On the faces of the elderly in Tuyen Quang, time does not pass – it gently settles. Each wrinkle tells a story of life: joyful seasons by the fireside, sleepless nights with the fields, and simple everyday happiness. Together, they form a picture of kindness and warmth, a familiar beauty born of souls who have devoted their lives to the mountain areas.
On the Dong Van Karst Plateau, amidst layers of rugged mountains, the gate of a H’mong household is not merely an entrance but also holds sacred meaning - a symbol of strength, prosperity, and a way of life closely tied to nature.
In residential group 7, Binh Thuan ward, it is easy to see women dressed in the traditional costumes of the Cao Lan ethnic group, enjoy chim gau cakes, colorful sticky rice, or listen to Sinh ca folk songs during festivals and holidays. Through simple yet meaningful activities, local people are preserving and promoting the unique cultural identity of the Cao Lan people in their daily lives.
On September 28, a culture and tourism exchange took place in Baise City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China), with the participation of delegations from Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, Hai Phong (Vietnam) and Guangxi (China). The Tuyen Quang delegation was led by Mr. Le Thanh Son, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
In Sa Phin commune, Ms. Vang Thi Cau, a Mong ethnic woman, has been making tireless efforts to preserve and revive white hemp weaving – a traditional cultural heritage that is gradually fading. Born into a family of weavers, she mastered every stage of the craft from an early age, from growing flax and spinning fibers to weaving, dyeing, and embroidery. Motivated by a deep love for the craft and a desire to create jobs for local women, she established the Sa Phin White Hemp Cooperative.
This year, the Thanh Tuyen Festival was held by the province on October 4 at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square. However, as early as mid-September, the festive atmosphere of model parades in the evenings in central wards had already become vibrant and bustling. Local people and visitors flocked to experience the “unique giant festival”.
Khe Mon hamlet (Thai Hoa commune), home entirely to the Dao Quan Trang ethnic group, has long been a stronghold of traditional culture. Members of the local adult club actively maintain practices such as wearing traditional costumes, speaking the Dao language, singing Pao Dung, and weaving.
On September 8 (Vietnam time), the Tuyen Quang provincial delegation, led by Mrs. Vuong Ngoc Ha, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, attended the opening ceremony of the 11th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks at Kutralkura UNESCO Global Geopark, Chile.
In the rich culinary heritage of the Tay ethnic community in Tuyen Quang, many simple yet distinctive dishes carry unique local flavors, such as grilled “ca bong” fish, rice cooked in bamboo tubes, or smoked buffalo meat. Among them, five-coloured sticky rice always holds a special attraction for visitors.
Amidst modern life, Tha hamlet (Ha Giang 1 ward) has preserved the soul of an ancient village, becoming a captivating “living museum” of Tay culture that draws domestic and international visitors. With 79% of its area covered by pristine forests, plantations, and vast palm hills, interspersed with golden rice fields and clear streams flowing from Dan Seng mountain, the hamlet boasts a landscape that is both majestic and poetic.
Amidst the rhythm of modern life, Mrs. Phan Thi Hien, a resident of My Lam 3 residential area, My Lam ward (Tuyen Quang City), continues to preserve the traditional cultural values of the Cao Lan ethnic group through her dedication to reviving and maintaining the craft of tailoring traditional Cao Lan costumes.
Van Bao hamlet (Son Nam Commune) is home to 90% of the San Diu ethnic minority. For a long time, Van Bao has been a bright spot in preserving and promoting the traditional cultural identity of ethnic communities. In the commune, the Soong Co Club has been established and is run by two artists, Hoang Luc Thai and Nguyen Hong Chinh.
Stone niche cultivation is a system of traditional knowledge and experience about planting in stone areas of ethnic people on the Dong Van Rocky Plateau through many generations.
The UNESCO Global Geopark of Dong Van Karst Plateau is home to numerous ethnic minority groups, including the H’mong, Dao, and Lo Lo, each with rich and distinctive cultural traditions. Here, culture is not only preserved but revitalized, with local communities, true custodians of heritage, playing a central role in sustaining traditions while advancing community development.
The beauty of time
