Artisans of Dao Thanh Y village

Passionate about learning and accumulating traditional values since childhood, while actively teaching these values to the villagers and younger generations, and participating in activities to promote and introduce the traditional culture of the Dao Thanh Y people, Ms. Truong Thi Dong (born in 1962, residing in Hamlet 1, Bang Ca Commune, Ha Long City) is beloved by the villagers and called "The Artisan of the Village".

While attending a traditional embroidery class at the Thanh Y Dao Ethnic Group Cultural Preservation Center (Bang Ca commune, Ha Long city) in mid-August, we noticed the teacher, an elderly Thanh Y Dao woman, wearing beautiful hand-embroidered clothing, attentively guiding the students.

Ms. Truong Thi Dong has a passion for researching and preserving the cultural values of the Dao Thanh Y people.

That's Mrs. Truong Thi Dong, who guides the women of the village, especially the young trainees, by hand, through each stitch and thread. After participating for a few months, 9-year-old Dang Gia Han (from village 2) has become proficient in embroidering patterns on small squares of brocade fabric. This young trainee shared: "I've learned how to embroider patterns on bags. I hope to be able to embroider beautiful traditional costumes of my ethnic group so I can wear them at village festivals later."

Perhaps it is because of Ms. Dong's dedication that the people, even the children, here have come to know the distinctive art of brocade embroidery of their ethnic group. Speaking about her passion for brocade, she shared: "Since childhood, I have been taught by my grandparents and parents about the beautiful traditional culture of the Dao Thanh Y people. Among them, the art of weaving and embroidering brocade fabrics with beautiful patterns, harmonious color combinations, and elaborate craftsmanship captivated me the most. I learned from my mother, and later I learned more from the elders and my sister, who is an outstanding artisan..."

Perhaps it was because of that special passion that by the age of 15, Ms. Truong Thi Dong was already known for her studiousness and skill in traditional embroidery. Besides learning from her mother, she also diligently studied with Ms. Vi Thi Ca and other renowned embroidery artisans in the village. She also researched, learned, and sought ways to restore and introduce the traditional embroidery art of her ethnic group. Furthermore, she also explored the traditional singing, dancing, and cuisine of the Dao Thanh Y people. To many, Ms. Dong has become an embroidery artisan, a "treasure trove" of folk cultural knowledge in the village.

Ms. Truong Thi Dong's embroidery class is held at the Thanh Y Dao Ethnic Group Cultural Preservation Center (Bang Ca commune, Ha Long City).

What is admirable is that she always believes in passing on the essence of her nation's culture to the younger generation. "The more I learn, the more I see the beauty, the preciousness, and the potential for the decline of traditional embroidery in modern life. Therefore, after many years of accumulation, I decided to teach it to many of my children and grandchildren," shared Ms. Truong Thi Dong.

Therefore, since the age of 20, she has devoted herself to preserving, learning, memorizing, and teaching the art of embroidery and tailoring traditional ethnic costumes (embroidering birds, weaving belts, making hats, etc.). Along with that, Ms. Truong Thi Dong also combines this with exchanging and teaching cultural aspects and life knowledge to Dao Thanh Y women. This includes folk songs and dances; folk games; how to make Do paper; Bau wine; and folk knowledge and traditional medicine of the Dao Thanh Y people that she has gathered locally.

To prevent its decline, Ms. Dong annually teaches 1-2 classes on embroidery and sewing traditional ethnic costumes; actively participates in local activities at the Thanh Y Dao Ethnic Culture Conservation Area, establishes folk art clubs, intergenerational clubs, and community tourism groups in Bang Ca commune; participates in performances and introduces Dao culture at Carnaval festivals, city and provincial festivals, and the Northeast Ethnic Culture Festival... To spread the beauty of the culture to the community, she also participates in teaching classes in other communes, such as Son Duong, Dong Lam, and Ky Thuong...

Ms. Dong instructs young students in traditional embroidery techniques.

“Not only is she a dedicated and enthusiastic artisan in the village, Ms. Truong Thi Dong also practices intangible cultural heritage in the community, preserving, maintaining, teaching, and promoting traditional cultural values, as well as contributing to the development of cultural tourism in the locality. With these contributions, she has received many commendations from the commune, Ha Long City, and above all, she is recognized, trusted, and highly appreciated by the village community,” said Mr. Dang Van Manh, Secretary of the Commune Party Committee.

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