Unique Identity of the Dao People

The Dao ethnic group in Yen Lap district makes up more than 5% of the total population of the district, with the majority belonging to the Dao Quan Chet group, residing in villages in the communes of Xuan Thuy, Nga Hoang, Xuan An, Trung Son, My Lung, My Luong, and Thuong Long... The Dao people here have a rich and diverse cultural heritage, with their own language and script, as well as unique rituals that reflect the deep cultural identity of their ethnicity. These traditions have been preserved, protected, and passed down through generations.

For every ethnic group, language and script are considered the “soul” of the culture; preserving them is crucial for maintaining the ethnic identity. The Dao people are no exception. Mr. Phung Sinh Thinh, an expert in Dao culture and script, and one of the two people directly teaching the Nom Dao script, shared: “Currently, very few people can read and write in Nom Dao. Therefore, I am very happy and proud to be chosen to teach my people our writing system. I hope that more people will learn to read and write the Dao script, so that it will contribute to preserving and promoting the traditional culture of the Dao people.”

Not only in places where classes are being held, but also in the Dao village of Xuan Thang in My Lung commune, there are good practices for preserving the ethnic culture. Mr. Duong Kim Hung, head of the Xuan Thang area, said: “In our daily life, we still use the Dao language. The elderly in the village also teach writing and the customs and traditions to everyone in the area. During the New Year, some families in the village organize the Tet Dance festival or the Adulthood ceremony when conditions permit, with the participation of everyone in the area, together preserving the cultural identity of our people.”

The Nom Dao language classes are an opportunity for artisans—those who hold the cultural heritage—to teach, exchange, and pass on the distinctive values of their ethnic group’s language and script to Dao learners. This helps raise awareness among the Dao people about the importance of preserving their cultural values and contributes to enriching their spiritual and cultural life. It encourages the Dao people to actively protect and promote the valuable heritage left by their ancestors.

To preserve and promote the beautiful cultural values of the Dao people, Yen Lap district has effectively implemented the scientific project “Documenting and Restoring Some Typical Traditional Cultural Heritage of the Dao Quan Chet People in Yen Lap District.” The district has also followed Resolution No. 96-NQ/HU of the Yen Lap District Party Committee and Plan No. 1333/KH-UBND dated September 6, 2021, issued by the district People’s Committee on preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic minorities in the area from 2021 to 2025. These efforts have contributed to preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Dao and other ethnic groups.

The establishment of clubs dedicated to preserving the Dao cultural identity is a practical activity, contributing to the research, collection, preservation, and teaching of the Dao people’s language and script. This is a solid foundation for maintaining and promoting the unique values of the Dao people, such as ancestor worship ceremonies, hanging ancestral portraits, the “Adulthood” ceremony, the “Tet Dance” festival, wedding rituals, the art of beeswax drawing, embroidery on traditional clothing, the Bell dance, and the Turtle dance, while also preserving and promoting the cultural values of the ethnic group.

Phuong Thanh