At 72, still devoted to preserving Khang culture

In Quynh Nhai Commune in Son La Province, artisan Lo Thi Phau has devoted nearly her entire life to preserving and promoting the culture of the Kháng ethnic group. Even at the age of 72, she continues her relentless journey of collecting, restoring, and teaching traditional values now at risk of fading away.

Raised in a community deeply rooted in Kháng cultural identity, Lo Thi Phau grew up immersed in traditional folk songs and ancient dances.

As many cultural values gradually slipped into obscurity, she sought out village elders, patiently learning, documenting, and carefully piecing together forgotten traditions.

Formerly Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Chieng On Commune in the former Quynh Nhai District, Lo Thi Phau not only encouraged local economic development but also paid close attention to preserving ethnic minority cultural identity in everyday life.

After retirement, she dedicated all of her time to reviving and spreading Kháng culture, founding a cultural club to bring together people who shared the same passion.

As head of the club, she personally teaches every dance and folk song to younger generations. Ancient dances such as au eo, co dong, and hun may continue to survive thanks to her persistence.

She also prepares costumes and props herself while encouraging local residents to participate in traditional festivals and cultural restoration activities, helping introduce Kháng culture to visitors.

Thanks to her dedication, the cultural club has continued to grow, becoming a meaningful space for preserving and spreading ethnic identity.

For Lo Thi Phau, safeguarding culture is not only a responsibility but also a mission. She believes these efforts ensure traditional values are not broken or forgotten, allowing future generations to understand and take pride in their roots.

A symbol of devotion to the community

Born in 1967, Dinh Van Nghia, a member of the Ba Na ethnic group from T1 Hamlet in Kim Son Commune, Gia Lai Province, is regarded as one of the most respected community figures in the area.

For more than 15 years, he has remained deeply committed to community work, going door to door to listen to local residents, understand their struggles, and work with commune leaders to resolve difficulties.

His sincerity, dedication, and wholehearted commitment to the community have made him a trusted bridge between local people and authorities.

Over the years, his work has focused on practical support: helping residents complete administrative paperwork, explaining government policies, mediating disputes, and encouraging families to improve their livelihoods.

Drawing from his own family’s successful acacia farming and livestock models, he has shared practical experience with villagers to help improve household incomes.

During storms and natural disasters, he is always among the first to arrive, supporting residents and helping communities recover from damage.

Villagers have become familiar with the image of Dinh Van Nghia walking from house to house on rainy nights, checking on families and reminding them about safety measures.

He has also devoted significant energy to preserving Ba Na cultural heritage.

He encourages villagers to protect traditional rong communal houses, maintain gong performances, and preserve traditional clothing and customs. Beyond participating himself, he actively teaches younger generations.

Concerned that many young people are losing interest in traditional culture, he has chosen patience and persistence - protecting every small “spark” in the hope of nurturing a lasting love for cultural heritage within the community.

Quietly preserving Ha Nhi heritage at Vietnam’s western frontier

In A Pa Chai Village in Sin Thau Commune, Dien Bien Province, Su Lo De is also quietly preserving ethnic traditions in Vietnam’s remote borderlands.

At 61, Su Lo De continues to teach folk songs, traditional dances, and garment-making techniques to her children and younger relatives. For her, preserving culture is both a source of pride and a responsibility to her ancestors.

Today, Sin Thau Commune is developing folk music clubs connected with community-based tourism. Su Lo De’s family is among the Ha Nhi households actively participating in homestay tourism, helping bring Ha Nhi culture closer to visitors.

Although each of these individuals contributes in different ways, they share one common belief: preserving cultural identity means protecting the soul of the village - not only for today, but also for future generations.

Their actions continue to spread a love for traditional culture across generations amid the pace of modern life.

At the National Conference on Ethnic Cultural Affairs held in April 2026, artisans Lo Thi Phau and Su Lo De, along with respected community leader Dinh Van Nghia, were awarded certificates of merit by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for their outstanding contributions to preserving and promoting traditional cultural values in their local communities.

Thuy Hong