Nestled amid the mist-covered mountains of Thuong Nong Commune, Dong Da Village remains one of the few places where the traditional cultural values of the Tay ethnic group have been preserved almost intact. Following the merger of Thuong Nong and Thuong Giap communes, the area continues to be home to a large Tay community, where generations have worked to safeguard their distinctive cultural heritage.
In Tham Luong Hamlet, Du Gia Commune, artisan Thao Nhe Chu is helping preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the Hmong ethnic group by offering free khen (Hmong bamboo flute) dance classes in a natural cave.
The former communes of Phuong Do, Phuong Thien and Phuong Tien, now part of Ha Giang 1 Ward and Thanh Thuy Commune, are widely recognized as the homeland of the Three-Phuong Tay community. Despite the passage of time, the melodies of Then singing and the sounds of the Tinh lute continue to resonate in daily life, preserving the ethnic group's cultural identity while supporting the development of community-based tourism.
Amid the grey limestone mountains at Vietnam’s northernmost frontier, where the Lung Cu National Flag Tower stands proudly against the wind, the resonant sound of the Lo Lo people’s bronze drums continues to echo as a powerful symbol of cultural identity and the enduring vitality of a community living at the country’s edge.
In recent years, efforts to preserve and promote ethnic cultural heritage in Tuyen Quang Province have gained momentum thanks to the active involvement of young people and students. Through experiential learning activities, extracurricular programs, and traditional culture clubs, many unique cultural values of ethnic communities are being safeguarded and widely promoted.
In the digital era, an increasing number of young people in Vietnam’s mountainous regions are becoming “cultural ambassadors,” using innovative online platforms to promote and preserve their ethnic heritage.
Amid deepening international integration and the rapid growth of multimedia communications, the traditional cultural values of Tuyen Quang are gaining new opportunities to reach wider audiences, contributing to the promotion of the province’s image and the development of sustainable tourism. However, these opportunities also highlight the urgent need to preserve and promote ethnic cultural identities in modern society.
Amid the rush of modern life, artist Dong Thanh Phong has chosen a different path - reviving traditional indigo dyeing and bringing it into contemporary living. Since 2010, through field trips to remote ethnic villages in Ha Giang, he discovered that many “indigo” textiles sold on the market were actually chemically dyed and quickly faded, losing the authenticity of the traditional craft. The reality inspired him to seek out the original indigo-dyeing methods preserved by local ethnic communities.
Amid the rapid pace of modern life, the Khau Vai Love Market continues to preserve the unique cultural values of Vietnam’s northern highlands. Originating from the tragic love story of Ba, a Nung man, and Ut, a Giay woman more than a century ago, the market has become a symbol of fidelity and remembrance, where people reunite, share memories, and honor the past.
Amid the harsh natural conditions of the Dong Van Karst Plateau, where limestone mountains dominate, arable land is scarce, and soil erosion is severe, ethnic communities have developed a distinctive farming method known as “cultivate on rocks.” This practice stands as a vivid testament to indigenous knowledge and human resilience in adapting to an extreme environment.
The rise of “national concerts” in Vietnam is moving beyond pure entertainment, emerging as a powerful cultural and social phenomenon among young audiences. Large-scale shows attracting tens of thousands of attendees are not only creating electrifying atmospheres but also fostering patriotism through contemporary music and stagecraft.
Amid the rugged landscape of the Dong Van Karst Plateau, the traditional beeswax painting on hemp fabric by the Mong ethnic group is emerging as a distinctive cultural and tourism highlight in Then Pa Village, Lung Cu Commune. Once a household craft closely tied to daily life, this art form is now contributing to both cultural preservation and the development of sustainable experiential tourism.
In the vast mountains of Viet Bac, Tuyen Quang stands as a treasure trove of heritage, where every traditional house, festival, and folk melody carries the imprint of time.
Amid the hustle and bustle of modern life, traditional cultural values are increasingly recognized as indispensable in contemporary society. Therefore, preserving and promoting ethnic cultural heritage remains a necessary and important task for each locality.
Preserving Tay cultural identity in Thuong Nong
