Although located in a remote area of Lao Cai province, Choan Then is still famous for its magical sea of floating clouds and terraced fields with different colors each season...
 |
Choan Then village is recognized as one of the ancient villages that still preserves the unique cultural identity of the Black Ha Nhi people in the highlands of Y Ty, Bat Xat, Lao Cai province. (Source: TITC) |
Choan Then village was formed about 300 years ago, is one of the ancient villages of Y Ty commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province. The village is about 2 km from the center of Y Ty commune, about 6 km from the Vietnam - China border, 90 km from the center of Bat Xat district by Trinh Tuong - A Lu road; 70 km by Muong Hum road. The whole village currently has 57 households with 323 people, of which 96.8% are Black Ha Nhi people.
Choan Then in Ha Nhi language means round rice field, the whole village is located on a land shaped like a turtle's head. This place still preserves many traditional cultural features such as: customs, festivals, folk games, handicraft weaving and rammed earth houses like giant blackberry trees growing in the middle of the forest with unique natural landscapes....
 |
| Poetic terraced fields in the morning sunlight in Choan Then. (Source: Laocai Tourist) |
With these special values, Choan Then, Y Ty commune has been recognized as a tourist destination by Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 1926/QD-UBND dated June 7, 2021.
Folk song and dance
The Ha Nhi ethnic group has a rich folk art treasure with stories, lullabies, folk songs and dances reflecting the life of labor, struggle, conquering nature, creativity, expressing the dream of reaching a prosperous and happy life. The Ha Nhi ethnic musical instruments include the Ho To, the two-stringed fiddle, and the bamboo flute.
Currently, Choan Then village has established an art troupe. The art troupe operates regularly and performs at village and commune festivals and performs when tourists request it.
Unique architecture of traditional houses
 |
| Tourists stroll around the ancient village. (Source: Labor) |
The Ha Nhi people have a saying “La kho kho hu cha” which means “The house is the most important”. The Ha Nhi people’s house is special because it is made of earthen and stone walls, built in a square shape with four pyramidal roofs and usually has no porch, has one entrance, no large windows but only a few vents on the wall. Each house is about 65 - 80 m2 wide, the walls are usually 45 - 50 cm thick, about 4.5 - 5 m high, regardless of the size of the house, it is still balanced, beautiful, creating a feeling of warmth in winter and coolness in summer.
“Choan Then Park”
 |
“Choan Then Park” is where the Kho Gia Gia Festival takes place - the largest and oldest harvest festival imbued with the cultural identity of the Ha Nhi people. (Source: TITC) |
“Choan Then Park” or “Y Ty Park” is the affectionate name of locals and tourists when they come to the open space at the end of the road through Choan Then village. With two majestic ancient chestnut trees reaching up to welcome the warm sunshine, at the foot is a small path, surrounded by terraced fields, rolling hills in the distance creating a peaceful space. This is where the Kho Gia Gia Festival takes place - the largest and oldest harvest festival imbued with the national cultural identity of the Ha Nhi people.
Dry Old Old Festival
The Kho Gia Gia Festival is the biggest festival of the Black Ha Nhi people, aiming to pray for good harvests, growth, and pray for the forest god, land god, and water god to bless the village with peace and health... The festival is held for 5 days, starting from the days of Thin - Ty - Ngo - Mui, ending on the day of Than in the 6th lunar month. The whole village will contribute to buy buffaloes to slaughter, first to worship the gods and then to offer to the ancestors of each family.
After the general ceremony, the villagers organized traditional folk games, danced and sang together... The festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2014.
 |
| Ha Nhi ethnic women in traditional costumes. (Source: Labor) |
Traditional weaving
The unique features of the Ha Nhi people's hand-woven products are mainly created by men during their free time, including rice trays, baskets, winnowing baskets, etc. The bamboo and rattan woven tray is considered the most outstanding product in the weaving technique of the Ha Nhi people in Choan Then. The main materials used for weaving are wild rattan, bamboo, and apricot. During the journey to explore Choan Then village, visitors can stop by the houses of artisans Chu Tho Xe and Ly Gio Suy to learn about the weaving craft of the Ha Nhi people and experience weaving.
 |
| The Ha Nhi people in Choan Then still retain many unique cultural features, with unique house architecture, weaving, wine making, and brocade embroidery. (Source: TITC) |
Game "Jump the stick"
Jumping sticks is an indispensable game in village festivals, forest worship ceremonies, traditional New Year, Children's Day or participating in cultural and artistic exchanges with other ethnic groups. To play the game, the Ha Nhi people prepare sticks (bamboo branches or luong branches) usually as big as a thumb, about 3m long.
The game starts when a random person spins the stick continuously in a 360-degree circle, close to the ground. Participants, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity, join in the game. They can jump alone, in pairs, or in a circle, holding hands and jumping together.
Ha Nhi Beer
 |
| The Ha Nhi people in Choan Then still maintain the habit of wearing traditional cultural costumes in daily life. (Source: TITC) |
Beer is a traditional drink, indispensable in the life of the Ha Nhi people, often used in meals to welcome distinguished guests or on holidays and Tet. Ha Nhi beer is made from sticky rice. The brewing process is very elaborate and unique. Once you have sipped and finished the beer, you will never forget the extremely unique flavor of this drink.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/choan-then-diem-du-lich-cong-dong-hap-dan-noi-vung-cao-bien-gioi-lao-cai-282832.html
Comment (0)