Traditional cultural space of Pa Then ethnic people reproduced

BHG - The everyday life of the Pa Then ethnic minority people was vividly recreated at the Pa Then Cultural Space event at Square 1.5 in Yen Binh Town, Quang Binh District.

The event offered a chance to admire and experience the quintessential traditional values of the Pa Then people through unique crafts, such as brocade weaving, basketry, and making banh sung trau (buffalo horn cakes).

Beyond honouring the local cultural identity, the event also spread traditional cultural values and reaffirmed the enduring beauty of the heritage in modern life. This activity was part of a series of distinctive festivals, including the Pa Then fire jumping festival, the 9th Boat Racing Festival, and the announcement of the Dao people’s Pao dung traditional singing art.

The Pa Then community, with over 5,000 members, resides mainly in six communes and towns of Quang Binh District, Ha Giang Province, such as Tan Trinh, Tan Bac, Yen Thanh, Tan Nam, Xuan Minh, and Yen Binh Town. The event's central theme is the dominant red colour, a characteristic of traditional Pa Then women's attire. Even the way scarves are wrapped signifies age, marital status, or the position of a woman within the community.

Artisan Tan Thi Lo (59 years old, Ha Son Village Cooperative) is one of 12 craftsmen demonstrating embroidery and weaving techniques on-site. The weaving frames depict the journey of turning threads into brocade fabrics adorned with special motifs.

The motifs and patterns on their clothing, often featuring green and yellow hues, carry spiritual significance, representing the harmony between humans and nature and reflecting the cultural beauty of the Pa Then people's beliefs and daily life.

At cooperatives in their communities, young girls like Lan Thi No (16 years old) and Hoang Thi Khanh Thy (12 years old) are learning brocade weaving.

To preserve and promote the value of Pa Then attire, Quang Binh District has implemented several projects integrating traditional clothing into everyday life. The local schools have encouraged students to wear traditional outfits on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Traditional cuisine is represented through banh sung trau, a delicacy typically prepared for festivals, Lunar New Year, or significant community events.

These cakes, made without filling, are made from white or black sticky rice. Leaves are skillfully folded into a funnel shape, filled with compacted rice, and wrapped tightly to form simple cakes, which are then tied into pairs. The process of making these cakes was demonstrated live, offering visitors an authentic experience.

At 74 years old, Phu Van Que (Minh Bac Hamlet, Tan Bac Commune) is a renowned artisan who has preserved and advanced the craft of weaving. With skilled hands, he has produced functional household items over the years and taught weaving techniques to the younger generation in his village.

The weaving process requires meticulous effort, from selecting bamboo and splitting it into strips to bending and weaving tightly layered patterns, all demanding patience and experience.

The Pa Then Cultural Space also showcased tools and equipment used in labour and production, as well as brocade weaving products such as clothing, scarves, bags, and decorative con (cloth balls).

Khanh Linh