Traditional Costumes: Cultural Characteristics of the San Diu People

The San Diu ethnic group in Thai Nguyen has about 50,000 people, living in the districts of Dong Hy, Phu Binh, Dai Tu, Phu Luong and Pho Yen city, Thai Nguyen city. The San Diu ethnic group living in Thai Nguyen is the most populous compared to other provinces and cities in the country (accounting for about 30%). In order to preserve and promote the intangible cultural heritage of the San Diu ethnic group, localities have paid attention to preserving and preserving the language, customs, and practices, the Cap Sac ceremony, teaching each other the Soong Co singing...; especially preserving traditional costumes - a cultural characteristic of the San Diu people.

Traditional female costumes of the San Diu ethnic group in Thai Nguyen province.

Mr. Nguyen Van Mao, a retired teacher in Binh Thuan commune (Dai Tu), was engrossed in his conversation with us when talking about the customs and practices of the San Diu ethnic group. He said: Like other ethnic minorities, in the early days of "founding the land", the San Diu people established villages on suitable land. Their main livelihood was farming, raising livestock and poultry, and gathering... After many decades, the San Diu people have still preserved their traditional cultural features imbued with national identity, such as the Cap Sac ceremony, Soong Co singing and wearing indigenous costumes...

According to Mr. Mao, the San Diu people's costumes are dyed by San Diu women themselves to get the desired color. The traditional costumes of the San Diu people are made from "diêm bau" fabric that comes from "trade" with other ethnic groups, then brought back to be dyed with a uniform indigo color...

We observed and noticed that the San Diu people's costumes are not colorful and elaborately embroidered with many patterns and colors like the costumes of some other ethnic groups. The traditional costumes of the San Diu people are quite simple but still beautiful, neat, strong, and expressed differently on each costume of men and women.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Tho, Hung Son town (Dai Tu), a San Diu ethnic person, the traditional female costume of the San Diu people includes a headscarf, a long dress reaching to the knee, a short shirt worn inside, a white bib on the chest, a skirt with many layers that reach to the knee, and white leggings wrapped around the calves. The dress is indigo, the waist is made of blue or red silk...

In the past, traditional costumes were sewn by women themselves, but now they are sewn by machines. These dresses look simple but in fact require the tailor to have skills and skillful sewing methods so that the skirt's folds do not shrink or wrinkle. Along with the costumes, San Diu ethnic women also use some jewelry, such as: necklaces, bracelets, pendants, silver rings, betel bags...

Unlike women's clothing, San Diu men's clothing is simpler and more rustic, but still exudes a strong, healthy beauty. Mr. Nguyen Van Dao, San Diu ethnic group, Van Tho commune (Dai Tu), said: Pants and shirts are indigo, sewn in the Ba Ba style, with two wide pockets; long pants, elastic waistband, very wide pant legs to facilitate mountain climbing and farming. Those costumes are worn by San Diu people every day, in all events...

By preserving and transmitting the cultural beauty of traditional costumes, the San Diu people in Thai Nguyen province have been raising awareness and responsibility in propagating and educating the younger generations to appreciate, preserve and develop the unique cultural capital of their ancestors, not letting it be lost over time...

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