In Muong Chieng commune, Da Bac district, many people know Sa Van Cam, who is dedicated to preserving and promoting ancient Tay script. He has collected, documented and opened classes to teach this script, contributing to the preservation of the Tay ethnic cultural values in Muong Chieng commune and Hoa Binh province.
Sa Van Cam (left), a resident of Muong Chieng commune, Da Bac district, introduces books on ancient Tay scripts that he has preserved and promoted.
Born and grown up in Muong Chieng, where Tay ethnic group makes up over 70% of the population, Cam has accumulated extensive knowledge about Tay culture, including its ancient script. He said that the ancient Tay script has been preserved and handed down through generations. However, in modern times, many cultural values are fading, especially among the youth. To encourage the local Tay community and students to learn and write in their native script, he has studied and set up classes to preserve and promote the Tay language and writing.
Since 2010, Cam has organised seven classes for ancient Tay script, attracting over 200 learners from Muong Chieng and surrounding areas. Notably, in 2017, the Vietnam Institute of Linguistics in Hanoi collaborated him to offer a class on ancient Tay script and held a calligraphy competition in Muong Chieng, with Cam as the instructor. The same year, the Cau Muong festival was held in the commune to promote ancient Tay script to visitors.
Cam held that ancient Tay script differs significantly from the modern Thai script. He collected ancient books passed down to him by his ancestors to compile books and lesson plans to teach the people the Tay language. Despite financial difficulties in running these classes, his passion for imparting ancestral knowledge drives him to continue.
Cam has actively collaborated with the local folk culture club to maintain cultural and artistic activities while teaching ancient Tay script to its members. Many learners in his classes have become proficient in reading and writing the script. Currently, Cam's classes have over 30 attendees who learn three times a week at the community centre in Chieng Cang village.
Nguyen Quang Hieu, Deputy Head of the provincial Emulation - Commendation Commission, highlighted that Cam's model of "preserving and promoting the identity of ancient Tay script" provides significant social benefits by safeguarding and enhancing the Tay script and culture. It helps people better understand the rich and unique culture of the Tay ethnic group, he added. Cam's model has the potential to create a ripple effect and inspire broader influence across the province.
In recognition of his contribution to collecting folk culture, the provincial People’s Committee recognised Cam’s model as a provincial-level advanced example this year.
As part of Project 6 under the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2024, Lạc Sơn District, Hoa Binh province focuses on diverse and practical activities to promote the project's goal: "Preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values of ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism development."
After 3 years of implementing Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU, dated October 11, 2021 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Hoa Binh province's ethnic groups in the period of 2021 – 2025 with the orientation to 2030 (NQ04), it has mobilized the participation of the entire political system, the people from all walks of life and there have been positive changes. So far, out of the 10 targets of NQ04, 3 targets have been met and exceeded the plan set for 2025. Typically, 70% of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of ethnic groups in the province is on the list of the national ICH items and they have been protected and restored, exceeding 20% of the proposed Resolution.
Great National Unity Day has been recently celebrated in Duong hamlet, Vay Nua commune, Da Bac district, in an atmosphere of warmth and community spirit. The event highlighted national identity and strengthened the bond of solidarity among residents.
On November 28, the People's Committee of Cao Phong district organized the Cultural and Sports Festival of Cao Phong district's ethnic groups in 2024.
