Exploiting cultural identity in economic development
Each ethnic group has its own beauty, creating a colorful picture of ethnic minorities in the mountainous areas of Thanh Hoa. The western districts of Thanh Hoa province have inherent potential and strengths when holding a diversity of cultural identities. In recent years, in the journey to find directions for socio-economic development and poverty reduction in mountainous districts, authorities at all levels have determined that effective economic development must go hand in hand with preserving and promoting traditional indigenous cultural values.
For example, traditional costumes of ethnic minorities are a product with cultural characteristics, containing the soul of the ethnic groups. Currently, traditional costumes of ethnic minorities can also become products with economic value in mountainous areas.
Typically, in Nhoi village, Cao Ngoc commune, Ngoc Lac district, everyone knows Mrs. Pham Thi Bao, who built the Bao Hang Muong ethnic brocade embroidery production facility. Since she was a young girl, her mother taught her how to grow mulberry, weave, and embroider. How many brocade scarves and skirts have been woven and embroidered by the skillful hands of this Muong ethnic woman.
Over the years, witnessing the changes of the times, she saw that the brocade weaving profession was gradually at risk of disappearing, while those who knew how to weave were mainly middle-aged and elderly. Therefore, with the passion to restore, preserve and promote the traditional craft of the nation over the years, she gradually built a brocade production facility.
Through this, this facility also creates regular jobs for many women in the village, with an income of 3,500,000 VND to 4,500,000 VND/person/month. Her products have been brought to every corner of the Muong land. On every occasion of Tet, important national holidays, the scarves and skirts with patterns and colors are worn by Muong girls, grandmothers and mothers, enhancing the beauty of Muong women.
“Muong culture is clearly reflected in these brocade products. It is the soul, the mark, the cultural characteristic of the nation. We must do something to preserve and pass it on to the next generation. Nowadays, fewer and fewer people know how to embroider and weave. Why not turn these cultural values into economic products that both create jobs, increase income, and preserve identity?”, Ms. Bao shared.
Similarly in Lung Niem commune (Ba Thuoc district), Ms. Ha Thi Dung in Doan street (also known as Don street) is one of the people who is passionate about preserving the brocade colors of the Thai ethnic group. Loving the culture of the Thai people and wanting to contribute to preserving the unique features of her ethnic costumes, Ms. Ha Thi Dung did not hesitate to start building a production facility for Thai people.
She bought more looms to teach the craft of weaving skirts to women in the commune, especially the younger generation. She also opened a sewing and weaving facility to create jobs and income for the people. With her enthusiasm and the support of those who love Thai culture, Ms. Dung's facility has been doing well and has become a trusted address for many tourists. Not only from the Thai community in the western districts, but also a place for foreign tourists to visit and buy souvenirs when traveling to Pu Luong.
Strengthening management and orientation
In recent times, the management, preservation and promotion of traditional values of ethnic costumes have been paid attention to by all levels, sectors, localities and ethnic minorities in Thanh Hoa and have achieved important results. Accordingly, in addition to strengthening and focusing on opening traditional vocational training classes on brocade, sewing and embroidering dresses for ethnic minorities, the cultural sector periodically organizes festivals, cultural performances of ethnic minorities, organizes spring festivals, including ethnic costume competitions.
The State has also had support policies to honor artisans who are the keepers and "pass on the torch" to future generations; organized scientific seminars on preserving the language, writing, costumes, and traditional occupations of ethnic minorities in the province...
In particular, the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province issued Decision No. 4795/QD-UBND dated December 21, 2022 approving the Project "Preserving, promoting and developing the language, writing, costumes and traditional occupations of ethnic minorities in Thanh Hoa province until 2030" and Plan No. 64/KH-UBND dated March 20, 2023 on implementing the Project "Preserving, promoting and developing the language, writing, costumes and traditional occupations of ethnic minorities in Thanh Hoa province, period 2023-2025", with specific goals: 100% of mountainous districts organize propaganda for people to make and produce their own costumes and maintain wearing costumes during holidays and in learning activities.
In addition, organize festivals, competitions, performances; display and exhibit traditional costumes during the cultural festival of ethnic groups. Organize programs to promote and introduce the beauty of costumes and traditional occupations of ethnic minorities to serve tourism development. Form a number of tourism products from traditional costumes and occupations to introduce and sell to serve customers at some tourist areas and spots in the province...
Effective implementation of the Project's contents contributes to preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, ethnic cultural identities, promoting diverse livelihoods, creating jobs, and increasing income for people; contributing to the successful implementation of socio-economic development tasks; building Thanh Hoa culture and people to meet the requirements of sustainable national development.
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