Housing changes of the Black Thai people in Binh Son commune since the renovation until now - Vu Thi Dieu

economy, ecosystems are destroyed, the environment is degraded. A concern is the need for sustainable development. So what is sustainable development?

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs . Culture is also recognized as an important factor in sustainable development. Cultural factors that are believed to impact development include: cultural heritage, cultural diversity, sustainable tourism and traditional crafts. Cultural heritage includes both tangible and intangible values. The impact of culture on sustainable development is reflected in many aspects: cultural heritage itself not only has cultural significance but also economic value, especially creating the development of cultural tourism; in addition, economic development depends on factors such as individual capacity, institutions and forms of social capital [34, p. 19].

In the study of cultural change, there are many different theoretical perspectives and approaches. But regardless of the concepts and theories, cultural change is always considered in close relation to social modernization, in which the core issue is economic development. Cultural change is a complex and dynamic process of acculturation including: consciousness and nature, desirable and undesirable things (must be accepted), some fade, even disappear, some change to adapt, some are newly formed. The level and speed of cultural change are closely related to economic and social development [14, p.16].

Applying the cultural transformation approach to the study "Transformation of Black Thai housing since the renovation until now" aims to find out: the relationship between economics and politics on the changes in housing of Black Thai people in Binh Son commune today?

7. Research methods

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To carry out the topic, the author mainly uses research methods in Anthropology/Ethnology. The process of carrying out the topic goes through the following research steps:

Identify the research problem, choose a topic name, and pose research questions. Develop research hypotheses and study the content of concepts (culture, cultural change, housing), considering them as tools to approach the research problem. Identify the research plan and expected methods of collecting documents. Conduct field research, collect documents in the research area. Analyze research documents, from which draw initial comments and conclusions. Write a report presenting the research results.

The research method used in this thesis is a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection. The voices of cultural subjects and insiders are always given special attention.

+ Collect qualitative information

During my field research, I used various research methods in anthropology (direct observation, in-depth interviews, structured interviews, semi-structured interviews, etc.).

To access the research site, create trust and establish relationships with local authorities, I asked for a letter of introduction from the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology where I work. This is also a legal basis to prove my identity and the work I am doing with the purpose of researching documents to serve the process of doing my postgraduate thesis.

Before going to the site, I contacted the Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Son Commune and briefly discussed the content, purpose of the research, as well as the research issues. Because of the prior contact and exchange, when I went to the site, it was quite convenient and I received enthusiastic help from local officials. The Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Son Commune discussed the content and introduced me to work with the commune's cultural officials and village chiefs (Thoi village,

Bon Don and Cay Xe) where the Black Thai people live. To facilitate the research process, I asked local officials to contact me so that I could stay and live with a Thai family in Thoi village (near the commune center). The process of living with their family will help me implement the "three together" method in an unofficial way. They are important correspondents to help me connect with other informants in the village/hamlet.

During my time in the area, I conducted many in-depth interviews (30 individuals). The interviewees included: village elders, middle-aged people, and young people. Sampling was done using the “lead-the-string” method, based on relationships and information provided by informants to select appropriate interviewees. Data related to traditional housing types were mainly collected using retrospective interviews, through conversations with elders, village elders, village chiefs, and shamans who could read texts in ancient Thai. In addition, I interviewed middle-aged and young people to find out how the housing changes of the Black Thai people have taken place in the current period? What are their concepts of housing? What are the aspirations and views of the ethnic group on preserving traditional cultural values?

Each interview usually lasts about 1 hour - 1 hour and 30 minutes and mainly takes place at the research subject's home. There are subjects that I conduct interviews with many times. To make the interviewees most comfortable, I let them actively arrange their free time for me to come and talk. For the elderly, I often conduct in-depth interviews in the morning or afternoon, because in the evening in the village, the elderly often go to bed early. During the field research process in the area, I chatted and confided openly with the cultural subject like a family member. During the conversations with the research subject, I took notes and recorded, then transcribed the tapes and created separate interview records. Those

In my free time or on Saturdays and Sundays, I often visit, talk, and work with them combined with interviewing and chatting. With this research method, the research subjects and I become more friendly, the stories that they previously did not want to answer, now they voluntarily share information, it seems that the distance between me - the researcher and the people in the community - the research subjects has been narrowed.

