Tan Pheo commune in Da Bac district has been long inhabited by people of several ethnic minority groups such as Tay, Dao and Muong. Each ethnic group has its own culture and unique customs during Tet. For the Tay people, although life has changed a lot, their cultural identity and customs of celebrating the Lunar New Year are still preserved and passed down.


 Ha Van Phoi (sitting inside) in Tan Pheo commune (Da Bac) knows and preserves many traditional cultural values of the Tay ethnic group in the locality.


Ha Van Phoi, who knows many traditional cultural features of the Tay ethnic group, shared that the Lunar New Year is the most important and biggest festival in a year of the Tay people. Their custom of welcoming Tet includes two stages: "het khau mo" which means the new rice celebration, and "het set – het chieng" which means the custom of welcoming the Lunar New Year, and is prepared from the last lunar month. The new rice and Lunar New Year celebrations start in the period from the first to the third day of January. The worshiping part usually has two rites: worshiping ancestors and worshiping the Land Genie and those who govern and look after the place where the family lives, with a hope that the ancestors and genies will help protect the family.

On the morning of the first day of the lunar new year, the Tay people have the custom of waking up early and going to the garden to pick the greenest and freshest leaves to bring home with the belief that they will bring lots of fortune and luck in the new year. Going to a neighbour's house, they will wear white to bring luck and ward off bad luck.

The new rice celebration has been preserved to this day. October is the month of rice harvest, families are happy because the hardships of the between-crop months are over. They use new rice to worship their ancestors.

Ha Van Le, Vice Chairman of the Tan Pheo commune People's Committee, said that the Tay ethnic group accounts for 74% of the commune’s population. The Tay people have many unique cultural features such as their own language and writing, customs and practices during holidays, Tet, weddings and funerals. Their costumes and houses are also made in their own style.


Related Topics


Exemplary cultural family in Moi hamlet, Thuong Coc commune

At the 2023 Great National Solidarity Festival in Moi hamlet, Lac Son district’s Thuong Coc commune, Bui Van Binh’s family was among the four exemplary cultural families who were honoured for their contributions. In addition to adhering to the Party's policies and state laws, participating in production and business ventures, and building a warm and happy family environment, Binh has played an active role as the head of the front committee in his residential unit.

Measures taken for Mien Doi commune development

The Office of the Hoa Binh Party Committee has issued a conclusion by Nguyen Phi Long, alternate member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, on his working session at Mien Doi commune, Lac Son district, on June 13.

Cao Phong focuses on building cultural lifestyle

Cao Phong, a district with a population of 47,000 people from the three major ethnic groups of Muong, Kinh and Dao, with the Muong community accounting for 72%, has focused on implementing the Party Central Committee’s Resolution No. 33-NQ/TW on building and developing the culture and people of Vietnam to meet the country’s sustainable development requirements.

Thong Nhat commune has been preserving the Ethnic Cultural Heritage

Being a commune founded by merging three villages, Dong Mon, An Lac, and Lien Hoa, under Resolution No. 830 of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Thong Nhat in Lac Thuy represents a community where approximately 77% of the population is of Muong ethnic group. 

Cao Son commune enhances cultural, spiritual life for local residents

Cultural and sport activities are booming in Cao Sơn commune (Luong Son district), contributing to building a civilised cultural life, strengthening solidarity spirit, and successfully fulfilling local socio-economic development tasks.

Handicraft cooperative models help ethnic minority women stablise life

Since its establishment, the Chieng Chau brocade weaving cooperative in Mai Chau district has gathered many members, helping to share experience in the traditional craft and enhance weaving skills among local women, helping to build a brand for the cooperative's products.