Bringing culture to the hearts of young writers

During the 2 weeks, 45 literature and art-loving campers from secondary schools, high schools, colleges and Phu Yen Ethnic Boarding High School explored and learned about the pottery making of the M'nong ethnic group, the traditional long houses of the Ede people, the life of elephants, the gong culture of the Ede people, the Thai people...

Campers at Ha Xanh camp had the opportunity to "witness" and even roll up their sleeves to participate in traditional crafts that seemed to only exist in memory.

In Dong Bak village (Lien Son Lak commune), the image of young men and women with wide eyes listening to the artisans telling stories about the pottery making profession of the M'nong Rlam people became an emotional moment. M'nong Rlam pottery does not need a wheel, is not glazed but is kneaded entirely by hand and fired in the open air. It is a process of rough artistic labor, soaked in sweat and the breath of the earth.

Being able to pat and shape a block of clay with your own hands to gradually form a pot or jar helps many young people better understand the philosophy of living in harmony with nature of the M'nong Rlam people.

With her hands covered in clay, Pham Ngoc Anh (a student at the Hanoi Law University branch in Dak Lak) confided: “Before, I only knew about pottery through books and artifacts displayed at museums. But when I kneaded this block of clay myself, I understood that each jar and pot is not just an object but the soul of the village. The feeling of the cold clay under my hands, then gradually warming up when I infuse it with life is an emotional material that I cannot find anywhere else. It helps me write more honestly, as rustic as the clay and fire itself.”

Campers enjoyed the experience of making pottery with the M'nong Rlam people.

Along with pottery, it is impossible not to mention gongs - the sound of the great forest. Learning about gong culture at the long house of the Ede people or in the fire worship ritual of the M'nong people is an interesting experience for many campers. You are not only standing outside observing but are encouraged to try to knock, try the rhythm, and join in the xoang melody to feel the intense vibration of copper and bamboo.

Through the sharing of Meritorious Artist Vu Lan about the unique cultural values of the Ede people, from the space of long houses, gongs to the way the community unites and preserves national identity, the campers seem to step into a world that is both familiar and strange - where every detail, every object contains a historical story and precious folk knowledge.

Meritorious Artist Vu Lan also shared about the meaning of traditional festivals, customs, practices and folk stories of the ethnic groups in the Central Highlands.

He emphasized how these values are passed down from generation to generation, helping young people realize that culture is not only a heritage, but also a source of creative inspiration, connecting the past with the present.

The knowledge shared by Meritorious Artist Vu Lan helped the campers "touch" the soul of Central Highlands culture, becoming valuable material for future literary and artistic creations.

For the first time, the campers learned about gong culture and the Fire Offering Ceremony of the M'nong people in Lien Son Lak commune.

With eyes shining when looking at the young generations passionately learning about the cultural heritage of his people, artisan Aê Thư, Head of the village of Cư Dluê (Hoa Phú commune) was moved: “We are very happy to see young Kinh, Thai, Tay… people come here, sit and listen to us tell stories, try to play the gong. The sound of the gong is the voice of the Yang, the soul of the village. I am afraid that tomorrow no one will remember, no one will play the gong anymore. I hope these stories will be composed and written well by the children of the village so that people far away can also understand the beauty of the culture of the Central Highlands.”

Meritorious Artist Vu Lan imparts knowledge about Ede ethnic culture to campers at the traditional Ede long house.

The heritage experience journey of Trai Ha Xanh cannot be complete without learning about the cuisine and brocade of ethnic minorities.

For the first time, young men and women were able to admire the sophisticated patterns, hear the story of each thread and each natural dye containing the dreams and beliefs of Thai and Ede women, and be immersed in a world of mountain and forest flavors, and better understand the indigenous knowledge in selecting ingredients and preparing the cuisine of the people.

It is this cultural exchange and expansion that has helped future "artists" realize that Vietnamese cultural identity is a beautiful mosaic made up of a myriad of different colors and materials.

Writer Nie Thanh Mai, Head of the Organizing Committee of Green Summer Camp, emphasized: “A writer or an artist cannot write well about something if their heart has not truly touched it. Bringing campers to the Central Highlands villages so they can see the hardships and sophistication of pottery and the sacredness of gongs will not only help them gain more materials but also build a love and deep respect for indigenous culture. This is the way we preserve heritage in the most sustainable way: through the hearts and pens of the young generation”…

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/tin-noi-bat/202512/dua-van-hoa-cham-den-trai-tim-cua-nhung-cay-but-tre-88305a3/