Stories of people telling the history of Dong Nai land

As a land that converges many historical and cultural marks, Dong Nai not only has relics and feats, but also has people who have been silently preserving and telling the stories of history and homeland.

Not simply passing on memories through words, writings, and artifacts, Dong Nai's historical storytellers also breathe life into the past to make this land come alive and closer to today's young generation.

From the vivid “history pages”…

At the age of 75, writer Khoi Vu - Nguyen Thai Hai (residing in Trang Dai ward, Dong Nai province) is still diligently writing and publishing dozens of books about the history, culture and people of Dong Nai. He is one of the special "storytellers", using literature to record historical stories, connect memories and inspire the younger generation. Although his eyes are somewhat blurred, when mentioning Dong Nai, he enthusiastically talks about his field trips, his meetings, and his emotions when launching a new book. Of his 79 published books, 42 are about Dong Nai.

Notable works include: Following the flow of Dong Nai; the novels Sword of Flowers, Luoc River in the South; the series of comic books Famous people of Dong Nai (5 volumes) including: Nguyen Huu Canh - the one who opened the Southern region, Thu Huong built a house on a raft on the river, Tran Thuong Xuyen established the trading port of Cu Lao Pho, Trinh Hoai Duc - a great cultural figure of Dong Nai and Nguyen Tri Phuong, a loyal mandarin... Writer Nguyen Thai Hai has been and is continuing to complete the works: Noblewomen (written about the noblewomen of the time of the first Nguyen lords in Nam Ha - Dang Trong); the series of books Non nuoc Viet; Legend of the Buong River...

“When students get to see, read and touch with their own eyes, the historical story of Dong Nai will be more profound than any lecture.”

Ms. NGUYEN THI PHUONG ANH, Nguyen Thai Hoc Primary School (Trang Dai Ward)

Writer Nguyen Thai Hai said: “History is a subject that is considered dry and difficult to remember. Instead of just giving students historical documents of Dong Nai land filled with numbers, I choose to “tell stories” so that they can absorb them more easily. Wherever I go, I also associate place names with each character and event. For example, when I go to Tam Hiep ward, I tell the story of Doan Van Cu and 16 soldiers; when I go to Bien Hoa ward, I tell the story of the famous mandarin Nguyen Tri Phuong; when I go to Long Phuoc commune, I tell the story of the military leader Nguyen Duc Ung and the battle of Luy Ky Giang…”.

If writer Nguyen Thai Hai uses literature to tell the history of Dong Nai, musician Tran Viet Binh (91 years old) chooses music as a bridge connecting the past with the present. He not only composes, but also spends many years collecting and researching folk songs of ethnic minorities in Dong Nai in particular and the Southeast region in general. For him, each melody, each beat carries within it a part of the soul of the community's history.

In a small house in Tran Bien ward, the “repository” of music and folk songs of ethnic minorities that musician Tran Viet Binh has accumulated has become a “living museum”. There, people can see not only records and music collections, but also the imprints of long field trips. Not only does he collect, he also brings these folk songs back to contemporary life through performances and teaching programs for young people. He believes that only when traditional music lives with today’s breath can the historical and cultural values ​​of Dong Nai land truly spread.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Du (right cover, residing in Thong Nhat commune) tells stories about the history and culture of the Muong people through carving wooden statues.

Through wooden statues and miniature stilt houses, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Du (residing in Tan Lap hamlet, Thong Nhat commune) is quietly telling the history and culture of the Muong people in Dong Nai. Each work is not only a work of art, but also contains a story about the customs, beliefs, labor, and daily life of a community. Viewers, especially the young, can imagine an entire old way of life through each detail he recreates. According to Mr. Du, that is the way to not only "see" but also "touch" the history of the Muong people.

“Carving wooden statues (statues of shamans, Muong girls playing gongs, pounding rice), and making models of Muong stilt houses according to traditional prototypes are not simply to preserve memories, but also a way to tell stories to descendants about where they come from. Each statue is a reminder of identity, each stilt house is a page of history preserved in wood, bamboo and rattan. Thanks to that, the story of the Muong people does not fall into oblivion in the midst of modern life,” Mr. Du shared.

…to bring history closer to students

Not only stopping at composing, collecting or doing fieldwork, many people also devote their passion to turning history into a vivid lesson, accompanying the young generation, helping them approach culture and history in a lively and close way.

Over the years, writer Nguyen Thai Hai has collaborated with units and schools inside and outside the province to organize talks, exchanges, and historical and cultural stories associated with the land and people of Dong Nai for students. In particular, he actively writes books for young people and children. For each new work published, he always gives away hundreds of copies for free to students in schools and school libraries.

Painter Nguyen Van Binh, a lecturer at Dong Nai College of Decorative Arts (Tran Bien Ward), actively participates in compiling local educational books, Dong Nai Fine Arts subject for students. The books he compiled are included in the curriculum for secondary school students (grade 6). In addition, he has transformed the contents of the books into works of art telling stories about the history and culture of Dong Nai, helping students and the public easily visualize and feel the quintessence of the land, see again the craft villages, festivals, famous people and ancient customs of Dong Nai.

With the desire to preserve and pass on history through art, many people have turned history into vivid, familiar stories, so that the younger generation will love, be proud of, and be more aware of their national origins. That is also the way that history tellers in Dong Nai contribute to extending the flow of tradition, continuing to spread in today's life.

My Ny

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202508/chuyen-nhung-nguoi-ke-lich-su-vung-dat-dong-nai-8f714f2/