Promoting the cultural identity of ethnic minorities in Lai Chau.

Located in a remote border region, Lai Chau is home to 20 ethnic groups, with over 84% being ethnic minorities, creating a rich and unique cultural heritage. Over the years, the province has always focused on preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic groups, especially those with small populations.

Introducing the cultural space of the Si La ethnic minority in Kan Ho commune, Muong Te border district, Lai Chau province. (Source: VNA)

Unique cultures of ethnic groups

Lai Chau province is home to four ethnic groups with populations under 10,000 people: Cong, Mang, SiLa, and Lu. Each ethnic group possesses unique cultural values ​​expressed through clothing, architectural styles, writing systems, music , cuisine, traditional crafts (weaving, basketry, blacksmithing), and arts and culture.

The Lu ethnic group in Lai Chau province has nearly 7,000 people living mainly in Tam Duong and Sin Ho districts. To this day, the Lu people still preserve many valuable traditional cultural values ​​such as festivals, traditional stilt house architecture, handicraft weaving, costumes, language, and folk performing arts.

At nearly 70 years old, artisan Lo Thi Son (of the Lu ethnic group, residing in Na Khum village, Ban Hon commune, Tam Duong district) has been diligently teaching traditional culture for many years. Artisan Lo Thi Son shared: "To preserve the dances and folk songs passed down from our ancestors, I have been teaching them to the younger generation during classes at the cultural center. Seeing the students diligently studying makes me very happy!"

Along with cultural education classes, the Lu people also care about preserving traditional clothing, handcrafted by the skillful hands of women, featuring exquisite and unique patterns. Lu women typically wear indigo-colored blouses with a V-neck, the left flap overlapping the right, and tied with colorful tassels.

Ms. Lo Thi Di, a cultural officer in Ban Hon commune, Tam Duong district, said: "Every day, Lu women usually wear simple embroidered indigo skirts and blouses for convenience in their work. On holidays, festivals, or when the family has distinguished guests, the women wear two-layered skirts with three tiers of decorative patterns, which look very eye-catching."

Traditional clothing of Lu ethnic women in Ban Hon commune, Tam Duong district, Lai Chau province. (Source: VNA)

For the Cong ethnic group (a minority group) in Lai Chau, despite the ups and downs of time, their ancient indigenous culture with many unique customs and traditions has been preserved. The traditional Cong costume is made from natural fibers (cotton, linen) and dyed with indigo. The bodice is edged with patterns along the collar and sleeves. A blue sash is tied around the waist, and the skirt is decorated with patterns symbolizing the people's connection with nature.

The most significant element of the outfit is the intricately hand-embroidered brocade headscarf. Unlike the Thai people, the Cong ethnic group's headscarf is not folded, but wrapped around the head so that the most detailed and elaborate design is visible at the front, and then draped at the back of the Cong girl's neck, creating a unique beauty found only in this ethnic group.

Ms. Lo Thi Phuong, from Xam Lang village, Nam Khao commune, Muong Te district, said: "The Cong ethnic group has many unique cultural features, but the most distinctive are their traditional costumes and folk arts. To preserve our ethnic identity, the village has established a performing arts troupe with 10 members. In the evenings, the women gather at the cultural center to practice and teach the younger generation so that future generations will always remember their ethnic roots."

Focus on conservation solutions.

In reality, ethnic minorities in Lai Chau province have always received special attention from the Party, the State, and all levels and sectors through economic , cultural, and social development programs and projects.

With the efforts of the people of all ethnic groups, Lai Chau province has implemented many solutions to preserve and promote the cultural identity of ethnic groups in conjunction with community tourism development in the period 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030.

To date, Lai Chau has 5 national intangible cultural heritage sites: the Xoe dance art, the tug-of-war game of the Thai ethnic group, the Tu Cai ceremony of the Dao ethnic group, the Gau Tao festival of the Mong people, and the brocade weaving craft of the Lu ethnic group. The province organizes dozens of classes to teach intangible cultural heritage to ethnic groups to restore and preserve 16 typical festivals and maintain 40 annual festivals, such as the worship of the Sacred Stone of the Ha Nhi people, the new rice festival of the Si La people, the Han Khuong and Nang Han festivals of the Thai people, the Xen Muong festival, etc.

The Cong ethnic community in Nam Khao commune, Muong Te district (Lai Chau province) focuses on passing on their culture to the younger generation. (Source: VNA)

In particular, from November 3-5, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with Lai Chau province, organized the first-ever Cultural Festival of Ethnic Groups with Populations Under 10,000 in Lai Chau, aiming to implement the policy of solidarity and equality among ethnic groups.

Cultural researcher Do Thi Tac, former President of the Lai Chau Provincial Association of Literature and Arts, assessed that the event, with the participation of 14 ethnic groups and 13 provinces and cities nationwide, is an important activity that awakens pride in the culture of the ethnic groups among the people. At the same time, the festival introduces and promotes the unique cultural heritage of ethnic minorities in Lai Chau to friends near and far.

According to cultural researcher Do Thi Tac, to preserve the distinctive and representative cultural heritage of these ethnic groups, it is necessary to direct the functions and tasks of cultural heritage preservation and protection to the right environment and target group, namely the villages and people, because culture originates in a place and only thrives in that environment. The State needs to provide material support, guidance, and management mechanisms so that cultural heritage can accompany and be promoted alongside tourism in the socio-economic development strategy of the locality.

According to Ms. Lo Thi Vuong, former Deputy Head of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of Lai Chau province, the Cultural Festival of Ethnic Groups with populations under 10,000 aims to honor and promote the cultural values ​​of these small ethnic groups, contributing to the education of patriotic traditions, national pride, and strengthening the unity of all ethnic groups.

This is an opportunity to introduce and promote to domestic and international friends the potential and strengths of cultural, sports, tourism, and traditional cultures of ethnic groups in the process of reform, integration, and development, especially those ethnic groups with populations under 10,000 people.

The activities at the Cultural Festival will help ethnic minorities meet, share, and learn about each other's cultures, thereby fostering a sense of national pride and responsibility in preserving and promoting traditional values. Therefore, according to Ms. Lo Thi Vuong, the organization of this Cultural Festival needs to be implemented more continuously and regularly.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/phat-huy-gia-tri-ban-sac-van-hoa-dan-toc-thieu-so-o-lai-chau-248761.html