The oath in the middle of the great forest of the Mong people

From the belief of "forest worship" to the establishment of groups, patrol teams, and then the young generation planting trees and reforesting - all create a lasting flow of gratitude and responsibility. Protecting the forest is not only a tradition, but also a sacred promise between humans and the great forest.

Forest Festival - an occasion to pay tribute to the gods

The forest worship ceremony usually takes place in the sacred forests of the village, which are considered sacred and no one is allowed to violate. In Yen Bai , the forest worship ceremony is held in Na Hau commune (Van Yen). The offerings in the forest worship ceremony include products of the mountains and forests and local agricultural products, showing respect to the gods. The forest worship ceremony not only has spiritual significance but also demonstrates the solidarity of the Mong community. This ceremony reflects the harmonious relationship between humans and nature, expressing gratitude to the mountains and forests that have protected and nurtured human life.

Shaman Sung A Senh shared: "Through the ritual, people pray for the forest to grow, protect people from natural disasters and epidemics; for bountiful crops, a prosperous and comfortable life. At the same time, the forest worship ceremony also prays for the gods to bless the village with peace, to avoid disasters and harassment from bad people."

The Mong people believe that: "The forest is the father, the land is the mother" - the forest nourishes us when we are alive, the land welcomes us when we die. This belief has become ingrained in the consciousness, becoming the sacred belief of the Mong people here.

Forest worship ceremony and oath in the middle of the forest in Ban Tat, Na Hau, Van Yen, Yen Bai

PHOTO: NVCC

Forest rangers, silent forest guards

In the highlands of Mu Cang Chai, especially in Che Tao commune, the Mong ethnic people live under the green forest canopy every day. The lives of the people here mainly depend on agricultural and forestry production, in which the main income comes from the forest and economic trees under the forest canopy. Deeply understanding the vital role and invaluable values that the forest brings, the people of Che Tao commune did not wait, but proactively stood up to protect the forest as if preserving their own lives. Despite many shortages, they joined hands to socialize resources from forest environmental services, with the support of the District Forest Protection Department, to establish patrol teams and groups. For many years, those quiet footsteps have been regularly crossing the forest and wading through streams every week, every month, silently keeping the forests in the border peaceful.

Forest patrolling is a difficult and arduous job. Teams often have to walk dozens of kilometers through dense forests, especially during the rainy season when the roads are muddy and slippery, with many sections cut off by deep streams. Some trips start at dawn and don't arrive until dark, in the middle of the mountains and forests without electricity or signal, completely isolated from the outside world . Many times we have to stay in the forest for days, without blankets, only bringing some dry food, instant noodles, rice and dried fish to stave off hunger. At night we build temporary huts out of forest trees, spread dry leaves as mats, and cover our heads with raincoats. When it rains, we have to stay up all night, shivering in the cold in the deep forest. "Sometimes we don't want to work anymore, we go to other places to work for money to support our wives and children. But when we think back, if we don't try to protect our forests, what will happen to our forests, who will protect them, so we tell each other to try our best for our children, for the green forests our ancestors left behind," Sung A Lenh shared.

The mission of the young generation to the great forest

Sung A Cai grew up in a poor Mong family in a remote area of Van Chan, Yen Bai - where hunger and poverty clung to him like a shadow. But from that hardship, a will was silently forged - the will to overcome fate, the desire to learn and the dream of contributing to changing the life of his beloved village.

In 2017, holding a high-quality bachelor's degree in geography education, A Cai did not choose a stable path like many others but embarked on an arduous journey - greening the barren hillsides, finding green patches for his homeland. He pensively shared: "2017 was an important milestone in my life - I graduated from university, got married, and then lost my beloved father. Just one month after my father passed away, my wife announced that she was pregnant. Amidst the joy and worries, at that time, I truly understood the burden of 'food, clothing, and money' - something that my peers had experienced 5-6 years before. But at that time, I decided to embark on the biggest journey of my life - turning the dream of greening the hills into reality with the project 'Dream of a million green trees' that I had cherished for a long time".

- Ảnh 3. — A Cai and local people and volunteers plant trees in Van Chan, Yen Bai

To plant the first green shoots in the ground, A Cai started from his own family. He persistently persuaded his parents and siblings to experiment first and when he received support, the first sapling was planted - opening up hope for a long journey ahead. With ingenuity and foresight, A Cai chose native forest trees such as green lim, lat hoa, and cho chi, combined with medicinal plants such as chau, cinnamon, and cardamom, along with short-term plants such as banana, bamboo, potato, and dong leaves. This harmony not only helps improve the soil and protect the environment, but also brings a stable source of income to ethnic minorities.

The noble ideal in him is like a burning fire, but the road to greening is bumpy and harsh. There were times when he was tired and discouraged..., but the dream of greening his homeland never wavered. And on that journey, he was not alone because he had friends, colleagues, and people who shared the same aspiration who were always by his side, sharing and encouraging him, not only with words but also with practical financial support. It was that companionship that gave him strength, helping him overcome difficulties, so that each tree could proudly stand up to the sky.

- Ảnh 4. — A Cai chooses native forest trees such as green lim, lat hoa, and cho chi, combined with medicinal plants such as chau, cinnamon, cardamom...

Thanks to A Cai's perseverance, persistence and constant efforts, along with the community's cooperation, the "Dream of a Million Trees" project has planted more than 1 million trees in many provinces such as Yen Bai, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Hoa Binh, Son La, Hanoi, Lao Cai, Thanh Hoa... These green forests not only help minimize the impact of climate change but also prevent erosion, regenerate underground water sources, provide a lush living environment for wildlife, and create sustainable livelihoods for people. "No matter the cost, we will protect the forest, preserve every inch of green in the great forest and are determined to replant what has been lost, so that the forest will always be life, the soul of the mountains and forests of our homeland", that is a strong promise of the young man with a "green heart" Sung A Cai to the great forest.

A Cai visits planted forest trees in some Northwestern provinces.

PHOTO: NVCC

With a deep love for the great forest and an unyielding will to face difficulties, Sung A Cai has persistently devoted himself, quietly sowing green seeds of hope in the mountains and forests. In 2024, he was awarded the "National Volunteer" award by the Central Youth Union. It is not only a personal honor, but also a living testament to the strength of perseverance, of a burning love for the forest, of a resilient will and aspiration to contribute to the community, aspiration to build a sustainable future for the homeland.