DTiNews, along with Phuc Thanh Pagoda, in Nghe An Province have delivered Tet gifts to the poor people of Dan Lai, the smallest ethnic group in Vietnam.
Phuc Thanh Pagoda and the Vuon Tue Club give gifts to Dan Lai People
On January 11, DTiNews, Phuc Thanh Pagoda and the Vuon Tue Club provided 200 blankets, 1 tonne of rice, 0.5 tonnes of salt and many clothes, to the group located in the Pu Mat National Park, Con Cuong District.
According to legend, the Dan Lai People fled to the Giang River when they could not come up with the required offerings to the king, which consisted of one hundred golden bamboo trees and a luxurious ship. The Dan Lai people are well-known as the "sleep-sitting" group. It is said that this habit was formed in order to guard against beasts and enemies.
In modern times they still depend heavily on the forest for food and other necessities. Their number is also decreasing of hunger, limited agricultural and long-term interbreeding. As a result, in 2006, the Prime Minister approved a project to protect Dan Lai people.
The chairwoman of Mon Son Commune People's Committee, Ngan Thi Ha, said there are 179 Dai Lai households, all living in poverty. Currently, 36 households moved out of Pu Mat National Park and received aid from the government to restart their lives.
Upon receiving the support, the head of Co Phat Village said, "I'm really happy because we'll have warm clothes and food for Tet. I want to send our thanks to all the kind donors that helped us."
Chief Monk, Thich Dinh Tue, of Phuc Thanh Pagoda said, "We hope that our small gifts can help the people here enjoy a warmer Tet holiday. We are also happy to help and share hardships with everyone."
Dividing the gifts
200 blankets
Students given clothes and books
Bringing the gifts home
