Art performance at the first National Festival of Dao Ethnic Culture. (Photo: nhandan.com.vn)
Tuyen Quang (VNA) –The first National Festival of Dao Ethnic Culture
wrapped up in the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang on September 30.
The two-day event drew the participation of nearly 1,000 actors and actresses,
craftsmen and athletes from localities resided by the Dao ethnic group across
the country.
A string of cultural activities were held during the event, including an art
festival, a Dao ethnic custom show, ritual ceremonies of the Dao people, sport
competitions and folk games.
The festival aims to preserve Dao cultural features during the national industrialisation
and modernisation process.
The same day, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the provincial
People’s Committee organised a conference on preserving and promoting Dao
cultural heritage in the context of global integration and national
development.
As one of Vietnam’s 54 nationalities, the Dao community has an estimated
population of nearly 800,000. They mostly reside in northern mountainous
provinces like Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai and Yen Bai. Their main economic
activities are farming in rocky areas, weaving, and silver craft-making.
The Dao ethnic group’s cultural values are illustrated through housing
architecture, costumes, jewelry, food and traditional craft. However, market
economy has driven the values to slide into oblivion.
Participants at the conference recommended measures to protect Dao ethnic
culture like designing policies to save Dao language and writing, collecting
and popularising Dao culture and promoting roles of craftsmen and
sorcerers.-VNA