Childhood dreams

Appearing in traditional brocade attire, with neatly styled hair, a bright face, round brown eyes, and a friendly smile, Zu Ni exuded youthfulness and dynamism. When she learned that I had come to learn about the unique culture of the highland people, Zu Ni's eyes sparkled with joy, because mentioning her homeland filled the heart of this passionate young intellectual with pride.

In the Ede language, Akŏ means headwater, and Dhông means slope. Usually, Akŏ Dhông simply means "headwater of the slope," but because it is also the headwater of the Ea Nuôl stream, Akŏ Dhông is also known as "headwater of the stream." Today, Akŏ Dhông village, located in Buon Ma Thuot ward, Dak Lak province, was once known as the "richest and most powerful village in the Central Highlands" or the most beautiful "village within the city" in Dak Lak province. Its highlight is the traditional longhouses nestled under ancient trees, preserving the cultural values ​​of the Central Highlands' gong culture.

H Zu Ni Niê by the staircase of a traditional longhouse.

Born and raised in a land steeped in epic traditions, Zu Ni was immersed in folk art from a young age. The nights in Ban Me Thuot were filled with flickering fires, the resonant sounds of gongs, the intoxicating aroma of rice wine, and people walking hand in hand to the music under the longhouse roofs. Listening to the stories of khan (a unique form of folk culture of the Ede people) about the mountains and forests, and about the heroes who had protected the village, instilled in the young girl a deep love for her ethnic culture.

After graduating with a degree in biology education, Zu Ni decided to return to her hometown to start her own business. With her family's support, she built the "Zu Ni Café" brand, hoping to bring the authentic taste of Central Highlands coffee closer to everyone. From selecting ripe red coffee beans, drying them, roasting, and grinding them using traditional methods, to having the product assessed by experts, she does everything herself. As a result, Zu Ni's coffee is not only fragrant but also rich in natural flavor, and is well-received by customers.

Not only is Zu Ni dynamic in economic development, but she is also an exemplary youth union member, trusted and elected as the Secretary of the Akŏ Dhông village youth union. Besides studying, improving her knowledge, and firmly grasping her duties in local youth union work, she is also an active member of the community service movement, maintaining security and order, protecting the environment, and donating blood voluntarily. In addition, this female "leader" enthusiastically encourages young people to participate in training courses on community tourism, gong playing, and folk dancing organized by the local authorities.

"Keeping the flame of Ede culture alive"

One of Zu Ni's greatest passions is guiding students through cultural experiences in the villages. Whenever a group of students visits, she readily sets aside her own work to accompany them. The knowledge she imparts, ranging from music , art, and architecture to festivals, cuisine, and traditional crafts, is both fascinating and beneficial to her students.

With an expressive voice, Zu Ni told the children about the traditional longhouse of the Ede people, a place that preserves the characteristic matriarchal way of life. According to custom, when a girl marries, the boy must live with his wife's family, so the house is extended with more rooms, and with each generation, the house grows longer. In front of the longhouse, there are usually two staircases: a round staircase for men and a flat staircase exclusively for women. On the flat staircase, there are carvings of a crescent moon and a pair of breasts, showing respect for women and reminding children not to forget the gratitude they owe to their parents for giving them life and raising them.

H Zu Ni Niê (third from the right) during the "March Border Program - I Love My Homeland" in Buôn Đôn border commune (Đắk Lắk province). Photo provided by the subject.

The Ede people are known for their hard work; the men weave baskets and clear land for farming, while the women are skillful in household chores, embroidery, and weaving colorful brocade fabrics. The people of the Central Highlands love the forest like birds soaring freely in the sky, like fish swimming playfully in cool waters. To spread this beauty, Zu Ni regularly preserves and updates it on digital platforms. She never imagined that these simple, familiar things would receive such positive attention from the community.

Silent dedication

Thanks to strong promotion on social media platforms, the number of tourists visiting Akŏ Dhông village is increasing daily. Word of mouth has spread, and many tourists want to stay longer to experience the local way of life. Recognizing the enormous potential of the tourism industry, Zu Ni shared her idea with youth union members and developed a concrete action plan. Initially, she encouraged families and relatives to register for tourism training courses.

