A H'MONG TET IN HUA TAT VILLAGE
COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM IN HUA TAT VILLAGE
AChu’s homestay is not the traditional H’mong house - which was built at a low level to avoid gusts of wind. A Chu went to Mai Chau to watch Thai people do tourism and then study a Thai house model - a high, airy house on stilts, suitable for tourists, especially foreigners. Back to the village, A Chu started to buid a homestay, which is more versatile and unique. There is also a stilt house for dormitory guests or a bungalow/villa for those who want private space when staying in the village.
A Chu himself arranged rocks (like the way H’mong people set rocks to make a fence) into... the reception desk, bar or fireplace. The bathroom area is covered with bamboo and uses the H’mong fabrics woven by Sua to make decorative curtains, looking like eye-catching decorated works of art with many unique patterns, stiring up curiosity of people... who go to the toilet.
From the buffalo drummer or plow blade, the corn pounding or the crossbow, or the knife, they all was decorated around the house by A Chu to incorporate the culture and practices of the H’mong people to tourists. Just being observant or
interested in exploring, anyone can learn new things while staying at A Chu’s house. Every time I stop by, there is a new thing here for me to learn from “tour guide” A Chu.
Since we met and fond of each other for the first time, every year I visit Hua Tat village a few times. Spring - summer - autumn - winter, every season I used to stay in the village. But A Chu always invites me to visit him during the New Year of the H’mong people to see more interesting things. And so I spent two Tet holidays with my H’mong brother in Hua Tat village.
H’MONG PEOPLE CELEBRATE TET
Like many H’mong compatriots in all regions, when the peach and plum flowers blossoms in the fields all over the mountain, the H’mong in Hua Tat celebrates Tet, starting on the 30th day of the 11th month of the Lunar calendar.
Every household is crowded on this occasion, children and grandchildren working far away also come back to reunite and celebrate Tet together. Today they celebrate Tet at one family, tomorrow they come to another, and within a month, the H’mong Tet ends at the beginning of Lunar New Year.
That day I traveled with a few friends and saw that A Chu’s house was full of people - all relatives, neighbors, friends. Many delicious dishes were cooked by his sisters and aunts, such as: boiled black chicken, fried eggs, vegetable with boiled duck eggs and fish sauce; the boys and the men are in charge of roasting chicken or roasting pork... The smell of food is delicious, soaked up a large corner of the garden, making H’mong boys playing football in the stadium nearby also be distracted.
While bringing up the food to guests, A Chu introduced me to his relatives at the party, and then we started to raise a cup of corn wine cooked by A Chu’s mother, celebrating Tet together. The moment of dizziness is also when the music program begins.
A Chu is not only as talented in dancing as H’mong boys of the same age, but he is also good at playing the flute in harmonious with the graceful dances of his wife, making the homemade performance look like a special show. The chorus children were in A Chu’s family, they contributed many performances to make the night more exciting. At 10 PM, everyone left. The night of Hua Tat was cold and peaceful, we could hear the sound of insects, and sometimes we heard the sound of water dripping from the roof.
The next morning, we woke up, looked out to the yard to see that it was sunny, the sunrays shone through the dew drops to the peach petals, making us suddenly felt “spring”.