Gieng Tanh - Preserving the soul of Cao Lan culture

Located in My Lam Ward, Tuyen Quang Province, Gieng Tanh Communal House preserves the distinctive cultural and spiritual heritage of the Cao Lan ethnic group. For centuries, the communal house and its ancient well, believed to date back to 1706, have been cherished as symbols of the community's origins and spiritual life.

According to local elders, Gieng Tanh is closely tied to the establishment of the Cao Lan settlement. Drawn by the crystal-clear underground spring, the first settlers founded their village and built the communal house to worship guardian deities and honor their ancestors. Every year, on the 10th day of the first lunar month, the Gieng Tanh Communal House Festival features the traditional ritual of drawing water from the ancient well to offer at the communal house, praying for peace, favorable weather, and abundant harvests. Villagers believe the well's pure water carries sacred blessings. Remarkably, the spring remains clear throughout the year, neither drying up during the dry season nor becoming muddy after heavy rains.

Offering rituals at the Gieng Tanh Communal House Festival.

In 2007, Gieng Tanh Communal House was recognized by the provincial authorities as a Provincial Architectural and Artistic Relic. Beyond serving as a place of worship, it is also an important venue for preserving the Cao Lan people's traditional cultural values, particularly Sinh ca folk singing, which has been inscribed on Vietnam's National Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Since 2014, local authorities have established cultural clubs and a Sinh ca Club to preserve and pass on traditional songs and dances to younger generations, helping safeguard the ethnic group's cultural identity.

Cao Lan people preserve their traditional culture through folk dances.

Situated less than 10 kilometers from the My Lam Hot Spring Resort, Gieng Tanh has significant potential for community-based tourism. Visitors can enjoy peaceful rural scenery, traditional stilt houses, unique Cao Lan cultural experiences, folk performances, and local cuisine while learning about the daily lives of the community.

In recent years, My Lam Ward has continued to organize the annual Gieng Tanh Communal House Festival while investing in infrastructure, restoring the historic site, developing homestay services, and connecting Gieng Tanh with major tourist destinations across Tuyen Quang. By combining cultural heritage preservation with tourism development, the locality is promoting its image, creating new opportunities for socio-economic growth, and ensuring the sustainable preservation of the Cao Lan people's traditional cultural values.

Bien Luan