Yen Khe (Con Cuong): Preserving the "spirit of the countryside"

(Baonghean.vn)Yen Khe commune (Con Cuong district) has over 1,200 households (more than 5,000 inhabitants), of which about 75% are ethnic Thai people. Compared to other localities in the entire district, Yen Khe is one of the "bright spots" in the movement "All people unite to build a cultured life".

Currently, 6 out of 9 villages in the commune have been recognized as Cultural Villages. It can be said that the movement to build a cultured way of life is the foundation for the Thai ethnic people in Yen Khe to effectively preserve their traditional cultural values. The commune has established two Thai folk song clubs in Nua and To villages, with a total of 40 members. Over the past three years, these two clubs have truly rekindled passion and love for folk songs, the "soul" and "rhythm of life" for generations of Thai people. Members of these two clubs have become the core of the cultural and artistic movement in the commune.

The women of Nua village (Yen Khe - Con Cuong) sit around a traditional Thai meal.

The most encouraging thing in Yen Khe is that the people are aware that the stilt house is a characteristic space of cultural life, a place that preserves both material and spiritual cultural values. Currently, the entire commune has about 300 ancient stilt houses of the Thai ethnic group. The most representative are Nua village with nearly 100 houses and Tan Huong village with nearly 80 houses. Upon arriving in Nua village, the most striking impression is the clean, beautiful roads and rows of stilt houses built close together, evoking the peaceful and orderly atmosphere of a highland village. Mr. Vi Van Luong, Secretary of the Party Branch of Nua village, said: "Our people cherish the stilt house very much, because it is the 'soul' of the Thai village. Losing a stilt house means losing the traditional culture left by our ancestors."

Yen Khe is nestled in a valley surrounded by towering rocky mountains, creating a landscape that is both majestic and poetic. Particularly noteworthy are the many beautiful and spectacular caves within these mountains, each associated with legendary tales about the founding of the village and the struggle against nature to build and protect the community's life.

Among them, the most notable are the Nàng Màn cave (called Tham Nàng Màn in Thai) and the Nước Mọc stream. To this day, the Nước Mọc stream, or Nàng Màn, has become an interesting tourist attraction for visitors from near and far. It's worth noting that every resident of Yên Khê can become a dedicated and attentive "guide" when visitors come to explore the scenic spots and landmarks of their homeland.

Mr. Vi Van Thin, an official from the Culture Department of the commune, said: "Yen Khe is the 'gateway' to Pu Mat National Park and is located within the planning area for the construction of Tra Lan Town, so we are determined to do a good job of preserving the ethnic cultural identity and maintaining the landscape of the villages to serve as a driving force for socio-economic development. Certainly, the people will leverage their strengths to build Yen Khe into a true 'destination' for tourists on their journey to discover the beauty of Western Nghe An."

Cong Kien