“Living museum” of Tay culture

A corner of Tha village seen from above.

Impressions of the mountainous region

With 79% of its natural area being forest, Tha village wears a green cloak of primeval forests, planted forests and immense palm hills, dotted with golden rice fields in the ripening season. A clear stream flows from the top of Dan Seng mountain down to the valley, meandering through the village, creating a beauty that is both majestic and poetic.

With 123 households and more than 600 people, Tha village is home to 99% of the Tay people. Over many generations, they have preserved their traditional cultural values so that their national identity is not blurred by the flow of modernity. Walking on the small roads, visitors will encounter ancient palm-leaf-roofed stilt houses. This is the unique highlight of Tha village, with many houses hundreds of years old, demonstrating a lifestyle imbued with indigenous characteristics. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Mac (nearly 90 years old) proudly said: “Each house here is not only a place to shelter from the sun and rain, but also a part of the soul of the village. We preserve them not only for ourselves, but also to tell the story of our origins to future generations.”

Currently, 100% of households in Tha village maintain the traditional stilt houses, of which more than 95% still maintain the traditional palm leaf roofs. Notably, from the Project to build a typical cultural tourism village in Tha village, phase 2021 - 2025 of the People's Committee of Ha Giang Ward 1, 24 households have been supported with 240 million VND to roof traditional palm leaves, helping to preserve the characteristic architecture and create a unique feature for the village.

In front of each stilt house, there is mostly a small pond with the murmuring sound of flowing water, mixed with the sound of fish swimming in the waves looking for food. The life of the Tay people here is also a love song of the mountains and forests. From the sound of the water wheel turning steadily, the rhythmic sound of the buffalo gong to the sound of the rooster crowing in the early morning, all are in harmony, creating a symphony that is both rustic and poetic, lulling people's souls back to peace.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Duong, a tourist from Da Nang city, shared: “Where I live, the sea is vast, the wind blows softly and the waves crash on the shore day and night. But when I came to Tha village, in front of the quiet stilt houses among the palm hills, the clear stream murmuring at my feet, I suddenly saw a different beauty, quiet, pure and captivating. The scenery here made me realize that my country is not only beautiful in the vastness of the ocean but also in the deep peace of the mountains and forests.”

Tourists enjoy playing the Tinh zither with the people of Tha village.

Turn identity into endogenous strength

From the right direction of the local Party Committee and government, Tha village has chosen to develop community tourism in a sustainable direction, taking the Tay ethnic identity as the foundation and endogenous strength. Up to now, about 85% of the villagers still use traditional costumes and maintain their own language in daily life. Festivals, folk games, Then singing, Tinh lute... are always present in community life, both to keep the cultural fire alive and to enrich the experience for tourists. In particular, two folk art troupes gathering nearly 40 members including the elderly and the young generation have become ambassadors, bringing the quintessence of Tay ethnic culture to introduce to domestic and international tourists.

In particular, 8 families in the village have developed homestay services, both creating a stable livelihood and giving tourists the opportunity to experience local life. Here, tourists can “eat, stay and work together” with the locals, participating in daily activities such as planting, harvesting agricultural products or weaving. In the evening, tourists can not only enjoy typical cuisine (Bong fish, five-color sticky rice, smoked pork, etc.) but also participate in cultural exchange and enjoy folk songs from the village’s folk art troupe. These experiences not only leave an unforgettable impression but also help tourists find their roots and feel the hospitality of the Tay people.

Thanks to these efforts, in January 2025, the Tha Village Homestay cluster (including 3 families) was honored to become one of 5 representatives of Vietnam to receive the ASEAN Homestay Award at the Southeast Asia Tourism Forum - ATF 2025, held in Malaysia. Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Giang Ward 1, Tran Song Ha, shared: "The ASEAN Homestay title is not only the pride of the local government and people, but also a worthy recognition for the right direction of Tha Village. This will be the motivation for us to continue promoting cultural values, improving service quality, and building Tha Village into an attractive destination of regional stature".

Through the development of community tourism associated with preserving the Tay cultural identity, a new look has been created for Tha village. Village chief Nguyen Van Long could not hide his joy: “Every year, Tha village welcomes over 10,000 visitors, of which 40% are international visitors. Revenue from tourism reaches 3 - 5 billion VND, leading to an increase in average income per capita to 52 million VND/year. Notably, the village has only one irreversibly poor household and one near-poor household.”

With steady steps and pride in their identity, the people of Tha village are persistently building a sustainable tourism model. So that every visitor who comes here not only admires the scenery and experiences the culture, but also feels familiar and close, like returning to their second home.

My Uyen

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/van-hoa/202508/bao-tang-song-cua-van-hoa-tay-ef9033c/