(HBO) – Hoa Binh province is home to two Dao ethnic minority groups, namely Dao quan chet and Dao tien, who mainly live in Da Bac, Kim Boi, Cao Phong, Mai Chau, Ky Son and Luong Son districts, and Hoa Binh city.
Clothes
of the Dao groups are decorated with unique patterns on the background of
indigo colour, with a harmonious combination of accessories like scarves and
jewelries. Dao quan chet women boast a special dressing style as their trousers
are tightened to their legs.
Ban
Sinh Luong, a prestigious elderly in the Dao quan chet community in Dong Chua
hamlet, Thong Nhat commune, Hoa Binh city, said Dao people still wear their
traditional costume during the Tet festival, weddings and funerals.
Apart
from shirts and pants, Dao women also put on other accessories such as
brassieres, headscarves, silver necklaces and belts.
It
is noteworthy that Dao quan chet people do not practise weaving and they have
to buy fabric to make clothes. However, they weave belts themselves and embroider
them with colourful patterns. The art of fabric decoration has been preserved
among the community, and girls have to learn these skills from their mothers,
grandmothers, other family members and villagers at a fixed age.
Dao
quan chet women do not wear skirts but pants (Hau) that are made of indigo
fabric ending below knees and tightened to legs. Pant cuffs are decorated with
patterns and edges are stitched with colourful threads.
Of
note, Dao quan chet women wrap their calves with xa cap (chay keo) made of
white fabric clockwise.
Another
important accessory of Dao quan chet women is the scarf (called Coong pe song
in local language), made of three layers of black fabric whose ends are decorated
with floral patterns, eight-pointed stars and "Longevity” letter.
Unlike
women, Dao men’s costume is simple, comprising shirts (chang lui), trousers
(chang hau) and scarves (goong xong) of indigo or black colours.
To
preserve the traditional costume and culture, the provincial People’s Committee
has devised a project on building a centre protecting culture of the Dao quan
chet ethnic minority group in Thong Nhat commune in service of community-based
tourism. The project has also helped locals raise their income and living
standards./.
Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.
The most prominent and defining feature in the prehistoric era of Hoa Binh is the Hoa Binh Culture. The Culture was first discovered in Hoa Binh. The significant prehistoric culture represents not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia and southern China. Through excavations of cave sites in the limestone regions of Hoa Binh, French archaeologist M. Colani introduced the world to a "Stone Age in Hoa Binh province – Northern Vietnam" in 1927. On January 30, 1932, the First Congress of Far Eastern Prehistorians, held in Hanoi, officially recognised the Hoa Binh Culture.
Known as the "Land of Epic History”, Hoa Binh province, the gateway to Vietnam’s northwest, boasts a strategic location and a unique cultural tapestry woven by its ethnic minority communities.
The People's Committee of Luong Son District recently held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Sau Communal House in Thanh Cao Commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural site.
Recognising the importance of cultural heritage preservation in protecting and promoting the value system of Vietnamese culture, and serving socio-economic development in the new period, Party committees and local administrations in Hoa Binh province have identified it as a key task in the cultural development strategy. The province has been making efforts in mobilising resources, creating consensus among people and engaging ethnic communities in preserving and promoting cultural identity.
Hoa Binh province has captured growing attention both domestically and internationally for its distinctive cultural heritage and rich history. Most notably, it has been renowned for its famous Hoa Binh culture, considered the cradle of ancient Vietnamese civilisation. Looking ahead to significant milestones in 2025 and the 140th anniversary of province establishment in 2026, Hoa Binh Newspaper presents a comprehensive overview of the province's development across economic, social, cultural, tourism, and security domains.