Echoes from those who keep the cultural flame alive

During a visit to Ha Nhi villages in Sin Thau Commune, Dien Bien Province, on an afternoon in the transition from late autumn to early winter, we heard the sound of drums mingling with lively laughter and conversation. There, we encountered young men and women diligently rehearsing traditional dances. The scene demonstrated that Ha Nhi culture has never faded into the past; rather, it continues to thrive in the everyday lives of the younger generation.

However, the enduring flow of this cultural heritage would not have been possible without the dedication of respected elders who have devoted their lives to their communities, such as Sung Sung Sinh, Ly Xuyen Phu and Po Dan Xinh. During conversations around the glowing hearth, Ly Xuyen Phu often reflects thoughtfully on the painstaking care required to build a traditional house and preserve family traditions and customs. Meanwhile, Sung Sung Sinh remains deeply concerned about how to ensure that younger generations do not forget their ancestors’ language and customs.

Ha Nhi people in Sin Thau continue to preserve their distinctive traditional cultural practices amid the remote border region. (Photo: Duy Linh)

For these elders and generations of older people in Sin Thau, their greatest concern is not economic change, but the fear that young people growing up amid modern life may gradually lose the very essence of their ethnic identity. This is why the presence of these respected elders serves as a strong source of spiritual support and a “living library” to which young people can turn whenever they seek to understand their roots.

Young people actively embrace and carry forward their cultural heritage

Understanding the concerns of their elders, including Meritorious Artisan Po Dan Xinh, Sung Sung Sinh and Ly Xuyen Phu, the younger generation in Sin Thau is gradually emerging as a key force in practising and promoting its cultural heritage. Rather than standing on the sidelines of contemporary change, young people are finding ways to combine pride in their traditions with new approaches to development.

Accompanied by the sounds of drums and gongs, traditional xoe dance rehearsals are always filled with laughter and youthful enthusiasm in Sin Thau. (Photo: Duy Linh)

At cultural gatherings and training classes organised by local authorities, it has become a familiar and heartening sight to see young people listening attentively to the guidance of elders, practising correct pronunciation of their mother tongue and learning each movement of traditional dances.

Chang Khu Pu, an active young member of the local community, shared that the advice of respected elders in the village had awakened a sense of cultural responsibility among young people. “Listening to the elders’ stories makes us realise just how precious the values handed down by our ancestors are. We are still young, and if we do not learn to preserve our language, dances and traditional way of life, who will safeguard our villages in the future?” Chang Khu Pu said.

Chang Khu Pu (centre) actively learns about the traditional cultural heritage of the Ha Nhi ethnic group. (Photo: Duy Linh)

At the same time, the younger generation’s adaptability is bringing a fresh perspective to the promotion of cultural heritage. Many young people in Sin Thau have learned to combine the preservation of traditional clothing and customs with the development of community-based tourism. They confidently introduce visitors from near and far to the unique cultural identity of Vietnam’s westernmost region.

Keeping the cultural heritage alive for generations to come

Preserving culture has never been an easy journey, particularly as modern conveniences increasingly shape the daily lives of people in mountainous areas. Yet, seeing how young people in Sin Thau cherish every piece of guidance from respected elders such as Sung Sung Sinh and Ly Xuyen Phu inspires renewed confidence in the future.

Speaking about the issue, Dang Thanh Huy, Secretary of the Party Committee of Sin Thau Commune, said that local authorities have consistently identified the traditional culture of the Ha Nhi ethnic community as an “invaluable asset” for developing community-based tourism and creating sustainable livelihoods for local residents.

Looking ahead, the commune will continue to facilitate the role of artisans and elderly people in passing down cultural traditions. At the same time, it will integrate education on ethnic cultural identity into school curricula and activities at village community centres, fostering pride so that younger generations take the initiative in preserving, cherishing and promoting the cultural values of their own ethnic group.

From those who preserve collective memories to the younger generation, Ha Nhi culture in Sin Thau is passed down through every stitch, sound and aspect of community life. (Photo: Duy Linh)

As evening falls over the Sin Thau valley, the setting sun casts a golden glow across the forests along the border. Laughter and lively conversations among young people fill the air around the community centre. There, the legacy passed down by the elders and the close support of local authorities come together through the hands of a young and enthusiastic generation.

Thus, the cultural heritage of the Ha Nhi people will continue to endure, flowing steadily alongside the rhythm of modern life in the villages of Vietnam’s westernmost region.

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