The cultural space of the Thai people with the sound of the flute and the bustling music in any event always attracts a lot of people and tourists to visit, experience and explore.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien, a tourist from Quang Ninh, when visiting the cultural space of the Thai people in Chieng Coi ward, within the framework of the walking street activities of Son La city (old), now Chieng Coi ward, Son La province, shared that each ethnic group has its own cultural features, but the Thai people in Son La have very unique and special cultural features. Being able to immerse herself in the cultural space of the Thai people here, she felt very happy and wonderful.

Thai Son La women together preserve ethnic culture

Thai people have the belief of worshiping ancestors, worshiping the god of agriculture, the god of mountains and rivers.

Chau Co Village, Chieng Coi Ward, Son La Province has 386 households and nearly 1,100 people, mainly Thai ethnic people. In 2020, the Thai Cultural Club of the village was established with the aim of preserving and promoting the unique cultural identity of the ethnic group.

Mr. Leo Dung Nhi, Chairman of the club, said that every Friday night, the members of the club gather at the village cultural house to practice dancing, singing, and sharing about the customs, languages, and writings of the ethnic groups. For each meeting, the Board of Directors develops a plan for each topic, operating in a socialized manner, mobilizing voluntary participation from individuals and the community. Up to now, the club has attracted more than 60 members to participate in activities; in which, the youngest member is 12 years old, the oldest member is over 70 years old.

"Since its establishment, our club has been operating regularly, mainly collecting objects related to the production and life activities of our people to display at the village's cultural house; secondly, we also research and restore ancient songs and dances of our people to teach to the young generation. At the same time, we also mobilize grandparents - the elderly who understand the customs, habits and cultural features of our people to teach and guide us, so that we have more knowledge to teach today's young generation...", said Mr. Leo Dung Nhi.

                     

Thai Cultural Club of Chau Co village, Chieng Coi ward (Son La) holds regular activities every Friday evening.

Members of the Thai Cultural Club in Chau Co village share about their ethnic culture and writing.

Mr. Quang Van Hac in Bo village, Chieng An ward, Son La city (old), now Chieng An ward, Son La province, for many years, with pride and love for the cultural beauty of his people, has also tirelessly taught the ancient Thai script to his children, grandchildren and the people in the village. The first classes he opened in the village had only a few people, then more than 100 people attended. Just like that, he has helped many people learn to read and write the script of his people, not letting it be lost.

Lu Quynh Huong - a young person who learned ancient Thai script from Mr. Hac said that she was very happy and proud to not only be able to speak her ethnic language, but also write ancient Thai script.

"I am very grateful to Mr. Hac for teaching us and the young people about the cultural beauty of our nation. We will definitely preserve it together to pass it on forever...", Quynh Huong expressed.

Mr. Quang Van Hac taught ancient Thai script to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The Thai ethnic group lives in many provinces such as Yen Bai, Hoa Binh (old), Thanh Hoa, Nghe An... but is most concentrated in the Northwestern provinces, including Son La, Lai Chau and Bien Bien. With more than 1.8 million people, the Thai are the third most populous ethnic group in Vietnam; this is also one of the ethnic groups with its own language and writing.

Regarding religion and beliefs, Thai people worship their ancestors, the god of agriculture, and the god of mountains and rivers. Worship is closely linked to annual festivals such as: the rice-going ceremony, the rain-praying ceremony, the rice-soul-welcoming ceremony, the harvest-praying ceremony, the new rice celebration ceremony... Thai people's weddings and funerals are strictly organized according to traditional rituals.

According to Mr. Lo Van Ruong, 86 years old, in Tong village, Chieng An ward, Son La city (old), now Chieng An ward, Son La province - a famous local shaman, in the journey to preserve the cultural identity of the Thai people, perhaps teaching young people how to perform shamanism and worship is one of the most difficult tasks.

"I'm not too proud, but in the whole region, I'm the only one who knows how to do mo properly. There are many shamans, but only I know how to do deep mo and how to do it properly. I myself have taught many people, but some young people today don't want to learn, others learn but not thoroughly because learning mo is difficult... In general, it's not easy to find a successor to be a shaman," said Mr. Ruong.

Shaman Lo Van Ruong practices the ceremony

Mr. Ruong (right) always focuses on teaching the young generation to preserve the national cultural identity.

Despite facing many difficulties; in the context of modern society with strong cultural exchange, some customs and practices of the Thai people have been gradually lost. However, determining that national cultural identity is a precious spiritual value, the pride of each nation and ethnic group, therefore, each child of the Thai people in Son La - Northwest, especially artisans, people who understand culture are still working every day with functional sectors and authorities at all levels to preserve and promote the beauty of their people, enriching the cultural identity in the community of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.

 

Many people and tourists participated in the experience of xoè performance with the Thai people of Son La within the framework of the walking street organized in Chieng Coi ward, Son La province.