Gen Z preserves the spirit of Cantonese in the digital age.

In the age of the internet and social media boom, people are absorbing global culture at an unprecedented rate. Along with the standardization of language, many local dialects are gradually becoming scarce, facing the risk of disappearing over time.

However, there are still young people who choose to preserve and spread their hometown identity in very new ways. Nguyen Thanh Binh (born in 2001, from Tam Quang commune, Nui Thanh district, Quang Nam province, now part of Da Nang city) is a prime example. Through his TikTok channel TiTun and YouTube channel TiTun 0208, with short, humorous videos teaching the Quang Nam dialect, attracting over 1.6 million likes and 5,500 followers, Binh contributes to showing that the local dialect is not outdated, but can still be familiar, vibrant, and appealing in today's digital life.

Nguyen Thanh Binh and his videos teaching the Quang Nam dialect on TikTok.

PHOTO: TGCC

Thanh Binh's love for the Cantonese language.

Nguyen Thanh Binh's story is not just a journey of creating content on social media, but more profoundly, a journey of rediscovering love and confidence in his mother tongue – the simple, straightforward, yet emotionally rich Quang Nam dialect, a unique and unmistakable feature on the Vietnamese linguistic map.

From Binh's sharing, a sad reality emerges: many Gen Z young people unconsciously view their regional accent as something to hide for fear of being ridiculed or discriminated against. This doesn't stem from the Cantonese dialect itself, but from long-term influences that have led many to gradually feel self-conscious about their own roots.

Thanh Bình views this issue quite critically. According to him, linguistic flexibility is essential, just as learning English for integration doesn't mean rejecting Vietnamese. Standard Vietnamese serves general communication, while regional accents represent the identity, memories, and culture of each individual.

"The greatest sadness isn't when others mock the Cantonese dialect, but when Cantonese speakers themselves judge it," Binh shared. For him, it's a form of "self-denial."

Through humorous and positive videos on social media, Thanh Binh hopes to contribute to dispelling prejudices about local accents, so that the Quang Nam dialect is recognized for its true value, and to help young people become more confident in their cultural roots - especially in the context of Quang Nam and Da Nang entering the merger phase.

From a graphic designer to a column on the Quang Nom dialect for Vietnamese speakers .

In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) permeates every aspect of the creative industry, Thanh Binh's decision to quit his job was a unique choice. He left his graphic design position when his superiors requested that AI replace human thinking. From April 2025, Binh moved to Ho Chi Minh City to work as a freelancer, pursuing his passion while also dedicating time to a project preserving his hometown's cultural identity.

The Titun channel, along with its Quang Nam-style segment for Vietnamese speakers, is not simply an entertainment product, but also a journey of self-discovery for a son of Quang Nam living far from home. "I don't criticize AI, but I don't accept mindless veneration of it," Binh shared. According to him, art without experience and genuine empathy will only be soulless images.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Binh spent six months quietly in his small rented room creating 12 animated characters inspired by the people around him. He hoped to prove that Vietnamese people are not just good at manufacturing for foreign countries, and to inspire young people to pursue creative careers in the age of machines.

Nguyen Thanh Binh designed the characters for the "Quang Nom Language for Vietnamese Speakers" segment.

PHOTO: TGCC

The Quang Nam-language column for Vietnamese speakers came to Thanh Binh by chance. After reading the book "People of Quang Nam" by author Le Minh Quoc, he realized that many simple things around him were gradually disappearing.

The choice of the Quang Nam dialect as the source material wasn't due to its "standard" quality, but rather its authenticity and relatable nature. Through humorous animated videos, he incorporates the regional inferiority complex that many people from Quang Nam experience when they leave their hometown.

Each of Titun's videos revolves around everyday topics such as how to name fruits, occupations, or familiar conversational phrases, all dubbed by Binh himself in his authentic Quang Nam accent. This is what creates the channel's relatable, interesting, and unique appeal.

“I don’t think I’m taking on any great responsibility for preserving culture; I just want to find a new way to prevent it from being forgotten,” Binh shared. For many people from Quang Nam living far from home, Titun evokes childhood memories through just a few words like “chi, rứa, mô, tê.” For audiences in other regions, it’s a fresh and emotional cultural experience.

And the journey continues...

In the world of content creation, Thanh Binh has chosen a unique path: bringing the culture of Quang Nam province from its village streets into the digital world. For him, culture doesn't need to be "distorted" to become new, but simply needs a youthful form that suits the times.

Binh aspires to build a purely Quang Nam-themed content channel, telling stories about the culture, history, people, and geography of Quang Nam in a modern way, instead of just focusing on teaching the local dialect.

"If I find investors, I want to revolutionize the image of Quang Nam culture. If not, I'll still do it, just more slowly," Binh said. He accepts creating additional entertainment content following trends to generate income, but his long-term goal remains to bring stories of his hometown closer to today's public.

Binh doesn't consider himself a "heritage preserver," but rather a "rememberer." For him, it's a way for the people of Quang Nam to be more proud of their homeland's identity and to bring that spirit into their work and daily lives.

Looking back on her journey from a small rented room in Ho Chi Minh City, Thanh Binh believes that technology may bring change, but the values ​​rooted in her heritage, if told with sincerity, will always hold a special place in the hearts of the public.

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/gen-z-giu-hon-tieng-quang-trong-thoi-dai-so-185260525150804544.htm