Interesting journey to listen to the sound of the forest

Inspired by the memoir The Dimensions of the Forest by writer Nguyen Ngoc, the program of the same name taking place in mid-July 2025 will feature a series of extremely interesting activities in the mountainous region of Quang Nam.

Taking place from July 13 to 19, 2025, the journey "Dimensions of the Forest" - a community learning tourism program will span many villages in the mountainous districts of Quang Nam, such as: Tay Giang, Nam Giang and Hoa Phu commune (Da Nang). The event is organized by Toom Sara Village and A Song art group, co-designed by artist Xuan Ha and Director of the project Forest, Let's Breathe, Ho Thanh Nhan.

Lasting for 7 days with a series of field activities, indigenous cultural experiences, discussions and workshops with experts, the program aims to connect people, authorities, creative communities and researchers around urgent issues such as monoculture acacia planting, preserving Co Tu culture and developing forest garden models. This is also part of the long-term art residency - research of artist Xuan Ha at Toom Sara Village (Hoa Phu, Da Nang ), with the goal of building new awareness about forests, ecological conservation and sustainable livelihoods in the context of climate change.

Toom Sara Village (Hoa Phu, Da Nang) is implementing a reforestation initiative with the goal of regenerating the native forest ecosystem.

PHOTO: NGUYEN THO

The trip was filled with personal and emotional encounters with the children of the mountains and forests. One of the important stops was the forest garden of A Râl Diêu residing in Chà Val commune (Nam Giang district). Born in 1997, having studied forestry in Hue , witnessing his hometown being covered by monoculture acacia forests, Diêu realized the urgency of doing something to change. Inspired by the book Revolution of a Straw , he set out to restore the natural forest right on his ancestral land with the hope that his future children would live in a healthy space with many memories.

From Nam Giang, the delegation moved to Tay Giang to meet village elder Briu Po ​​- the first Co Tu person with a university degree, an excellent artisan and a typical farmer. Over a meal rich in the flavors of the highlands, elder Po will recount his journey of preserving the purple ba kích variety and planting forests in the traditional way. For him, forests are not only resources but also the soul of culture. Continuing the journey to the forest, in workshops with Lana - a curator from Melbourne, stories will be told about the differences in nature conservation and indigenous culture from Australia.

An important highlight is the field trip that will take the exploration group to the acacia forest under the guidance of a local named Dung and a veteran ranger. Witnessing the monotony and poor biodiversity of the acacia forest, many people will have feelings when comparing it with the diversity of natural forests. This is when experience becomes awareness, that not every tree growing is a forest and not all "economic development" is sustainable.

In the final days of the program, the talks with community activist Quach Thanh Thien and several other experts continued to expand the concept of conservation, to hear about the value of living in terms of a sufficient economy and why the community learning tourism model is important? The film night with director Doan Hong Le will close the journey with authentic images, evoking what is being lost in the forest. "Dimensions of the forest" with the genuine participation of the community will contribute to arousing ecological awareness associated with memory and responsibility.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thu-vi-hanh-trinh-lang-nghe-tieng-rung-185250621110321467.htm