Every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, a father in Gia Lai invites a lion dance troupe to perform in front of his late son's grave - a heartfelt tribute that has moved millions online.
A lion dance for the one who left too soon
A touching video has recently gone viral on social media, capturing a lion dance troupe performing in front of a small grave. After their energetic show, the performers lingered - gently tidying the site, speaking softly to the child buried there.
The video quickly garnered millions of views and comments, with many users moved to tears after learning the story behind this deeply emotional act.
The man who organized the performance is Le Quang Hao, born in 1998 in Gia Lai. He is the father of L.L.B.L., a boy who passed away in 2022 at just 3 years old.
Hao shared that this annual tribute began after his son’s death, as a way of keeping a promise he once made.
The lion dance troupe performs in front of the boy’s grave during Mid-Autumn Festival. (Photo: NVCC)
For three consecutive years, the father has invited the troupe to keep a promise to his son. (Photo: NVCC)
“In the past, my son and I loved watching lion dances,” Hao recalled. “Every Mid-Autumn Festival, I would carry him around the neighborhood to see the shows. He was always so excited. I promised myself that no matter how busy I was, I would always take him to see the lion dances.”
But fate was cruel. In December 2022, the boy passed away unexpectedly, leaving his parents devastated.
On the first Mid-Autumn Festival after his son’s death, Hao visited the grave in sorrow. As he sat there, he saw a lion dance troupe pass by and thought, If only my son could see one more performance.
“I was hesitant at first. I wasn’t sure if they’d agree to perform at a cemetery,” he said. “But for my son, I gathered the courage to ask. They said yes immediately after hearing my story.”
The troupe arrived, bowed respectfully before the grave, and began the performance with full spirit - just as if they were dancing in front of a cheering crowd.
After the show, they stayed behind to pull weeds and clean the grave. From that moment on, Hao has invited them every year.
“This is the third year I’ve done this,” he said. “Even though my son is gone, he still gets to see the lion dance like he used to.”
Hao films the performances and shares them online, not to seek attention, but to preserve memories.
“I was shocked by how warmly people responded to the videos,” he said.
A family shattered by loss
Hao frequently brings gifts and toys to decorate the grave. (Photo: NVCC)
Hao married in 2018, and the couple welcomed their first child the following year. Their son, intelligent and full of life, passed away in his sleep one afternoon in December 2022.
That day, Hao’s wife had rocked the boy to sleep on the second floor and then gone downstairs to cook lunch. About 30 minutes later, Hao went upstairs to check on his son and found him face down, not breathing.
Panicked, he screamed for help and rushed the child to the hospital. But it was too late. Doctors said the boy died of a sudden stroke.
The loss devastated Hao and his wife. They fell into a deep emotional crisis. Hao couldn’t eat or speak, while his wife cried uncontrollably every day.
After the funeral, Hao slept beside his son's grave for several nights in the bitter cold of the Gia Lai highlands.
For months, he lived in despair, refusing to work, visiting the grave daily to sit and talk as if his son were still there.
He meticulously maintains the site, planting flowers and adding solar lights. (Photo: NVCC)
He meticulously maintained the grave, installing solar-powered lights, planting flowers, and arranging decorations.
“Back when he was alive, I’d always bring home gifts for him whenever I went out,” Hao said. “It became a habit. So now, even after his passing, I still do it.”
“Whether it’s a trip, a party, or an errand, I always pick up a little something and place it on his grave. At first, people found it strange. Now they’ve gotten used to it.”
The emotional toll on the couple lasted over a year. Hao noticed his wife withdrawing, almost becoming reclusive. That’s when he made the decision to have another child.
Their second child helped ease the grief and brought back some purpose.
“Now, we try to focus on raising our new child and rebuilding our lives,” Hao said.
Vietnamnet.vn
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