Hamlet 20 preserves the cultural identity of the Dao Thanh Y people

Hamlet 20 (Tan Long commune) is home to 170 households, including 41 of the Dao Thanh Y ethnic group - accounting for nearly 25% of the population. The Dao people here live in harmony, united in their efforts to preserve their native language, traditional costumes, and cultural customs.

Members of the Club for Preserving the Cultural Identity of the Dao Thanh Y in hamlet 20, Tan Long commune rehearse a folk performance.

In 2024, the village established a Club for Preserving the Cultural Identity of the Dao People with 45 members, headed by Hamlet Chief Vuong Tu Phin. At its inaugural event, the club performed a theatrical reenactment of the cap sac ceremony - a hallmark ritual of the Dao people that reflects their spiritual beliefs and showcases their vibrant dance traditions.

The traditional costume of the Dao Thanh Y is distinctive, featuring bright embroidered patterns on a black fabric base. The black headpiece, adorned with silver decorations, is worn specially, and the belts on a woman’s outfit carry symbolic meaning: the red belt is worn by unmarried women, while married women wear both red and white belts.

From a young age, Dao girls learn embroidery from their mothers and grandmothers, creating their own garments with intricate designs of birds, stars, and plants - symbols of harmony between humans and nature.

The Dao Thanh Y community also maintains age-old rituals such as the cap sac and the Cau Lang (village blessing) ceremony, held five times a year to pray for peace, good health, and bountiful harvests. During festivals and New Year celebrations, villagers gather to pound banh day (glutinous rice cakes) as offerings to their ancestors and gifts for loved ones.

Hamlet Chief Vuong Tu Phin said that local authorities and community organizations continue to encourage residents to preserve and promote the cultural identity of the Dao Thanh Y. The hamlet also plans to develop homestay services to increase income while sharing the unique traditions of the Dao people with visitors near and far.

Huyen Linh