Éo village preserves the identity of the Dao Thanh Y ethnic group.

As a village with 100% Dao ethnic minority people, the residents of Éo village, Xuân Vân commune, are always conscious of preserving their ethnic cultural identity in their daily lives. Every dance, Páo dung song, traditional embroidery craft, and even the making of sticky rice cakes are passed down among members of the Dao ethnic minority cultural preservation club, ensuring that this cultural identity does not fade over time.

The club members promote and preserve the cultural identity of the Dao ethnic group in Éo village, maintaining the traditional embroidery craft.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh, 64 years old, a member of the Dao Thanh Y ethnic cultural preservation club in Eo village, shared that every day she and her family wrap about 100 glutinous rice cakes (banh chung gu) and take them to Phan Thiet market in Minh Xuan ward to sell. Dressed in the traditional attire of the Dao Thanh Y people, with a gentle and friendly smile, the glutinous rice cakes she made herself have become a familiar dish for many people in the market.

A dance practice session for the club members.

Not only is the rice carefully selected and the meat and bean filling perfectly seasoned, but her rice cakes also have a distinctive aroma. She explains that to make delicious, fragrant cakes, she burns the leaves of the *Dalbergia cochinchinensis* plant to obtain ash, then filters the water to soak the rice. This plant is familiar to the Dao people, and its mild fragrance adds to the appeal of the cakes. Importantly, to ensure the cakes cook evenly and have a firm texture, she boils them over a wood fire for a full eight hours. Therefore, by around 8-10 am each morning, her cakes are usually sold out, providing an additional source of income for her family.

The club members are dressed in the traditional attire of the Dao ethnic group.

Despite being busy with family responsibilities, the club members always make time to practice dancing, singing, and passing on the craft of traditional costume embroidery. Ms. Dang Thi Thom, the club's chairperson, said that the club was established in 2005, making it one of the earliest villages in the commune to establish a club for preserving ethnic cultural identity. Initially, there were 28 members, and now there are 34. The elderly members form the core of the club, passing on embroidery skills and teaching Pao Dung singing to the younger members.

Ms. Trieu Thi Phuong, 66 years old, expressed: “When the children first joined the club, they didn't know how to embroider, so I and everyone else guided them through each stitch. Even the way they wear the traditional Dao Thanh Y costume is not yet perfected because it involves a rather elaborate headpiece. If the hair isn't tied up skillfully, the small, round hat on top of the head won't hold securely, and the wearer won't feel confident.” In 2024, the club participated in a performance showcasing the traditional costumes of ethnic groups in the former Yen Son district and won the A prize.

The club regularly practices traditional dances for cultural exchange and performances.

Ms. Tran Thi Hue , a young member of the club, shared that she joined in 2020. Initially, she didn't know how to sing, dance, or embroider traditional costumes. However, with guidance from the older members of the club, she now knows how to embroider some simple parts of the costume, such as the bodice, headscarf, and belt. Completing a complete costume takes a lot of time and requires skill and meticulousness, so she still has much more to learn.

Besides making traditional costumes for themselves and their children and grandchildren, some members of the club also use social media to promote their products and sell them to interested customers. Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh said that after posting about embroidered traditional costumes on Facebook, many people inquired about purchasing them. The price varies depending on the intricacy and detail of each part. Typically, a shirt costs 600,000 VND, a bodice 400,000 VND, and a white sash 800,000 VND… A complete, full costume costs over 3 million VND. Many customers from Quang Ninh and other localities have purchased products she has embroidered herself.

The club members teach each other embroidery.

Attending a meeting of the Dao Thanh Y ethnic group's cultural preservation club in Eo village, we watched the women meticulously guide the younger members in embroidering traditional costumes; the women practiced dancing and singing, and live-streamed their performances on TikTok and YouTube… Through these practical methods, the Dao Thanh Y ethnic culture in the locality is not only preserved but is also spreading throughout the community.

Huyen Linh

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/van-hoa/202512/thon-eo-giu-gin-ban-sac-dao-thanh-y-4953059/