- Of the ethnic groups who live in Ha Giang province, the Giay are clustered mainly in Tát Ngà hamlet, Mèo Vạc district. Recent socio-economic development has made their life easier but has not changed their traditional culture. The Giay still uphold the main elements of their customs and culture, including their traditional drum dancing festival.

A shaman performs a ritual to take the drum out for a New Year festival. (photo: daibieunhandan.vn)

https://vovworld.vn/en-US/colorful-vietnamvietnams-54-ethnic-groups/drum-dance-of-the-giay-851739.vov

- “Khau cut” is a crescent symbol often seen on the roofs of Thai ethnic minority people’s stilt houses in Vietnam’s northwestern region. Researchers say the symbolis associated with the Thai migration in the 11th century.

Photo: A Khau cut on the rooftop of a Black Thai stilt house

https://vovworld.vn/en-US/colorful-vietnamvietnams-54-ethnic-groups/khau-cut-a-symbol-of-thai-familys-status-833200.vov

The Tay in the northern border province of Quang Ninh have a vibrant cultural life with many customs, rituals, and festivals, such as the “Going to the field” festival at the beginning of the year, the Longevity ceremony, the Crop Worshiping ceremony, and the House Warming ceremony. They have several folk singing genres, including Lượn, phongslư, lượn slương, lượn then, and lượn tràng ới. At all festivals, ceremonies, and singing performances, a stringed musical instrument called a Tinh plays a prominent role.

Photo: Tay women sing Then and play the Tinh musical instrument.

https://vovworld.vn/en-US/colorful-vietnamvietnams-54-ethnic-groups/tinh-the-unique-musical-instrument-of-the-tay-ethnic-minority-831506.vov

Like other ethnic groups, the Dao in Vietnam’s northwestern region worship their ancestors devotedly.

Photo: Worship paintings on the altar of the Dao

https://vovworld.vn/en-US/colorful-vietnamvietnams-54-ethnic-groups/ancestral-worship-ritual-of-the-dao-829408.vov

The Thai ethnic minority in Vietnam are famous for their cuisine, particularly a type of grilled stream fish called “Pa pinh top”. Seasoned with special spices and cooked to perfection, “Pa pinh top” never fails to satisfy even the most demanding palates.

Photo: Herbs and spices needed to make Pa pinh top include coriander, green onion, dill, ginger, garlic, and chili, all chopped fine and mixed with salt.

The Giay in Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province, have a rich culture that includes music and musical instrument. The Pi Le clarinet is a typical woodwind instrument of the Giay.

https://vovworld.vn/en-US/colorful-vietnamvietnams-54-ethnic-groups/pi-le-panpipe-a-traditional-musical-instrument-of-the-giay-826624.vov

Expressing gratitude to the forests is an original tradition of the Co Tu in Tay Giang district, Quang Nam province. At the beginning of the year, the Co Tu organize rituals to pray for good luck and thank the forest for giving them life. It’s also the Co Tu promise to manage and protect forests.

https://vovworld.vn/en-US/colorful-vietnamvietnams-54-ethnic-groups/co-tu-ritual-pays-gratitude-to-forest-823834.vov

The Co Tu ethnic minority people live mainly in the mountainous regions of Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue provinces and in the western end of Da Nang city in central Vietnam. After a harvest, when the grain has been transported to the storehouse, people leave their shacks in the fields to go home for New Year celebrations. Before the New Year festival, the Co Tu have a custom of visiting their daughter and her husband’s family.

The papoose is a popular accessory of Ede women wherever they go. They carry food, farm produce and wood to or from the fields or the market. H Xiu, VOV’s reporter in the Central Highlands reports.

https://vovworld.vn/en-US/colorful-vietnamvietnams-54-ethnic-groups/rattan-papooses-of-the-ede-812926.vov

- Ethnic groups and the administration of the mountain province of Lang Son have effectively preserved folk singing genres such as Then and Luon singing of the Tay, and Sli singing of the Nung. The Association for the Preservation of Folk Singing of ethnic groups in Lang Son has organized activities to promote folk arts and nurture talents.

Photo: Tay women sing Then songs and play Tinh musical instrument.

https://vovworld.vn/en-US/colorful-vietnamvietnams-54-ethnic-groups/lang-son-provinces-ethnic-groups-preserve-folk-singing-812418.vov