+ Collect quantitative information

Quantitative data collection method, searching for statistical numbers (survey reports on land area, population, ethnicity and population distribution...). In addition, the author also uses interdisciplinary methods of sociology through questionnaire surveys to survey demographic characteristics as well as housing types of the Black Thai people in the commune.

+ Implementation plan

The research process was conducted over a period of 12 months and was divided into four phases. My research plan is outlined as follows:

+ June 2015 to October 2015 :

Orient the topic, come up with research ideas, survey documents. Conduct surveys, collect secondary documents such as: books, magazines, theses, dissertations, conference reports, research topics related to Thai people in general and Thai people's housing in particular. The purpose is to find out what research works have been done on this issue. The approaches and methods used by previous researchers, issues that have not been mentioned to find a separate direction that does not overlap with previous research works. Select the research area, determine the sources of documents to be collected. Develop a research outline...

+ October 2015 to January 2016 :

The field research process was divided into 3 phases : phase one in mid-October 2015, phase two in late December 2015 and phase three in February 2016 .

During the field research, the author thoroughly used ethnographic fieldwork methods such as: Participant observation, interviewing research subjects (retrospective interviews, structured and semi-structured interviews, in-depth interviews, etc.).

To have an overview of the research area and the ethnic groups, I conducted interviews with local managers. The author worked with the leaders of the People's Committee of Binh Son commune to request statistical data on land area, population, ethnic composition, natural conditions, economic activities, and cultural activities of ethnic communities in the commune to have a preliminary overview of the area and research issues.

After having preliminary information about the research area, the author conducted a case study in 3 villages (Thoi, Bon Don, Cay Xe) where the Thai people reside to get acquainted, interview, and conduct in- depth interviews , in order to learn about stories related to the ethnic group's migration origin, traditional housing types, materials, construction techniques, how to use space in traditional stilt houses, taboos related to the house and factors leading to change.

+ January 2016 to April 2016 :

Process and classify information. Discuss, exchange, consult with instructors and experts. Write a preliminary report.

+ May 2014 to June 2016 :

Continue to process documents, develop scientific research ideas, write and edit, complete draft thesis and submit to supervisor for comments, edit and complete the final step of the thesis.

8. Contribution of the thesis

This is a systematic and in-depth study on the housing of the Black Thai people in Binh Son commune. From there, it helps readers understand the characteristics of the housing of the Thai people in general and the Black Thai people in Binh Son commune in particular. It points out the cultural elements borrowed by the Thai people from neighboring ethnic groups, and the elements of change in housing since the renovation until now.

9. Thesis layout

In addition to the introduction, conclusion, list of references and appendix, the thesis is structured into 3 major chapters.

Chapter 1: Overview of the research area and ethnic groups. In this chapter, I will study the natural conditions (land, climate, rivers, flora and fauna), the area where the Thai people live; population and population distribution; economic activities; socio-cultural characteristics of the Black Thai people in this area.

Chapter 2: Characteristics of traditional houses. The purpose of this chapter is to study the concept and classification of houses of the Black Thai people in Binh Son commune; characteristics of house types, house materials, house construction techniques and processes, distribution and use of space in the house; rituals and taboos related to the house.

Chapter 3: Housing transformation and factors leading to transformation In this chapter, I will study the process of housing transformation of Thai people in Binh Son commune from the time of renovation to the present. The trends of housing transformation in the current period. Factors leading to the transformation of Thai people's housing today (environmental factors, economy, policy institutions, etc.).

