Tay artisans preserve ancient green rice craft in northern Vietnam

The Tay people of Thuan Hoa commune have maintained their ancestral tradition of crafting com, a distinctive green rice product harvested and processed at a specific stage of grain maturity. The labour-intensive craft requires precise timing and traditional techniques passed down through generations, representing a tangible link to Tay cultural heritage in the northern highlands.

Beyond its significance as a regional specialty, com production sustains local livelihoods for artisans and their families. The craft generates income while maintaining economic independence and cultural pride within the community, preventing the displacement of traditional knowledge systems by modern industrial agriculture.

Recognising the product's broader appeal, local authorities and community leaders have begun leveraging com production as a foundation for cultural tourism initiatives. Visitors to Thuan Hoa can observe traditional processing methods and purchase authentic products, creating additional revenue streams while raising awareness of Tay cultural practices among domestic and international tourists.

As rural communities across Southeast Asia face pressure to abandon traditional crafts, the Tay green rice makers demonstrate how cultural preservation can simultaneously serve economic development. Their efforts underscore the potential for heritage-based livelihoods to sustain both communities and the intangible cultural knowledge that defines Vietnam's ethnic diversity.