Born and raised in the Dong Van karst plateau, Sung Manh Hung (a H'Mong ethnic minority) has always cherished and been committed to preserving his ethnic culture. In 2010, Hung graduated from university with a degree in culture and returned to work at the former Dong Van District Cultural Center, now the Dong Van Commune Public Service Center. For over 15 years, he has been deeply involved with the highland culture, constantly researching, learning, and striving to promote traditional cultural values amidst the growing tourism industry.
In recent years, the Dong Van Karst Plateau has become an attractive destination for both domestic and international tourists. Besides sightseeing and exploring the natural landscape, many tourists desire to experience the local culture in an authentic and intimate way. Based on this, Sung Manh Hung and a number of young people passionate about culture have organized traditional cultural performances for tourists at homestays and tourist spots in the area.
In late 2021, with guidance and support from the local authorities, Hung and his group of friends organized community cultural exchange nights and bonfires in the central courtyard of Dong Van Old Town on weekend evenings. This was not just a performance activity for tourism, but also an open cultural space where tourists could participate and immerse themselves in the rhythm of life in the highlands.
Each evening of community cultural exchange usually involves about seven members of Hung's group. The program lasts about two hours: one hour for traditional cultural performances for tourists; 30 minutes for a bonfire; and the remaining 30 minutes for socializing, with tourists joining in lively dances.
Sharing his thoughts on how to make the cultural exchange nights appealing, Hung said that the dances are community-oriented, and anyone can participate and perform them. The goal is not to perform exceptionally well, but to create a joyful atmosphere so that visitors can feel the spirit of unity, openness, and cultural identity of the highland people.
Along with traditional cultural performances, Hung proactively researched and created simple, easy-to-perform dances that still preserved the cultural characteristics of the highlands. The movements were refined and adapted from everyday agricultural activities of the people, such as threshing rice, harvesting rice, picking corn, grinding corn, and sifting cornmeal. These dances quickly created a positive effect, attracting enthusiastic participation from tourists.
Julia, a tourist from England, shared: “I have traveled to many places, but the Dong Van Karst Plateau has a unique charm. Besides the pristine and majestic scenery, what impressed me most was being able to directly participate in community cultural activities. Here, I not only got to watch but also truly became a part of the ancient town's cultural night.”
Moreover, Hung effectively utilizes social media platforms to promote tourism and life in the highlands. On his TikTok and Facebook channels under the name "Sung Manh Hung," he regularly posts images and videos of community cultural exchange nights and stories from the lives of ethnic minority people. As a result, images of these community cultural nights are increasingly spreading, becoming an indispensable destination for many tourists visiting the Dong Van Karst Plateau.
Currently, on average, Hung's group organizes about 200 community cultural exchange events annually in the Old Town of Dong Van and other tourist destinations in the area. This activity has become a distinctive highlight in the local cultural and tourism life, creating a deep impression on tourists. Sung Manh Hung's social media channels also attract hundreds of thousands of followers, acting as a "bridge" to convey images of highland tourism to visitors.
Through social media channels, Hung also connects with charitable activities aimed at the community. Through authentic stories and images of life in the highlands, he has connected many organizations and individuals to support people in installing solar-powered lights in highland villages on the Dong Van Karst Plateau, contributing to improving the lives of the people.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/nguoi-giu-lua-cho-dem-pho-co-dong-van-post934658.html
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