The journey to preserve the soul of Tay people's culture
In the 2000s, when many people in the Dinh Hoa (Thai Nguyen) area abandoned traditional stilt houses and replaced them with brick houses.
Faced with the risk of the culture fading away, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hai bought 30 ancient families and brought them to Thinh Duc commune (Thai Nguyen city) to restore the village and preserve the soul of the nation.
It was a arduous and arduous journey. Without trucks or supporting machinery, people had to "carry" each wooden column, leaf roof, and brick across 60km of bumpy forest road.
For two consecutive years, they have worked tirelessly to restore old houses, gradually recreating the traditional living space of the Tay people.
The first stilt houses were built at the end of 2003, marking the revival of a new village. In the first year, life here was full of shortages, people joined hands to raise livestock and grow crops to maintain their livelihoods.
It is the perseverance and consensus that has turned the once pristine land into a fertile village, not only preserving culture but also opening a new direction - developing sustainable tourism.
What makes the difference of Thai Hai village is not only the natural landscape or the ancient stilt houses, but the rare community model.
Income from production, agriculture or tourism is all included in the common fund to ensure the lives of all members.
Ms. Ma Thi Liem (a resident of Thai Hai village) said: "My family and I have lived here for more than 20 years. In Thai Hai village, many ethnic groups gathered such as Tay, Nung, Dao, Kinh. We come from many different provinces and cities such as Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Phu Tho. But everyone is united, considering each other as a family. Seeing the cultural traditions of our people being preserved is really happy".
Cultural preservation, sustainable tourism development
After many ups and downs, in 2014, Thai Hai village officially became a tourist destination of Thai Nguyen. By 2023, this place was honored by the World Tourism Organization as "World's Best Tourist Village 2022".
That success does not come from luxurious resorts, but from bringing authentic experiences about the lives of ethnic minorities, from living in a stilt house, eating simple meals to immerse yourself in traditional festivals.
Ms. Nguyen Yen Nhi - a tourist from Bac Giang - shared: "I have been to many places but few places bring a sense of closeness like Thai Hai. Here, I can cook ethnic dishes by hand, learn how to dye indigo fabric and sing and dance with the people in the fire. It felt like returning home."
To attract tourists while still preserving their identity, Thai Hai constantly expands experiential activities, such as golden cau, silver cau, Tet recreation space, herbal foot soaking service...
Festivals such as the Lantern Festival, gratitude Festival, and women's worship ceremony are no longer limited to the community but have become an opportunity for tourists to participate and understand more deeply about Tay culture.
The village village village currently has more than 100 typical dishes, from shrimp paste, fish carp and fish sauce to wild banana flower salad. Every year, this place welcomes thousands of visitors from more than 40 countries, becoming a model of sustainable community tourism.
Thanks to dedicated people, Thai Hai village has risen from a wild land to become a tourist destination honored by the world. This place not only brings peace but also fully preserves cultural values and community spirit.
