy Hong, Head of Ban Cuon 1 village, proudly stated: "Recognizing the potential for tourism development, the villagers have voluntarily contributed their efforts to install a lighting system along the pathways inside the cave, working together to protect it and prevent negative impacts on the cave's natural landscape."
Experience the culture and cuisine of the Dao people.
In Bản Cuôn, we experienced the working life and cultural activities of the local people, such as learning to embroider patterns on the traditional clothing of the Red Dao people. On a dark indigo background, the needlework creates delicate floral designs. The clothing of the Red Dao people is a product of art and technique, expressed through the elements that make up the outfit, such as: scarves, hats, shirts, aprons, pants, belts, etc.
Ms. Trieu Thi Huong, from Ban Cuon 2 village, while guiding us on how to embroider human-shaped patterns, shared: "The patterns on Dao people's clothing are a measure of a woman's diligence, patience, skill, rich imagination, and aesthetic sense. The patterns are entirely hand-embroidered, so some outfits take several months to complete."
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| Red Dao women in Ban Cuon village preserve the traditional craft of embroidering their clothing. |
As the evening light faded, Ms. Duong took us home and began preparing traditional Dao cakes. The small kitchen became more lively with laughter and the aroma of banana leaves and freshly cooked sticky rice. We made "turtle-shaped" cakes (rice balls with meat filling) and black sticky rice cakes together.
Black sticky rice cakes are made from glutinous rice mixed with charcoal powder from a type of forest tree, which the Dao people call "ìn pâu điắng" and the Tay people call "mạy piạt". The filling consists of pork belly and mung beans, skillfully wrapped in fresh green dong leaves.
Dinner at Ms. Duong's house was prepared in the familiar, simple yet warm style of the Dao people. The meal included spicy chicken stir-fry, smoky smoked pork, and dishes made from wild bamboo shoots. The early-season bamboo shoots we had gathered since morning were prepared into various dishes such as boiled bamboo shoots with chili salt dip, stir-fried bamboo shoots, and bamboo shoots stuffed with meat. Each dish retained the natural sweetness of the mountain forest.
Over a warm and cozy meal, Mrs. Trieu Thi Sinh, Secretary of the Party Branch of Ban Cuon 1 village, confided: "Currently, Ban Cuon 1 and 2 villages have a total of 178 households, but only 4 are still poor. Previously, Ban Cuon 1 and 2 villages were piloted as a model for experiencing Dao ethnic cultural tourism in the former Cho Don district. The people in both villages have always been united and actively developed the economy and built new rural areas. The average income reached 40 million VND/person/year. Many effective economic development models such as: projects raising colored-feathered chickens, breeding buffaloes, planting and caring for forests, projects supporting women's development, and embroidery cooperatives... have attracted a large number of people to participate."
According to Ms. Trieu Thi Sinh, the Dao people in Ban Cuon 1 and 2 villages are preserving and practicing four cultural heritages that have been recognized as national intangible cultural heritage, including: the Dao Nôm script, embroidery on the costumes of the Red Dao people, Pao Dung singing, and the Dao Coming-of-Age ceremony. The villagers have joined hands to build waterwheel models, miniature landscapes, folk games, and provide herbal bath and foot soaking services so that tourists visiting the village have places to check in and experience.
By the warm fire, we savored the gentle scent of forest leaves emanating from the herbal footbath, while the haunting sound of Páo dung singing filled the air, making the atmosphere even more intimate and warm... Leaving Bản Cuôn while the morning mist still clung to the small path, the Páo dung songs seemed to linger in the mountains and forests, following our footsteps.
Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202603/mot-ngay-o-ban-cuon-a442b8d/
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