La Chi women in Tien Yen Commune take part in a traditional swing game during the La Chi Cultural Festival
The Cultural Identity of the La Chi People
In mid-November, Tien Yen Commune came alive with vibrant colors and festive excitement as it hosted the First La Chi Ethnic Cultural Festival in 2025. More than a local cultural and tourism event, the festival provided an opportunity for the La Chi community to express pride in their origins, cultural identity, and traditional customs preserved across generations.
The festival space was richly decorated with La Chi cultural elements, including model stilt houses, lively circle dances, and the resonant sounds of flutes and drums. Gentle folk melodies, seasonal calling songs, and graceful dances led visitors on a journey into the rich spiritual life of the local community.
Among the distinctive cultural practices showcased were “Tet Khu Cu Te” (celebrated in the seventh lunar month) and the New Rice Festival held annually in the ninth lunar month.
Ritual offerings traditionally include sticky rice, fish, meat, diluted rice wine poured into buffalo horns, and ginger, symbolically inviting ancestors to join the ceremony. The rites are conducted by experienced artisans, village elders, and clan leaders who possess deep knowledge of La Chi customs and traditions.
Following the rituals, the La Chi community gathers for traditional folk games such as con-throwing, swings, rope swings, pole climbing, and tug of war. Elder women also take the opportunity to pass on traditional embroidery skills to younger generations.
Strong community bonds are reinforced as families reunite around shared meals, exchanging words of encouragement and motivating one another to improve livelihoods and work toward a more prosperous future.
Long Duc Pho, Secretary of the Ha Son Village Party Cell in Tien Yen Commune, said that organizing the festival helps younger generations better understand and appreciate their cultural heritage, while also introducing the La Chi people’s unique values to visitors from near and far.
Laying the Groundwork for Community-Based Tourism
By immersing themselves in the festival atmosphere, visitors are able to experience cultural activities firsthand and gain insight into the daily life and traditions of the La Chi community.
Hoang Thi Uc, a visitor from Lao Cai Province, said she was deeply impressed by the traditional costumes and warm hospitality of local residents, expressing hope that the festival would be held annually.
Hoang Trong Khoan, Secretary of the Tien Yen Commune Party Committee and Chairman of the Commune People’s Council, said local authorities will continue to implement policies on ethnic affairs, culture, and tourism, while promoting community-based, experiential, and eco-tourism development.
Nguyen Thanh Hieu
From a Vietnamese article on Tuyen Quang online
