Preserving the cultural heritage of the Dao Thanh Y people

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.

Tuyen Quang is home to all nine branches of the Dao ethnic group, each possessing its own unique characteristics. In Sao village, Luc Hanh commune, Tuyen Quang province, the Dao Thanh Y people have been actively preserving their distinct traditional cultural values.

Dao Thanh Y women place great importance on preserving traditional costumes for future generations and consistently pass down these skills to the young. They often make use of their free time during the agricultural off-season or throughout the day to sew and embroider garments. Having been taught by their grandmothers and mothers, Dao Thanh Y girls are able to make and embroider their own traditional attire, while also developing a strong awareness of preserving their ethnic identity through these garments.

The traditional costume of Dao Thanh Y women is a harmonious combination of colors such as blue, red, yellow, black, and white. The most striking features are the intricate patterns of flowers, leaves, birds, and more, embroidered with multicolored threads on the flaps, shoulders, and belts.

Headscarves and chest coverings are also richly decorated with vibrant patterns inspired by nature, expressing a deep love for their homeland and country.

The Cap Sac ritual is the most important ritual in the life of a Dao Thanh Y man. According to tradition, regardless of age, a man who has not undergone this ceremony is considered to have no official name, is not recognized, and has yet to be acknowledged by the community and spiritual entities.

A life-cycle custom that has been preserved and passed down through generations, leaving a lasting imprint in collective memory, is the traditional wedding practice of the Dao Thanh Y people.

On her wedding day, the bride wears her ethnic traditional costume, which is the most beautiful and elaborate outfit she owns. More importantly, it must be a garment she has embroidered herself before marriage.

In addition to the long, intricately embroidered dress, when arriving at the groom’s house, the bride also brings embroidered scarves used for tying the outfit, a decorated headpiece with tassels on all sides, and a colorful embroidered veil.

The groom’s attire is simpler, consisting of a traditional garment with modest embroidered patterns and a fabric hat, also decorated with embroidery.

In recent years, as the economic life of the Dao Thanh Y people has improved, some traditional cultural elements have gradually been modified. For instance, young men and women are now free to get to know each other before marriage; the bride’s family no longer weeps to hold her back; and certain ceremonial steps have been simplified.

The preservation of ethnic minority culture in connection with tourism development is currently regarded as a sound approach to safeguarding and promoting the cultural values of ethnic communities in Tuyen Quang.

Luu Khiem