Traditional culture - tourist highlight in Thai Nguyen

From the implementation of programs and projects, including the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas, Khau Dang village, Bang Thanh commune (home to San Chi people) is changing day by day. Traditional culture is preserved, landscapes are beautified, people gradually learn how to do community tourism, turning highland villages into attractive destinations for tourists.

People of Khau Dang village preserve traditional indigo weaving and hand embroidery.

More than 2km from the commune center, Khau Dang is nestled between the mountains. From afar, the quiet yin-yang tiled roofs of the stilt houses are clearly visible between the clouds and sky, creating a charming landscape painting typical of the Thai Nguyen highlands. It is precious that the village still preserves 33 traditional stilt houses, a rare number in the wave of modernization.

Each stilt house bears the mark of ancient architecture, with its back leaning against the mountain, its front facing south, and its staircase facing east to catch the first rays of sunlight, wishing for luck and prosperity. These cultural features have become the foundation for people to develop community tourism associated with preserving national identity.

An important turning point came to Khau Dang in 2023, when the village was selected to implement the project "Preserving typical villages, hamlets, and traditional cultures of ethnic minorities associated with community tourism development" under the National Target Program for Socio -economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas (Program 1719). The funding support helped the village renovate 9 stilt houses, build village gates, signboards, and support people to purchase items for homestay.

The change is not only reflected in the village's appearance. Ms. Hoang Thi Mong, Secretary of the Khau Dang village Party Cell, said: Community tourism has breathed new life into traditional cultural activities. The art troupe has been restored; traditional costumes are used more and more frequently in daily life; many rituals and folk songs have been restored. When tourists come to visit, they not only enjoy typical dishes but also join in the dances and songs of the locals.

Young tourists experience and learn about the traditional weaving and hand embroidery of the people of Khau Dang village.

The ancient cultural values ​​have now become unique tourism products. The indigo weaving and hand embroidery are maintained regularly. The love songs, the cap sac ceremony, the mask dance and the rustic cuisine such as five-color sticky rice and smoked meat have now gone beyond the framework of daily life, becoming highlights to attract tourists and bringing new sources of income to the people.

From being accustomed to subsistence farming, the people of Khau Dang are now confident in participating in tourism activities. Together they renovate their houses, maintain environmental hygiene, plant flowers along the roads, and create an image of a green, clean, and beautiful village. Currently, the village has 9 households providing homestay services, which can accommodate about 50 guests at a time.

According to Mr. Dao Duy Hung, Secretary of the Party Committee of Bang Thanh Commune: The locality's goal is to preserve and promote the cultural identity of San Chi in association with developing community tourism. In the coming time, the locality will continue to support people to expand homestay services, promote their image and create sustainable livelihoods for the people.

Not noisy or ostentatious, Khau Dang welcomes visitors with simplicity and sincerity. Here, culture does not stop in museums or books, but is "revived" in daily life. Visitors come to see, feel and understand the people and unique cultural identity of the Thai Nguyen highlands.

In the middle of the Bang Thanh forest, San Chi's singing resounds in the afternoon smoke, blending with the new rhythm of life of the changing village. Khau Dang today is a vivid testament to the effectiveness of the 1719 Program - where identity is preserved, livelihoods are expanded and a bright future exists amidst the clouds.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202511/van-hoa-truyen-thong-diem-nhan-du-lich-o-thai-nguyen-9df303e/