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| Members of the Dao ethnic group preservation club in village 20, Tan Long commune, practice performing arts. |
According to Mr. Vuong Tu Phin, the village head, in 2024, the village established a club to preserve the cultural identity of the Dao ethnic group, with him as the chairman and 45 members. At the club's launch ceremony, a theatrical performance of the Dao Thanh Y initiation ritual was held. This is one of the prominent and distinctive rituals of the Dao people, not only showcasing their ethnic beliefs but also highlighting the beauty of their culture with unique dances.
Tuyen Quang province has all nine branches of the Dao ethnic group, each with its own unique characteristics. Among these, the most noticeable is their traditional clothing. Ms. Truong Thi Nguyen, 62 years old, from village 20, shared: “The traditional clothing of our Dao Thanh Y people is a combination of many vibrant colors on a predominantly black background, with many exquisite embroidered patterns showcasing the skill of Dao women. Women's attire includes a long dress, a bodice, a belt, and a headpiece...”
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| The traditional clothing of Dao women features striking red against a black background. |
The headdress of the Dao Thanh Y people is black, decorated with silver around the edges, making it stand out. To wear the headdress, Dao Thanh Y girls and women must know how to tie and curl their hair so that the small headdress fits snugly on their heads and is securely fastened. Therefore, if they are not used to it, many find it difficult to put on the headdress themselves and have to ask their grandmother, mother, relatives, or friends to help them.
Upon closer observation, one can easily notice that the traditional attire of the Dao women features two types of sashes. A distinctive red sash, intricately embroidered, is worn underneath, while a white sash, embroidered with colorful details, is worn on the outside. If a woman only wears the red sash, she is unmarried; if she wears both sashes, she is married.
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| The headscarf worn by the Dao Thanh Y people is meticulously embroidered with a distinctive red color. |
Ms. Ly Thi Lien, 66 years old, shared that to create the most beautiful traditional clothing, Dao Thanh girls have been taught embroidery by their grandmothers and mothers since childhood. She started learning embroidery at the young age of 14 or 15, embroidering headscarves, aprons, and belts herself. The main patterns are birds, stars, and plants, reflecting people's desire to always be connected and in harmony with nature. Many years have passed, but she still maintains the traditional embroidery craft and teaches it to her children and grandchildren; she also makes clothing for them, especially when her children are preparing to get married.
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| The white sash worn by the Dao Thanh Y people is embroidered with red and black patterns, making it stand out. |
The Dao Thanh Y people still preserve traditional customs rich in cultural identity. According to Trieu Van Xuan, Head of the Village Front Committee, besides the coming-of-age ceremony, the Dao Thanh Y people also have the Village Prayer Ceremony, performed five times a year in the 2nd, 4th, 7th, 10th, and 12th lunar months. The ceremony prays for a year of peace, good health, abundant harvests, and a prosperous life for all families. Through this, they express their wish for the best things to come to the people in the village.
On the full moon day or during festivals and holidays, villagers also take the opportunity to pound sticky rice cakes to offer to their ancestors and as gifts for their children and grandchildren. Ms. Ly Thi Lien shared that they usually mix glutinous rice with gac fruit to create color, then steam it. When the rice is cooked and soft, the sticky rice is put into a mortar and pounded by hand until very smooth. While pounding, the steam still rises, making it look very appealing. The villagers usually don't make cakes with fillings or wrap them in leaves. Instead, after pounding, the cakes are left to cool slightly, then cut into pieces or shaped into balls and flattened into cake shapes...
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| The Dao ethnic minority people of village 20, Tan Long commune, are pounding rice cakes. |
Mr. Vuong Tu Phin, the village head, further shared that the village and its organizations always promote and encourage the people to preserve the cultural identity of the Dao Thanh Y ethnic group. He also hopes to develop homestay services in the future, to both generate income for the people and preserve and spread the ethnic cultural identity within the community.
Huyen Linh
Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/van-hoa/202511/thon-20-giu-gin-ban-sac-dao-thanh-y-4892a90/
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