Lai Chau: Focus on economic development and preservation of Mang ethnic culture

The Mang ethnic group is one of 14 ethnic groups with a population of less than 10,000 people. Lai Chau is the province with the largest population of Mang people, with nearly 6,000 people, living mainly in the border districts of Nam Nhun, Sin Ho and Muong Te.

Unique customs The current prominent cultural features of the Mang ethnic group are wedding ceremonies, costumes and facial tattooing... In particular, regarding costumes, the unique feature of Mang women's clothing is a shawl wrapped around the body, cut and sewn from white coarse fabric, embroidered with red threads in the middle. The head is bare, the hair is tied into a tuft on the head with a beautiful tasseled string, and the legs are wrapped in leggings.

Mang ethnic girl in unique ethnic costume

Regarding the facial tattooing custom, in the past, both Mang women and men had to have their faces tattooed (also known as mouth or chin tattoos). This is a mandatory initiation ceremony when boys and girls reach adulthood (boys from 16 to 18 years old, girls from 15 to 16 years old), with the main purpose of being recognized by the community as official members. Thanks to the facial tattoo, after death, the ancestors in heaven will recognize them as people in the same family and will let their souls reside with them. In married life, Mang boys and girls are free to love and marry. The groom's family takes the initiative to ask for a wife for their son. When taking the bride, there is a custom of a fake fight between the groom's family and the bride's family to win the bride, showing the bride's affection for the bride before she goes to her husband's house. The traditional handicraft of the Mang people has reached a sophisticated level with woven products serving in daily life. From the split and shaved rattan fibers, they skillfully weave them into objects. The most prominent is the bem to hold clothes, fabrics, jewelry, and rare costumes. This product has a very sophisticated and harmonious pattern and line technique that is favored by the Mong, Lu, Tay, and Thai ethnic groups. Handcrafted products are also a measure to evaluate the ingenuity and talent of Mang ethnic women. In their religious life, the people consider the sun to be the supreme being who created humans and the universe. The legend of the Mang people has the image of humans born from a gourd, an image often seen in the legends of many ethnic groups in Vietnam. The Mang people believe that the universe has four levels: In the sky is the world of creative gods, on the ground is the world of humans and ghosts, on the ground is the world of ugly dwarves, and under the water is the world of dragons. The Mang ethnic group preserves a diverse and unique traditional cultural treasure, in which the Housewarming Ceremony is a typical activity that strongly reflects the cultural and religious life of the Mang people. The Mang people believe that the most important thing in life is building a house, getting married, having children, and developing the family. So whether the house is big or small, made of wood or bamboo, building a house is the top concern. When the house is finished, on the morning of the chosen good day, the family performs the procedures and rituals to enter the new house. The day chosen to enter the new house is the day of the horse, followed by the day of the dragon, the goat, and the chicken. In particular, avoid the death day of the homeowner's father and mother, the date of birth, the year of birth of the homeowner, the day of the tiger, and avoid the death day of the deceased wife or husband. The housewarming ceremony of the Mang people is usually held in the morning. When entering, the host couple must go first. The children and grandchildren bring blankets, cooking utensils, and household items to the designated location, and together say: "Come to the new house with good health, happiness, and prosperity!". The feast in the housewarming ceremony of the Mang people is often very crowded. In addition to relatives, neighbors and friends of the host are also invited to attend. After a few weeks of drinking to celebrate the host, those who know how to sing will sing traditional songs of the Mang people. The lively songs and dances blend together to create a folk cultural activity rich in identity and connect the community. Improving life According to Decision No. 1227/QD-TTg dated July 14, 2021 of the Prime Minister on approving the list of ethnic groups facing many difficulties and having specific difficulties in the period 2021 - 2025, the Mang ethnic group is classified into the group of ethnic groups with specific difficulties. In addition to economic difficulties, in recent years, many cultural features of the Mang ethnic group have gradually faded away and are at risk of assimilation with other ethnic groups in the region. In recent years, the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council and People's Committee of Lai Chau province have concretized the policies of the Party and the State to implement many programs and projects for socio-economic development of ethnic minority areas in general, and the Mang and La Hu ethnic groups in particular. Since 2011, the Provincial People's Committee has issued a Decision approving the Project "Socio-economic development of the Mang, La Hu and Cong ethnic groups" in Lai Chau province for the period 2011 - 2020 (Decision No. 1695/QD-UBND, dated December 30, 2011). Next is the Decision approving the component project of the Project "Socio-economic development of the Mang, La Hu, Cong ethnic groups" in Lai Chau province for the period 2013 - 2020 (Decision No. 370/QD-UBND, dated April 21, 2015). Through the Provincial Party Congresses, ethnic work has always been given attention and clearly defined in documents; The Resolution of the 14th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020 - 2025, determined "Well implementing the Party's guidelines and the State's laws and policies on ethnic groups... focusing on developing production, improving the material and spiritual life of ethnic people". The Resolution of the 14th Provincial Party Congress has identified 4 key programs, all of which have important contents aimed at socio-economic development of ethnic minority areas, including the Mang and La Hu ethnic groups, such as the Program to preserve and promote the fine cultural identities of ethnic groups associated with tourism development; Resolution No. 06-NQ/TU, dated March 15, 2021 of the Provincial Party Committee on improving the quality of the team of leaders and managers of ethnic minorities and key officials at the commune level for the period 2021 - 2025, with a vision to 2030. Determined "Every year, 40% of the target is set aside to organize and recruit ethnic minorities, with special attention paid to some ethnic minorities such as Cong, Mang, La Hu, Si La, Lu, Lao". It can be seen that, under the leadership and direction of the Provincial Party Committee, the People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee and the participation of the entire political system, in recent years, the socio-economic situation of the Mang ethnic minority area in particular and the ethnic minority community in general in Lai Chau has gradually improved, the material and spiritual life of the Mang and La Hu ethnic groups has gradually been raised. That is the source of strength to connect the community, unite the nation, contributing to building and protecting the country./.

Red River

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