About the place where the custom of blackening teeth is still preserved

(Baonghean.vn)- As one of the first villages in the country to receive the cultural title, Bong village still preserves its traditional beauty, including the custom of blackening teeth.

The Thai ethnic people in Bong village, Thanh Son commune (Anh Son) still preserve ancient stilt houses. Photo: Cong Khang

From Cay Chanh junction - where the Con River flows into the Ca River (Lam River), follow the bumpy road into Thanh Son Valley (Anh Son). From the commune center, cross the suspension bridge over the Con River, on the other side is Bong village. The road leading to the village is vaguely shaded by palm trees and ancient stilt houses. In front of the porch, old people sit chewing betel, carrying their grandchildren on their backs, their hands nimbly working with spinning wheels and shuttles.

We went to the house of Mr. Ngan Van Thien (over 80 years old), one of the elders who is still lucid, and listened to him talk about his village. His grandparents once said that Bong village was formed a hundred years ago. At that time, life was still poor, with continuous crop failures, and the government forced them to pay high taxes and levies. Thai people from all over the region sought to migrate, hoping to find fertile land to work and live.

A part of the Thai community from Phu Quy area followed the Con River downstream and from Phu Tuong area followed the Lam River, turned to Cay Chanh junction to find a place to settle down and establish a village. They chose the high land on the left bank to build houses and find a way to make a living. Since then, the clans have always been united and close-knit, together fighting wild animals, the harshness of nature, overcoming ups and downs to build a peaceful and prosperous village.

In particular, in 1998, Bong village was recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information as a Cultural Village, one of the first units in the whole province and the whole country to be recognized with this title. After nearly 20 years, the Thai people here are always proud of their village and always conscious of preserving the titles they have achieved.

The traditional brocade weaving craft of the Thai people is still preserved in Bong village. Photo: Cong Khang

A few years ago, due to the pressure of population growth, Bong village was divided into two hamlets (hamlets 6 and 8) by the commune to facilitate management and socio-economic development. The total number of households in both hamlets is currently over 200, in fact, the separation is only administrative, but cultural life and relationships are still maintained.

Visit the house of Mrs. Lo Thi Thuong (64 years old) - where the brocade weaving group of the village is busy working on the loom. The weaving group of the village has 10 people, most of them are over 60 years old, are highly skilled, passionate about traditional weaving and eager to pass on the craft to their children and grandchildren.

The time has come to the end of the year, the farm work is less busy, it is also the time when the wedding season and holidays begin, so traditional brocade products start to "run". On those occasions, women cannot lack new dresses, scarves and bags to "show off" and "show off" to friends near and far. Not to mention, according to custom, Thai brides must have all kinds of traditional costumes and blankets and mattresses as dowry when they come to their husband's house.

The brocade weaving products of Bong villagers still retain traditional patterns, imbued with identity. Photo: Cong Khang

Therefore, the demand is increasing, and women cannot keep up with the work. Mrs. Thuong said: "Weaving is suitable for the elderly, it preserves a traditional culture and provides income for daily expenses, so everyone is happy and excited."

From Mrs. Thuong’s house, we went to Mrs. Lo Thi Huong’s house (nearly 80 years old) – affectionately called by the locals as Me Huong, who is known for her talent in singing – a unique folk song of the Thai people. In the stilt house, in the middle of the ancient village space, the singing voice resounded simply and deeply but no less graceful and smooth, expressing the passionate soul of a Thai woman.

Coming to Bong village, we also admired the ancient gong set that Mrs. Luong Thi Thoi's family is keeping, which is said to have been passed down since the beginning of the village. Upon hearing the news, antique collectors from other regions came to return the gong set at a high price, but she refused to sell it. Because she thought that no matter how much money she had, it would all be spent, and the gongs, once sold, would never be found again, which would be a mistake to her ancestors and future generations.

Most of the elderly women in Bong village have jet-black teeth. The custom of chewing betel and dyeing teeth black is still preserved today. Usually, when women reach middle age, they dye their teeth to have beautiful, strong, black teeth that rarely have cavities. Photo: Cong Khang

One special thing is that most of the elderly women in Bong village that we met have black teeth. The old people here say that the custom of chewing betel and dyeing teeth black has existed for a long time and is still preserved today. Usually, when women reach middle age, they dye their teeth to have black, beautiful, strong teeth that rarely have cavities.

Leaving the Thai village in the lower reaches of the Con River, we still keep in our minds the ancient space with mossy stilt houses, brocade patterns and colors, the clattering sound of shuttles, the smooth, passionate sound of the drum of Mrs. Huong and the black teeth of the ladies in Bong village.

Cong Khang