In Nghia Dong commune, the sun casts a golden glow on the cornfields in western Nghe An . Amidst the tranquility of this mountainous village, the sound of children practicing singing can be heard. Not lively tunes, but simple folk songs: "In Nghe An, our homeland, five years of sunshine and ten years of rain/Storms and the scorching Lao wind..." In the small courtyard of Ms. Tran Thuy Nga's family, dozens of children sit around the Meritorious Artist Ngo Minh, following each rhythm of the song.
In remote rural areas, the folk song heritage of Nghe Tinh is revived in the breath of honest farmers and subsequent generations. A persistent continuation is taking place, beginning in the familiar courtyards of their homes.
Thuy Nga House of Wisdom
Looking at the children engrossed in their books today, the elderly in Hamlet 6, Nghia Dong Commune, often recall the journey of Ms. Tran Thuy Nga. Before becoming the "House of Wisdom" as it is today, the library, originally a small space of about 15 square meters, was started by Ms. Nga in 2004. Over the years, from this small room, many young people have found inspiration for a beautiful life and the belief in learning, achieving success in university and establishing stable careers. Ms. Nga, the founder, despite her physical disability, has used her willpower to transform the pages of books into wings for countless young dreams in this poor rural area. "I believe that if I work with a heart for the community, everyone will join hands. Each of us is a living book, continuing to write our lives with kindness," Ms. Nga shared.
Ms. Phan Thu, the weekly librarian, is always concerned about how to make reading a joyful experience. She said: “To ensure that the book borrowing and returning activities, and reading and receiving gifts, run smoothly, orderly, and effectively, in addition to the main librarian, there are volunteers who assist readers in choosing suitable books, arranging seating, keeping records, and distributing gifts.” The books here are carefully selected and diverse in genre to spark interest in all age groups. After each reading session, children are invited to write down their feelings on a sharing form and receive small encouraging gifts.
Recently, Nga has been studying far away in Lam Dong . Maintaining the activities at the House of Wisdom relies on Ms. Nguyen Thi Vi - Principal of Nghia Dong Commune Kindergarten - and the Thuy Nga House of Wisdom management board. Ms. Vi shared that Nga's dedication touched her: "Nga has suffered many disadvantages, but she lives very positively. I want to accompany her so that the children always have a healthy space and an uninterrupted flow of knowledge in this area." The enthusiasm of the class also comes from small things; for example, at each activity session, Ms. Vi prepares candy, cakes, or small books to reward the children who confidently speak up.
The persistent efforts paid off when the library joined the House of Wisdom network, becoming a true community learning space. Right in the rural area of Nghe An, children in Nghia Dong are learning English online for free with volunteers who are international students in the US. Computer screens are opening up, bridging regional gaps. Not stopping there, other community projects have emerged, such as "Living Books," aimed at connecting people, where parents, children, friends, teachers, and students turn off their phones and spend time listening and sharing with each other. Notably, the "Neo Hon Vi Giam" project – a class to pass on Nghe An folk songs – started on December 28, 2025, taking place right in Ms. Nga's yard, where her family willingly supports her so that every weekend, dozens of children can come to learn folk songs.
The song extends the love for one's homeland.
The idea for the "Neo hồn ví, giặm" project originated from a trip to Hue by Ms. Nga and her close friend Lam Ca. Witnessing artisans passing on Hue folk songs to young children, Ms. Ca pondered: "Our folk songs are so precious, yet the children are gradually becoming unfamiliar with them. We want to do something so that the children in Nghia Dong will not forget the songs and melodies of their ancestors."
The aspirations of young people have met the lifelong dedication of Meritorious Artisan Ngo Minh. A down-to-earth man, Mr. Minh admits he's not a eloquent speaker, but when he sings, he pours his heart and soul into each simple folk song. Previously, he tried to open classes, but only for a few summer months. Mr. Minh confided: "Young people today, if not taught, cannot learn to sing and understand the essence of Nghe Tinh folk songs. That's why I prioritize dedicating my time to this transmission." His secret is gentle, caring, and patient guidance. The artisan shared: "The theory needs to be easy to understand, relatable, and engaging. The practice needs to be expressive, conveying the emotions of the context and lyrics. Our grandparents used to sing folk songs together while plowing and planting... I explain and guide them on how to reenact those scenes, then sing as a model, so the young people become increasingly captivated."
Mr. Minh and the project members' dedication, working without pay and overcoming their personal busy schedules to maintain the class, has yielded results. In just over a month, eager faces, overcoming initial shyness, joined in singing with their friends. Even Ms. Nguyen Thi Tu Huong and her daughter, Duong Tue Lam, travel 20km every Sunday to attend the singing class. Ms. Tu Huong, currently the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Nghia Dong commune and also a mother, positively evaluated this model: “This is a very practical form of community cultural activity combining reading culture and traditional folk songs. The simple melodies help the children learn to love their homeland and live more compassionately.”
The folk songs of Ví and Giặm are a unique cultural beauty of our homeland, representing the very soul of our village... We want the children to be anchored in this realm of memories - where simple things have silently nurtured their souls as they grew up.
After just 5 to 6 group lessons, the number of students gradually increased to 60, and the project even began to identify potential "talents" for in-depth training. A prime example is Khanh Ngoc, a bright, studious class vice-president with a soulful voice. Ngoc not only memorizes lyrics and melodies quickly but also inspires her classmates in each practice session. Khanh Ngoc shared: "I really enjoy the afternoons spent learning to sing with my friends. It feels like I'm listening to my grandmother tell stories about our hometown. I want to sing better so I can sing for my grandparents and take the songs of my homeland far and wide."
Ms. Nga shared: “Vi and Giam folk songs are a unique cultural beauty of our homeland, representing the soul of our hometown... We want the children to be anchored in the realm of memories – where simple things have silently nurtured their souls as they grew up.” She believes that folk songs are the path to awaken love for their homeland and inspire a desire to connect with their roots. Despite studying far away, Ms. Nga still works closely with the management board to ensure the project's progress. In the final days before the Lunar New Year, Mr. Minh, Ms. Vi, and members of the Nghia Dong Vi and Giam Folk Song Club took the class to a new, meaningful space – Dinh Sen, a 100-year-old communal house. Here, the children offered incense to commemorate the village's patron saint and the heroes and martyrs; they listened to the elders of Lang Sen village sing Vi and Giam folk songs; Playing some folk games... Mr. Minh affirmed: The combination of reading culture and folk singing culture is a meaningful approach. In addition, integrating activities about origins and traditional games into side events contributes to making Thuy Nga's House of Wisdom projects more diverse and helps children more easily access folk culture, thereby fostering love for their homeland and encouraging them to study well.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/neo-hon-vi-giam-post941965.html
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