The spinning tops of the Tay ethnic minority are crafted from various types of wood such as ironwood, guava, and grapefruit trees. These tops feature a unique design with a round and squat body, and a sharp point at the bottom that allows them to spin effortlessly.
Tay women have a unique technique for spinning tops using a fiber cord made from jute or flax. They tightly wrap the cord around either the upper or lower part of the top. This allows them to throw the top down and simultaneously pull the cord, causing the top to spin on the ground.
Nong Thi Huong, a Tay woman from Luc Yen district, fondly reminisces about her experience playing top since she was in grade 6 or 7. She would always carry it with her in her schoolbag or hang it on her belt. Sometimes, she would play it enthusiastically with her friends, even though she would occasionally get scolded by her parents. She admits that this game is incredibly addictive, as the more she played it, the more she fell in love with it.
Tuc khang is a competitive game that involves two or more players or teams. Each team can have a maximum of four players. The objective of the game is to spin a top, and the team whose top spins the longest emerges as the winner.
The loser then tosses his top first, followed by the opponent. The objective is to knock over or unbalance the first top. This back-and-forth exchange continues for several rounds, and ultimately, the player with the highest score emerges as the winner.
“Tuc khang is a popular activity that appeals to a wide range of players. During festivals, people gather together to participate in team games, which not only provide enjoyment but also strengthen the community bond,” mentioned Ly Dat Trang, a resident of Luc Yen district.
A player needs skill and a keen eyesight to accurately throw his top and hit the other spinning top on the ground in the traditional game of Tuc khang. In the past, the Tay people would organize festivals and play Tuc khang exclusively during the first two weeks of the lunar calendar. However, nowadays, they enjoy playing it whenever they have free time.
“Traditionally, the Tay people play Tuc khang during spring festivals in the first lunar month. Playing games is a relaxing activity, and it helps me sleep well when I go home,” commented Hoang Thi Truong.
At New Year’s celebrations and festivals, Tuckhang always attracts a large number of participants and onlookers, both male and female.
This traditional folk game is cherished and played not only by the Tay ethnic group, but also by other ethnic groups. However, in Luc Yen district, it holds a special place as an indispensable community sport.
A commune full of stilt houses
Quynh Son Commune of Bac Son District in the northern mountainous province of Lang Son has six villages with around 1,800 people (99% of which are from the Tay ethnic minority).
Kite flying festival honors a centuries-old tradition
The Sao Den kite flying festival in Song An commune, Vu Thu district, Thai Binh, commemorates the merits of Dinh Le, a great general of the Le Dynasty. The annual festival attracts thousands of kite flyers and visitors from all parts of the country.
‘Then’ singing signals arrival of Spring for ethnic groups in Bac Giang
“Then” singing is a cultural activity imbued with the belief and art of the Tay and Nung ethnic minority people in Bac Giang province. As it dates back centuries, no one knows exactly when it first came into being. The ancient land of Luc Ngan district in Bac Giang has been preserving this element of the local cultural identity and sing “Then” songs when Spring comes.
Water wheels the highlights of mountain fields
Water wheels always appear in the dry season along streams in the northwestern region. The simple bamboo water wheel is associated with the traditional farming methods of ethnic minority groups in mountainous areas.
Ant egg cake – the gift of forest that can only be tasted once a year.
Ant egg cake is made from sticky rice flour, ant eggs, and young fig leaves. As summer begins, the Tay ethnic minorities in Cao Bang province go foraging to find the eggs of black ants to make ant egg cake.
