Alongside xoe dance and khap singing, Han Khuong is one of the most distinctive traditional cultural practices of the Thai ethnic group in Vietnam’s Northwest region. Passed down through generations, it has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In the Thai language, Han Khuong means “platform yard” – a raised wooden platform built in an open space where communal cultural events are held.

Though originally designed as a social and emotional gathering for exchanging life experiences, the construction of the Han Khuong was quite elaborate.

Built at the center of the village, it provided a safe meeting place in times when mountainous areas were sparsely populated and inhabited by wild animals and insects.

The platform is made of bamboo or woven panels, around seven meters long, five meters wide, and 1.2 meters high. It is surrounded by lattice-pattern railings and accessed by a stairway.

At the center is a firepit, next to which stands a symbolic bamboo pole called lak xay chinh with its leafy top intact, decorated with vividly colored bamboo weavings shaped like cicadas and birds - resembling the Tet neu tree of the Kinh people.

Each corner of the platform features a lak xay pole representing the four cardinal directions: east, west, south, and north.

The heart of Han Khuong is the romantic khap singing exchange. Each event includes a group of 5 to 10 Thai girls with neatly tied hair and traditional pieu scarves.

They climb the platform and then remove the stairs. The lead girl, or xao ton khuong, lights the fire and starts spinning thread, while the others share tasks such as spinning and embroidery.

The senior girls, with more experience in Han Khuong, support the younger xao nong by guiding them through the singing exchanges.

Young men arrive with instruments such as khen or pi and begin singing khap verses to engage with the girls. If a man is married or already has a lover, the girls politely refuse his advances through lyrical rejection.

The back-and-forth continues until the boy convincingly proves he is single and wins their trust - only then will the girl lower the ladder to allow him onto the platform.

Even then, every gesture the boy wishes to make must be sung as a polite request - asking for permission to sit, to drink water, to smoke, or even to light a pipe, all through khap verses.

Once on the platform, the boy sings to the girl he admires, expressing his desire to court her. At the end of the session, the participants sing farewell verses, often promising to meet again the next evening for more xoe dancing, spinning top games, or bamboo pole dancing.

If mutual affection blossoms, the couple may eventually pursue marriage, with matchmakers approaching both families.

Han Khuong is not only a venue for romantic exchanges and musical expression, but also a communal space for discussing village matters.

Elders attend to offer guidance, share wise sayings, and teach meaningful songs. Children come to learn how to sing, spin thread, and take part in traditional activities.

The revival of Han Khuong festivals in recent years has provided a meaningful playground where Thai villagers can gather, unwind, and reconnect after long days of work.

More importantly, it strengthens community bonds and nurtures cultural preservation among younger generations of the Thai ethnic group.

Nhan Dan