Not only did she learn from books, but she also directly visited community tourism villages in the northern mountainous region to learn about practical methods, from welcoming guests, organizing accommodation, guiding experiences, promoting local products to protecting the environment and connecting the community... With innovative thinking and a systematic approach, in 2023, Akŏ Dhông village was recognized as the first community tourism village in Dak Lak province.

Despite its geographical advantages, the village faces numerous challenges, as some traditional crafts are temporarily declining. To revive them, the consensus and support of the people are needed. Being an intelligent and charming young woman, Zu Ni was well-liked from a young age. She sought out families involved in weaving, brewing rice wine, and cooking to understand their aspirations, suggest new directions, and encourage them to keep the "flame" of their ancestors' crafts alive.

Having dedicated her entire life to weaving brocade, H'Gốc Niê had to put aside the work she had once been so deeply involved with when industrial goods flooded the market, causing her to lose her footing and her income to become unstable. Now, encouraged by her granddaughter who has rekindled her faith in her old craft, H'Gốc Niê is very pleased and determined to keep the profession alive, despite the many difficulties ahead.

The image of the elderly woman still diligently working at her loom every day inspires many women in the village. Without being told, the looms that had been carefully stored away are brought out, cleaned, and strung with thread. The familiar sound of the shuttle echoes throughout the village.

As for the distinguished artisan Ama H'Loan, who has been involved with ethnic music for many years and previously successfully crafted giant horns from polished buffalo horns but now lacks them, Zu Ni visited her, offering encouragement and suggesting new materials that could replace the increasingly scarce ones. Zu Ni's sincerity and enthusiasm instilled confidence in those who are tirelessly preserving the "soul" of Central Highlands culture. On the day of Zu Ni's visit to Ama H'Loan, a large framed Party membership badge commemorating 65 years of service was displayed prominently on the wall, surrounded by many musical instruments he had crafted.

Regardless of sun or rain, day or night, young intellectual H Zu Ni Niê persistently works with artisans to revive traditional rituals and ancient dances that were in danger of disappearing; preserving the cultural space of the Central Highlands' gong culture against the trend of "theatricalization"; and promoting the cultural value of cuisine with the rich flavors of the mountains and forests. Every weekend, Zu Ni and other youth union members clean up the entire village. From inside houses to the streets, everywhere you look, you see refreshing greenery, trees are neatly trimmed, creating a clean and peaceful appearance for Akŏ Dhông village.

Meeting Zu Ni again after her volunteer trip, still with her energetic demeanor, she shared about the activities in the "March Border Month - I Love My Homeland" program in the border commune of Buon Don. In particular, her visit and interaction with the officers and soldiers of the Bo Heng Border Guard Post, witnessing the hardships and difficulties they still face, yet their unwavering optimism in maintaining peace on the border, further strengthened Zu Ni's love for the soldiers and her pride in her homeland.

Currently, Akŏ Dhông village is aiming to become the "World's Best Tourist Village" according to the criteria of the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). While the journey is fraught with challenges, with ambitious young people like Zu Ni, this land at the headwaters will surely transform itself significantly day by day.

The highland sun flushed her cheeks, beads of sweat dotted her forehead, but her eyes always sparkled with hope. Despite being well-known, Zu Ni remained humble and reserved when talking about herself. Whenever she mentioned herself, she skillfully shifted the conversation to her hometown and village, and the plans she still cherished for the future.

H Zu Ni Niê, born in 1994, is an Ede ethnic minority. She has been recognized as: Outstanding Youth; Youth with a Beautiful Life; Exemplary Youth with prestige and a successful entrepreneurial role model in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2025. From January 2025, she was elected as the Party Secretary of Akŏ Dhông village, Buôn Ma Thuột ward, Đắk Lắk province.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-17/nguoi-tham-lang-giu-lua-van-hoa-e-de-1042502