In the past, the Khmu people lived a nomadic life scattered across the mountains, and their lives were extremely miserable. In 1964, Mr. Vi Van Sang volunteered to join the army and fought in the 316th Division, Military Region 2. In 1971, he was discharged from the army and returned to his hometown and was assigned many important responsibilities, from commune team leader to the highest position of Party Secretary of the commune for 30 years (from 1974 to 2004). During that time, he was the pioneer leading the Khmu people to change from nomadic life, living scatteredly back to Nghia Son to establish villages and build their homeland. Recalling the past, Mr. Vi Van Sang smiled: "Uncle Ho taught that whatever is beneficial to the people must be done with all our might, no matter how difficult it is, we must try our best, so I feel responsible for leading the Khmu people to escape from a life of hardship."

Artisan Vi Van Sang performs traditional musical instruments of the Khmu people.

To help the people settle down and find work, Mr. Vi Van Sang has advised and implemented many social security projects, such as: Bringing water to Nam Toc village; mobilizing people to join hands with the Party Committee and government to renew the internal traffic routes, electricity lines, schools, and medical stations for Nam Toc village and Nghia Son commune... Over a cup of fragrant tea, Mr. Sang also introduced us to the musical instruments and cultural features of the Kho Mu people. According to Mr. Sang, because of the difficult life, many cultural features of the Kho Mu people have been lost. "The Party has taught us to preserve and promote cultural identity, so the Kho Mu people must preserve their cultural traditions to improve the quality of their spiritual life and avoid being absorbed into foreign cultures," Mr. Sang confided.

From that thought and concern, when joining hands to build a prosperous life for the people, Mr. Sang researched and restored the musical instruments of the Khmu people and the melodies of the Tom and Kole singing in the activities of courtship, finding a partner, showing hospitality to guests, celebrating weddings, celebrating spring, celebrating a new house... to restore the culture of the people. Up to now, the Khmu people in Nghia Son have restored rituals, customs and practices that were thought to have been lost, such as: The festival of praying for rain, praying for harvest, welcoming the rice mother...

Artisan Vi Van Sang is a giant tree, contributing to protecting the Khmu people in Nghia Son from storms and poverty, while at the same time opening the flow for Khmu culture to blend into the culture of other Vietnamese ethnic groups.

Article and photos: VIET HA