Unique spring singing custom

Every spring, the folk songs of Luc Ngan ethnic people resound in many hamlets. The people here still maintain many types of folk songs such as: Sinh ca, Sloong hao, Soong co, Cnang coo, Then and pao dung singing of the Cao Lan, Nung, San Diu, San Chi, Tay, and Dao ethnic groups. The singing custom of the ethnic people usually starts after the Lunar New Year and lasts until the end of spring.

The San Diu ethnic people join a folk singing contest at the Cultural and Sports Festival of Ethnic Minorities in Bien Son commune.

As usual, from the 10th day of the first lunar month, the singing festivals of Bien Son and Ho Dap communes are opened. Similar events take place on the 12th in Tan Son commune, on the 14th in Phong Van commune, and on the 15th in Bien Dong commune, and then Cam Son, Kien Lao, Kien Thanh and Giap Son communes, and Chu town.

From this commune to that commune, the singing festivals attract a large number of people around the district and neighbouring localities such as Son Dong and Luc Nam, as well as Chi Lang, Loc Binh, Huu Lung districts of Lang Son province.

Associated with the singing festivals are cultural and artistic activities, culinary shows, and competitions of ethic sports like stick pushing, tug of war, crossbow shooting and pot smashing), creating a vibrant and attractive festive atmosphere.

Tourism development

Luc Ngan district has eight ethnic groups including: Kinh, Tay, Nung, San Diu, San Chi, Dao, Hoa and Cao Lan living together, creating cultural interference and richness which are shown very clearly in the early spring.

According to Chu Van Trong, Standing Vice Chairman of the district People's Committee at the beginning of spring, the market fairs have become big festivals with a series of spring trips by the people, starting with the Thac Loi highland market fair in Tan Son commune and ending with that in Chu town on the 18th day of the second lunar month. Spring market fairs are traditional meeting places and spaces filled with the cultural colours of the ethnic groups expressed through language, costumes, cuisine, customs and folk songs.

To preserve and promote these unique beauties, Luc Ngan district has implemented many solutions, with priority given to preserving language, scripts, festivals, weddings, costumes, folk songs, culinary culture, and folk games of ethnic minority groups.

The district has established and maintained 34 ethnic folk singing clubs and opened many classes teaching various types of folk songs. It has provided financial support for newly established and effectively operating clubs, while organising model weddings to restore fine traditional cultural features and rituals.

At the same time, the district has paid attention to building a team in charge of cultural work at the grassroots level, including those from ethnic minority groups; and promoted the role of reputable people and folk artisans in organising community cultural activities.

Besides preserving the cultural beauties of ethnic groups, the locality has carried out many activities associated with tourism development, such as preserving house structures and creating landscapes. It has completed the construction of a community house in Bac Hoa village, Tan Son commune as a place to organise community activities and serve tourists.

At the same time, the district has continued to well implement projects and support policies for culture and tourism development in ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous areas; maintained the teaching of folk knowledge, preserved traditional cultural heritage and promoted communication work to raise people’s awareness so that they stay proactive and active in preserving and promoting their national cultural identities.

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