A thousand-year-old memory under the stilt house
Weaving through the colorful stalls in Ban Lac, Mai Ha commune, Phu Tho province, the space of Mrs. Vi Thi Xoan's family appears like a miniature museum.
Outside are gift products favored by tourists. Going deeper inside, visitors encounter a quiet space with thousands of items collected and preserved by Mrs. Xoan over decades.
That is a steamed rice bowl, a rusty bronze kettle, and a small scale left by the previous generation. Along with that are fabrics and brocade patterns that are nearly a century old.
Each needle, thread, and indentation on the copper basin bears the imprint of time and cultural stories of the Thai people.
Mrs. Xoan gently stroked the faded indigo sticky rice. Her eyes filled with nostalgia. She shared that Thai antiques today are very rare.
There are brocade panels woven by ancient people for many years, dyed with forest leaves, bark and can last for a lifetime.
For decades, whenever she knew that anyone in the village still kept objects of her ancestors, she would come to ask to buy them. She did not collect them for storage or wealth, but wanted to preserve the quintessential values and cultural beauty of the ancient Thai people.
According to her, if not preserved and understood, those values may gradually lose their meaning.
Sending love through each old item
In the bustling Lang village, Ms. Vi Thi Xoan's booth brings a unique rhythm of life. This place not only has antiques, but also stories about Thai culture.
Tourists, especially those who love traditional culture, are often attracted by the story behind each item. Mrs. Xoan patiently introduces the meaning of the patterns on brocade, how the ancient Thai people set fire, cooked sticky rice and preserved the lifestyle of their ancestors.
There are months when the booth does not sell much. But she is still happy to tell village stories to tourists. For her, each given item is not simply a transaction. It is a journey to bring Thai culture to new lands.
Ms. Xoan shared that many items have been attached to her for many years, so when she sells them, she feels very sorry. But seeing tourists cherish, cherish and listen to stories about the village, she feels happy again.
There are items that follow tourists to Europe and America. For her, it is also a way for national identity to go far and be known by more people.
These items do not follow trends and are quite picky about customers. Some items cost several million VND. People who do not understand may think they are expensive, but for those who cherish cultural values, they are precious items.
Therefore, Mrs. Xoan is still proud of the "treasure" that she has spent many years preserving.
Keeping the fire of Thai culture in the modern rhythm of life
Preserving Thai memorabilia in Ban Lac is not only Mrs. Xoan's own passion. This has become a self-awareness of many households in the village.
Currently, Ban Lac has nearly ten households preserving items associated with the life and customs of the Thai people from decades ago, even hundreds of years ago. Families preserve these keepsakes with the desire that their children and grandchildren understand more about the life and hard years of previous generations.
Items are also introduced to tourists. Through this, Thai culture becomes a highlight in community tourism activities in Ban Lac.
Mr. Vi Van Bang, head of Ban Lac village, said that Ban Lac has been doing tourism for many decades. In the process, new values continuously appeared. Therefore, the fact that people like Mrs. Xoan collect and preserve antiques of the Thai people is of great significance.
According to Mr. Bang, each small booth is a cultural support. Tourists not only come to visit, but also have the opportunity to learn more about life and people here.
Amidst the modern pace of life, the people of Ban Lac still silently preserve the "flame" of culture. Through this, the past and present continue to go hand in hand under the stilt houses.
