Homestay Tien Quan prepares accommodations for tourists.

On weekend evenings, members of the Thai Culture Preservation and Promotion Club gather in Hin hamlet to practice Xoe dance and folk songs.

Chairwoman of the Club Lo Xuan Huong, said the Club was established last October with 85 members of all ages who share a passion for art and folklore. Besides reviving traditional dances and songs, they started a Thai language class for the villagers.

“The Thai language class meets regularly so people can learn to read and write. In the summer, when children don’t have go to school, they come here to learn the Thai language. We also invite people who can play traditional musical instruments to share their knowledge with young people,” Huong said.

Homestay Tien Quan in Bo hamlet is a popular with tourists. It has two traditional Thai stilt houses with communal and private rooms. The homestay offers typical Thai food and cultural performances.

Owner Lu Tien Quan says his family wants to introduce Thai culture to tourists, preserve traditions, and generate jobs for local villagers.

“I want to popularize Thai customs and traditions. The Thai are famous for cuisine. We want to collect old recipes and promote them. Tourists always enjoy our dishes.”

Hin hamlet’s Culture Club and Homestay Tien Quân are two of many programs that Son La province has implemented to preserve and promote the cultural diversity of ethnic groups.

It has organized an annual “Bauhinia Flower Festival”, a “Spring Festival to Celebrate President Ho Chi Minh”, and a Community Art Festival. Pupils, teachers, and state employees are encouraged to wear traditional clothes at schools and offices every Monday. Son La authority has helped 7 families set up homestays and 180 village art troupes have been set up to popularize Thai dances and songs.

Thai people are encouraged to use their mother tongue at home. Some clans organize Thai language classes for their children and neighbors. Traditional crafts, like brocade weaving and smoking meat, have been revived to attract tourists. Tong Ngoc Hoa, Head of Lau hamlet, says: “Our hamlet smokes buffalo meat and sausages under the Once Commune, One Product program. They are 3-star products of Son La province.”

Son La aims to establish 11 Thai Culture Clubs and multiple art troupes to revitalize and promote traditional culture.

The program “All people unite to build a cultural lifestyle” will be promoted to make Son La province a popular tourist destination.

Tran Cong Chinh, Vice Chairman of the Son La city People’s Committee, says: “We’ll continue to improve the quality of village art troupes. More Thai culture preservation and promotion clubs will be established. We’ll build cultural families and hamlets.”