Efforts to preserve and promote the beauty of traditional costumes

– When spring comes, Xu Lang is more beautiful because of the brilliant colors of traditional ethnic costumes. This is not only a cultural beauty but also contains the quintessence and artistic creativity of each ethnic group. However, over time, the traditional ethnic costumes are gradually disappearing. Facing with that reality, functional levels and sectors have implemented many practical solutions to preserve and promote the value of traditional costumes of ethnic groups in the province.

To have a better understand about the characteristics of the traditional costumes of Xu Lang ethnic groups, we met Mrs. Au Thi Nga Son, Vice President of the Provincial Cultural Heritage Association. Receiving us with a cup of warm tea in early spring, she said: “The traditional costumes of the ethnic groups in Lang Son province are cultural heritages that have existed for thousands of generations through the process of labor, production and daily activities, imbued with cultural identity and containing artistic and historical values. … Each costume has different beauty and meanings, imprinted with cultural traditions and customs of that ethnic group.”

Dao Thanh Y ethnic people, Chau Son commune, Dinh Lap district passing their traditional embroidery techniques

In Lang Son, there are 7 main ethnic groups which are Kinh, Tay, Nung, Dao, Hoa, Mong and San Chay. The traditional costumes have blended together to create a unique folk art picture of Xu Lang. Each ethnic group has its own way of decorating and using costumes according to its own cultural characteristics. For example, the Tay people’s costumes have their characteristic indigo color; Nung Phan Slinh people’s costumes have bright yellow, chartreuse lines that are colorfully embroidered on the neck and lap; Nung Chao people’s costumes are embroidered with indigo thread. The costumes of four Dao ethnic groups including Thanh Y, Lu Gang, Lu Dang and Red Dao all have in common that they use vibrant colors, with different main colors such as pink, red, orange…; Mong people’s costumes are carefully designed with elaborately embroidered bottom bibs and scarves…

As unique as it is but the traditional costumes are inevitably change and fade away. Therefore, in the past years, all levels and functional sectors of the province have had many solutions to preserve and promote the cultural identity of the ethnic groups, including traditional costumes. In particular, on July 3, 2019, the Provincial People’s Committee issued Plan 117/KH-UBND on the implementation of the Project “Preserving and promoting the traditional costumes of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities in the current period” in the province with a total estimated cost of about 35.3 billion VND.

Mr. Nguyen Phuc Ha, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said: “As assigned by the Provincial People’s Committee, we have developed an implementation plan, divided into several phases to select, research, preserve and promote the types of traditional costumes of ethnic minorities in the province with typical and unique values. At the same time, the department made key investments to create methods and measures to preserve and promote traditional costumes in association with tourism development in order to contribute to creating jobs and increasing incomes for local people.”

Accordingly, the conservation of ethnic group costumes is divided into two phases: from 2019 to 2025 and from 2026 to 2030. In phase 1 from 2019 to now, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has reviewed, inventoried and listed the intangible cultural heritage of traditional costumes of ethnic minorities; researched and built a database on traditional costumes (filming, taking photos, writing articles); strengthened propaganda…

From 2020 to now, the Provincial Museum has inventoried all ethnic costumes in 11/11 districts and city and conducted 260 surveys on traditional costumes. At the same time, the Museum has also made a scientific film about the Nung ethnic costume. The Provincial Tourism Promotion Information Center published more than 500 photo books introducing the traditional costumes of ethnic minorities in the province.

Notably, in the districts and city, the conservation and restoration of festivals to maintain the wearing of traditional costumes have also been promoted such as Hang Pinh Festival (Cake Festival), Lang Son city; long tong festival in Hai Yen commune, Cao Loc district; Sli singing festival in Tan Thanh commune, Huu Lung district; Pac Khuong love fair, Binh Gia district…

In addition, at many tourist destinations, attention has been paid to the use of traditional costumes when performing and renting traditional costumes for photography. For example, at community-based tourism villages such as Thien Hoa (Binh Gia); Quynh Son, Vu Lang (Bac Son)… Or at Ky Lua walking street, Lang Son city, the government encourages people to wear ethnic group costumes, perform on stage in traditional costumes, etc. Thereby leaving many good impressions on people, tourists inside and outside the province.

Ms. Tran Hai Yen, a tourist from Dong Da district, Hanoi city said: “When visiting the community-based tourism village in Thien Hoa commune, Binh Gia district in November 2021, we were very impressed with the service of renting Dao Lu Dang ethnic costumes to take pictures. The outfit is very unique, featuring a shirt, bib, belt, pants, leggings, hat, and silver jewelry. Wearing national costumes, we understand more about the culture and people of Xu Lang.”

In the coming time, all levels and functional sectors of the province will continue to promote the implementation of the project “Preserving and promoting the traditional costumes of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities in the current period” in order to preserve and promote the cultural identities of the ethnic groups. Since then, making traditional costumes popular in the lives of ethnic minorities, raising the pride, sense of conservation, and promoting the traditional costumes of the ethnic groups.