CHAPTER 1

OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH AREA AND ETHNIC GROUPS

1.1. Overview of the research area

1.1.1. Geographical location

Trieu Son is one of the plain and midland mountainous districts of Thanh Hoa province with a total area of 292.2 km2 . Of which: agricultural land 14,556.17 ha; forestry land 3,531.83 ha, specialized land 3,925.52 ha, residential land 1,139.26 ha, residential land 1,139.26 ha, unused land 6,068.99 ha. The east and southeast border Dong Son and Nong Cong districts; the south border Nhu Thanh district; the west and southwest border Thuong Xuan district; the northwest border Tho Xuan district and the northeast border Thieu Hoa district. Trieu Son is a semi-mountainous area, in the south of the district there is Nua mountain about 250-300m high,

surrounding the communes of Tan Ninh, Van Son, and Nhu Thanh; but the main area of the district is still plain (30/35 communes), the terrain gradually decreases towards the north with several small rivers flowing into the Chu River in Tho Xuan and Thieu Hoa districts [25, p. 436].

From Thanh Hoa city, follow National Highway 47, cross Thieu Bridge to Quan Giat, which is Trieu Son district town, 20km west of the provincial capital. Trieu Son is a district bordering the mountainous areas of Nhu Xuan and Nhu Thanh with the lowland districts, the western part is a semi-mountainous area with red hills stretching north-south.

Trieu Son district has 1 town and 35 communes ( An Nong, Dan Luc, Dan Ly, Dan Quyen, Dong Loi, Dong Thang, Dong Tien, Hop Ly, Hop Thang, Hop Thanh, Hop Tien, Khuyen Nong, Minh Chau, Minh Dan, Minh Son, Nong Truong, Tan Ninh, Thai Hoa, Tho Binh, Tho Cuong, Tho Dan, Tho Ngoc, Tho Phu, Tho Son, Tho Tan, Tho The, Tho Tien, Tho Vuc, Tien Nong, Van Son, Xuan Loc, Xuan Thinh, Xuan Tho, Trieu Thanh and Binh Son) [25, p. 436].

Binh Son is a mountainous commune in the southwest of Trieu Son district, Thanh Hoa province. Before 1990, Binh Son commune (today) was under the administrative management of Tho Binh commune. At that time, this area was only inhabited by Thai and Muong people, there were no Kinh people living there.

According to Decision No. 327-CT of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers signed on September 15, 1992 on a number of policies and guidelines for the use of vacant land, bare hills, forests, coastal alluvial plains and water surfaces. The People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province directed the People's Committee of Trieu Son district to draft a proposal to establish a new commune to implement Decision 327 of the Council of Ministers. On January 25, 1994, according to Decree No. 04-CP of the Government on administrative demarcation of a number of communes in Thanh Hoa province; including Trieu Son district, it adjusted to separate Bon Don village and Thoi village of Tho Binh commune and Bao Lam village of Tho Son commune to establish Binh Son commune. On March 14, 1994, the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province officially announced the decision to establish Binh Son commune under the management of the People's Committee of Trieu Son district. The purpose of the Provincial People's Committee establishing Binh Son commune is to implement Project 327 of Thanh Hoa province on reforesting barren hills, resettling people, and developing the new economic zone in the southwest - Trieu Son.

Binh Son commune is located in the southwest of Trieu Son district, about 25 km from the district center and 55 km from Thanh Hoa city. The commune's location is bordered by Tho Binh commune and Tho Son commune (Trieu Son district) to the east; Luan Thanh commune (Thuong Xuan district) to the west; Can Khe commune (Nhu Thanh district) to the south; Xuan Phu commune and Xuan Thang commune (Tho Xuan district) to the north.

Currently, Binh Son commune has 10 villages including: Thoi village, Bao Lam village, Nha Lan village, Hom Chu village, Bao Bao village, Bong Xanh village, Nga Ba Song village, Dong Tranh village, Cay Xe village, Bon Don village.

Housing changes of the Black Thai people in Binh Son commune since the renovation until now - Vu Thi Dieu - 3

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