Experts gathered at a national conference in the northern mountainous
Lai Chau province on March 30 to discuss how to preserve and develop the
culture of ethnic groups in the Thai-Kadai language family in Vietnam.
The annual conference, the 7th of its kind,
included thematic discussions on the role of the Thai-Kadai language
family in Vietnam’s history and culture, the Thai-Kadai community’s role
in sustainable development and its integration in social life and
tourism.
The event, co-hosted by the province
and the Institute of Vietnamese Studies Development Sciences under
Vietnam National University-Hanoi, aimed to provide a scientific and
practical foundation for addressing crucial and urgent matters in the
Thai-Kadai-speaking community in Vietnam in its industrialisation,
modernization, integration and sustainable development process.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Vuong Van Thanh
said the event presented opportunities for scientists and managers in
the field to gather and propose specific and relevant policies and
approaches for sustainable development of the Thai-Kadai community in
Vietnam.
Director of the Institute of Vietnamese
Studies Development Sciences Pham Hong Tung highlighted the
achievements made by the institute’s Thai Studies Programme over the
past six years in developing a network of research coordinators across
the northern mountainous provinces of Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Cao
Bang and Lang Son, and the central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An,
where there are large Thai-Kadai communities.
Vietnam is home to 12 ethnic minorities using the Thai-Kadai language
family. They are the Tay, Thai, Nung, San Chay, Giay, Lao Lu, Bo Y, La
Chi, La Ha, Co Lao and Pu Peo, all play an important role in the
establishment and development of the nation and its culture.
They have been a key force in ensuring political security and social
order in the north and northwest border areas of the country.
The groups also boast their own unique cultural diversity, identity
and natural resources, contributing significantly to the sustainable
development of the region and the nation.-VNA