RESEARCH ON HANDICRAFT VILLAGE OF ETHNIC MINORITIES IN SAPA DISTRICT, LAO CAI PROVINCE

The Center for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Studies (CVSEAS) carried out a research on the handicraft village of ethnic minorities in Sapa district, Lao Cai province, from 17 – 22 August, 2013.

The research’s participants include Assoc.Prof.Dr. Thanh Phan (group leader), Deputy Director of CVSEAS; Dr. Tran Dinh Lam (group member), Director of CVSEAS; and Prof. Dr. Yuka Kawano (group member), Director of NGO/NPO Support Center (Department of International Exchange Studies, Faculty of International Humanities, Josai International University).

This is a collaborative research project on ethnic groups in Vietnam between CVSEAS and Josai International University. During this study, the research group worked with Dr. Tran Huu Son, Director of Lao Cai Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, who gave us an overview of ethnic minorities in the province. He put emphasis on household income from the job of traditional brocatelle weave of minority groups in Sapa, especially those called H'Mong, Dao,y, Xa Phó. Besides, he is very concerned about the market for the locals’ weaving products, hoping that there will be cooperation in studies on ethnic minorities in Lao Cai province. At the end of the work meeting, the research group presented the book titled “The Economic, Cultural and Social Life of Bahnar People Sustainable Development” to the Lao Cai Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and received a book about ethnic minorities in Lao Cao by Dr. Tran Huu Son. Later, they worked with the People’s Committee of Sapa District.

At the work meeting in Sapa, there was the presence of Vu Asa, Vice Chairman of the Fatherland Front; Luu Thi Ngan Ha, Vice Chairwoman of the Women’s Union; Trieu Tiet Nghia, Deputy Director of the Economic Department; Au Thi Oanh, Director of the Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs as well as several specialists of the district. As for the research group, there were Assoc.Prof.Dr. Thanh Phan, Dr. Tran Dinh Lam, Prof. Dr. Yuka Kawano and Bui Duy Chien, M.A. (Lao Cai Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism). The district’s authorities introduced the situations of economics, culture, society and education of minority groups in Sapa. Moreover, they also expressed concern over the market for traditional handicrafts, hoping to have a research project on the conservation and development of this career in order to bring more practical benefits for the community.

After working sessions with the local authorities, the research group implemented their study on ethnic minorities in some communes such as Ta Van, San Sa Ho and Ta Phin. Within the research program, they also visited a model of the Women’s Brocatelle Club of the Sapa district Poverty Reduction Project – Stage 2, which is under the control of the Managing Board of Ta Phin Commune Community Tourism. According to Ly May Chan, Household Leader of the Club, although the project has been carried out for several years and received lots of support from NGO and Craft Link, the preservation and development of the traditional career of weaving in the locality have not achieved good results, but faced numerous difficulties and not yet really improved the locals’ household economic life.

Recent news

Same category