"Living memories" preserve the soul of the nation.

When the elderly are more than just "storytellers"

Thanh Hoa province is home to seven ethnic groups, each with its own unique cultural heritage. However, the changing times and the process of urbanization have put many traditional values at risk of disappearing.

In this context, the older generation plays not only the role of "storytellers," but also of actors, with all their passion and responsibility towards their cultural roots.

Members of the But Son Town Folk Arts Club (Hoang Hoa District) actively teach Cheo singing, Van singing, and the use of traditional musical instruments to students. Photo: TTV

One of the outstanding examples is Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Nhu Chi, Chairman of the Folk Art Club of But Son town (Hoang Hoa district). Starting in 2005 with only 10 members, the Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) club founded by Mr. Chi now has 25 members of various ages. The oldest member is over 80, and the youngest is not yet 25.

"Initially, everything was spontaneous, with no funding or sponsorship, driven only by a love for traditional Vietnamese opera," Mr. Chi shared. From simply singing for each other, the club has now become a cultural highlight of the locality.

They compose, stage, and perform traditional Vietnamese opera songs praising their homeland and country, while also promoting the Party's policies and the State's laws.

Besides performing, Mr. Chi and his members also regularly hold classes to teach traditional Vietnamese opera (cheo) to young people. These lessons have no lesson plans, no blackboards, only the rhythmic sound of the cheo drums and the overflowing emotion. "Singing cheo is about preserving the soul of the village," he says.

For each festival, the club dons a new look, with elaborately staged theatrical performances and traditional folk opera, reflecting the rich cultural colors of the Northern Vietnamese countryside.

Besides performing locally, they are also invited to exchange experiences in many neighboring districts. Many young members have grown up from the traditional opera classes organized by the elders, and then return to continue teaching the next generation.

In another rural area, Thuan Hoa village, Quang Trung commune, Ngoc Lac mountainous district, the sound of gongs and drums still resonates through the hands and heart of Meritorious Artisan Pham Vu Vuong.

Despite his advanced age, Mr. Vuong's enthusiasm has never waned. He is the one who founded and leads the gong club in Thuan Hoa village.

"From a young age, the sounds of gongs and cymbals were deeply ingrained in my memory from the times I accompanied my mother and grandmother to village festivals," Mr. Vuong recounted. He began practicing playing the gongs at the age of seven. As he grew older, traveled more, and learned more, he came to understand even more deeply the importance of gongs and cymbals in the spiritual life and community activities of the Muong people.

Not only does he keep the sound of the gong alive in his village, but he also acts as a bridge, bringing that sound closer to the younger generation. His club not only practices and performs, but also organizes teaching sessions in schools and participates in cultural events.

Students in Ngoc Lac not only learn about the gong as a "heritage in books," but also get to directly touch, listen to, and learn to respect the values of their ethnic group.

"To preserve the sound of the gongs, it's not enough to just play them well; you must have the heart to do it. Gongs are not just musical instruments; they are the soul of the Muong people," Mr. Vuong said emphatically.

On every festival, national cultural day, or special event of the district, the sound of gongs from the club resonates, evoking memories of the villages. Many students, after being introduced to gong music, have requested to participate in long-term training, including those from other ethnic groups besides the Muong people.

When the older generation revives the nation's precious heritage.

In Thanh Hoa , people like Mr. Chi and Mr. Vuong are not uncommon. They are the "living memory" of the nation, a bridge connecting traditional culture from the past to the present and future. They do not stand aside, nor do they dwell on one-sided nostalgia, but instead breathe life into the beauty that is gradually being forgotten.

For many years, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Association of Elderly People has been a source of support for such individuals. The organization actively encourages its members to establish cultural clubs, revive traditional festivals, restore customs and practices, and pass them on to their descendants… This is not only about preserving heritage but also enriching the spiritual life of the community.

Many mountainous districts such as Quan Hoa, Quan Son, Ba Thuoc, Lang Chanh… are also witnessing the important role of the elderly in preserving the sound of the khene flute, dances, chants, lullabies – intangible cultural heritage that is at risk of disappearing if not properly preserved.

From participating in compiling traditional ethnic education books for schools and organizing summer classes for children, to acting as "conductors" in village performing arts groups, the elderly are keeping the flame of local culture alive through their own life experiences.

Without slogans, these elderly people are quietly implementing the "Action Program for Heritage" in their own way, from small alleyways to village courtyards, from hillside classrooms to community halls. They don't wait, they don't leave things to time or the intervention of projects, but instead become living, enduring, and sincere projects themselves.

Their presence in every dance, in every ancient song, in the resounding drumbeats or gong sounds is proof that national culture lives not only in history books, but is also alive in everyday life. It is a silent call for future generations to know who they are, where they come from, and where they are going.

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