TUYEN QUANG – Arriving at Na Hang lake, visitors have the opportunity to participate in the fire dance ceremony of Pa Then people, immerse themselves in the life of the Tay people, and enjoy countless delicious dishes.
Na Hang Lake is located in the Na Hang nature reserve, in the two districts of Na Hang and Lam Binh, Tuyen Quang province. Ho Na Hang in Tay language means the last field – the residence of the Tay ethnic group. According to tradition, the Tay people often settle in valleys, near rivers and streams, or have clean water from the mountains for convenient living. They gathered in each village, living mainly by farming and shifting cultivation.
When coming to Na Hang for the first time, visitors have the opportunity to admire the natural scenery still intact. Interspersed between the mountains are immense primeval forests and clear blue lake water. Hidden deep in the mountains around the lake and caves, is a place to keep many ancient vestiges that make up a unique cultural area of the Tay people by Na Hang lake.
Fire dance ceremony of Pa Then people
Visiting Lam Binh at the time of the fire dance festival, visitors have the opportunity to be impressed by the cultural beauty that has been preserved for many generations. An indispensable procedure in the main ceremony is that the priest prays to the gods. When the shaman knocked on the harp and performed the ceremony, 12 healthy, young men sat opposite the magician. Through this sacred ritual, people want to express their gratitude to the gods who bless a good harvest.
The worshiping part ends when the sun disappears. Under the flickering firelight, young Pa Then took turns jumping on the embers. They used their bare hands and feet to destroy until the fire died down. This unique ritual is steeped in mystical spirituality.
Today, the fire dance festival is still preserved and held solemnly. With spiritual beliefs, the fire dance festival of Pa Then people is a very unique cultural treasure containing profound human values.
Experience the cultural identity of the Tay people
The Tay people like to live in stilt houses because the house is tall and airy, suitable for the hot day and cold night climate of the mountains. Although society is developing day by day, people still keep the old stilt house style. The Tay people’s stilt house in Na Hang usually has three compartments and two wings. The floor is made of bamboo and in the middle of the house, there is a fire stove made of square wooden molds, covered with rammed earth. The red stove in the middle of the house is still a symbol of the reunion and gathering of each family at night.
Along the way to the Na Hang eco-tourism area, visitors have the opportunity to admire the poetic nature here. In the distance are refurbished stilt houses to serve as homestays for tourists to rest. In the morning, don’t forget to cycle around and visit a local homestay to participate in activities imbued with Tay cultural identity such as: making ant egg cakes, soaking your feet with the medicinal leaves of the Red Dao people. in Na Hang. This activity gives visitors a feeling of relaxation… Don’t forget to visit the nearby brocade weaving village to see the unique weaving process.
Enjoy many delicious dishes
The cuisine is also one of the unique cultural features of the Tay people. In addition to the famous highland delicacies such as dry buffalo at the kitchen counter, hill chicken, etc., people often treat guests to their house with specialties of river fish, served with a variety of wild vegetables such as Giao co lam, thorny vegetables, bo hoa, etc. forest bamboo shoots.
In addition, visitors also enjoy the five-color sticky rice made by the Tay people. The fragrant sticky rice is cooked from delicious glutinous rice. In addition to the natural white color from glutinous rice, the remaining colors such as red, purple, blue and yellow are made by people by soaking the sticky rice in water from many vegetables grown in the home garden, so it has a beautiful natural color.
The pristine, majestic, poetic, full of life nature, along with the unique culture of the highland are the plus points that help Tuyen Quang attract many tourists to visit and experience in recent years.