The 'tall tree with great shade' of the Nung people of Tan Do

Having spent his whole life in Tan Do, Mr. Hoang Van Toong has been both a spiritual support and a flame for preserving culture, stirring up the solidarity of the Nung community.

Mr. Hoang Van Toong is both a spiritual support and a "fire" to preserve culture and arouse the solidarity of the Nung community in Tan Do.

Having made an appointment to meet Mr. Hoang Van Toong at the Tan Do hamlet cultural house, we arrived early and waited in the cool air. A white car appeared, and a man with silver hair and a gentle face stepped out of the car. He asked in lieu of greeting: “Have you been waiting long?”

It's hard to believe this is a 72-year-old man. Agile, clear-headed, with a steady hand on the wheel, he shared: In 2018, I bought a car, now it's convenient to go anywhere. Meetings, cultural exchanges or going to the next village to guide sli singing, I drive myself... Then he led us to the cultural house - the project that he himself "untied" to have today.

Having worked for many years as a hamlet chief, party cell secretary, and a prestigious person in the community, Mr. Hoang Van Toong is trusted and respected by the people of Tan Do. He is always exemplary and a pioneer in all movements. Not only does he carry out his own work well, but he also actively propagates and mobilizes people to follow the Party's policies and the State's laws. Many difficult cases, seemingly deadlocked, have been resolved thanks to his reputation and behavior.

The story of the land donation campaign to build this cultural house nearly 3 years ago is a clear proof. At that time, two households resolutely refused to donate land, making the project impossible to implement. Many times the village cadres came to persuade but failed.

Knowing the story, Mr. Toong met his son and patiently explained the benefits of having a spacious cultural house for the community. Thanks to his gentle and reasonable way of speaking, he "untied the knot" in the young people's hearts. From there, the son persuaded his parents to agree. The cultural house of Tan Do hamlet was then started. Up to now, this place has become a living space and a place for cultural exchange for the people.

Mr. Chu Van Huong, Head of Tan Do hamlet, shared: We have asked Uncle Toong to help mediate many difficult cases, including family conflicts or land disputes. He speaks to the people because he is close to the people, understands the people, has prestige and always balances reason and emotion.

Not only contributing to building solidarity, Mr. Hoang Van Toong is also dedicated to preserving the cultural values of his people. When the hamlet was selected to implement the project to preserve the traditional village of the Nung ethnic group, he actively contributed ideas to the investor. From the design of the cultural house, the communal house to the layout, he contributed his efforts to preserve the unique cultural features of the Nung people.

In particular, Mr. Hoang Van Toong also collected and re-arranged sli and luon songs, calling for the establishment of a folk song club for the young generation to learn and perform. Not only teaching in Tan Do hamlet, he also regularly went to Ba Dinh hamlet and Van Lang commune to guide people in singing sli. Mr. Hoang Van Toong said: Sli and luon are the soul voice of the Nung people. If the young generation no longer sings them, it is considered as losing a part of their homeland's memories.

Having spent his whole life in Tan Do, Mr. Hoang Van Toong not only contributed to keeping the village peaceful, but also instilled in the young generation a sense of pride in their roots. In him, people see the image of a "tall tree with great shade" - both a spiritual support and a flame to preserve culture, arousing the solidarity of the Nung community in the peaceful Van Lang region.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202511/cay-cao-bong-ca-cua-nguoi-nung-tan-do-8730eb3/