'Nurturing the green shoots of Doong village'

QTO - For journalists, creating television programs, immersing themselves in the field, and delving into real-life situations to spread positive and humane messages is always the goal. When a work touches the emotions of viewers, it means that the message the author conveys has spread, contributing to the cultivation of good things in life. The documentary "Nurturing Green Seeds in Doong Village" is one of the memorable professional experiences of the team of authors from Quang Tri Newspaper and Radio and Television.

The village of Đoòng is located deep within the core of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, on the road leading to the natural wonder of Son Doong, the world's largest cave. Nestled amidst pristine forests, it is inhabited by only a dozen or so Bru-Van Kieu ethnic minority households. The journey to the village is extremely difficult. To reach it, teacher Hoang Van Sau had to travel over 50km along the western branch of the Ho Chi Minh Trail by motorbike, then continue on foot for two hours through dense forests and across streams.

The difficulties on Mr. Sau's journey to class were merely challenges related to distance; what Mr. Sau felt he "had accomplished" was daring to stay, daring to dedicate himself to the teaching profession and the people of Doong village.

The film crew tried to tell the story through realistic images of the teaching profession and life in Doong village. These included images of students carrying flashlights to class at night, the sound of the school bell echoing through the mountains, simple meals after teaching with a few basic dishes, and the weekend moment when Teacher Sau reunited with his family after many days of no contact…

Panoramic view of Bản Đoòng cave in the middle of the vast forest - Photo: TT

In an era where career opportunities are increasingly abundant, there are still people who choose to live far from their families and endure difficult living conditions so that their children can go to school. Teacher Sau's teaching journey in the Doong village has lasted 15 years. It is a journey of bringing knowledge to students and also a journey of sharing difficulties and helping the villagers whenever needed.

Journalist Ta Bich Loan, a veteran in television, shared her feelings when commenting on this documentary: "We were very impressed with the documentary 'Nurturing Green Seeds in Doong Village' by Quang Tri Newspaper and Radio and Television. This is a work that carries a humanistic message about the efforts and endeavors of teachers; about dedication and spreading the good values ​​of life. The work touched the emotions of the viewers."

The film also raises questions: Why do teachers have to travel for hours to get to school? Why do they dedicate their entire youth to the people and students? Teacher Hoang Van Sau answered: "Because that's how life is. If you have a heart for the people, you can do anything."

The authors, along with teacher Hoang Van Sau (in white shirt) and students from Doong village - Photo: TT

Appearing in the documentary episode, two eighth-grade students, Nguyen Thi Ne and Nguyen Van Lut, who grew up in Doong village and were guided and taught by Teacher Sau, shared their dreams. Ne wants to become a teacher, to be like Teacher Sau, following in his footsteps to spread knowledge and nurture the people of the western region of Quang Tri.

As for Lut, her eyes are always full of faith and aspiration to become a tour guide, leading visitors from all over the world through her village to the natural wonder of Son Doong Cave. A very interesting and encouraging detail is that recently, the two students, Ne and Lut, excellently won second prize in the provincial-level science and technology research competition for the 2025-2026 school year.

Countless acts of kindness are quietly happening every day. If left unrecorded, these values ​​might be lost amidst the hustle and bustle of life. That's why television documentaries have always held a special place in journalism, contributing to the transmission and dissemination of humanistic values.

The documentary "Nurturing Green Seeds in Doong Village," created by a team of authors including Duy Toan, Dieu Minh, Tran Tu, Thanh Son, Vo Quoc, and Ngoc Tu to commemorate Vietnamese Teachers' Day on November 20th, is a tribute to the teachers who have dedicated themselves to the cause of education and nurturing future generations in the isolated and difficult villages of the Truong Son Mountains. The main character of the episode is teacher Hoang Van Sau, the first person to arrive in Doong village, Thuong Trach commune, who bonded with the villagers, teaching literacy and training the future generations of the village. The work won first prize in the 1st Central Highlands and Central Coastal Region Journalism Awards.

The documentary series "Nurturing Green Seeds in Doong Village" has spread the story of teachers in the highlands, helping society better understand those who are silently dedicating themselves; inspiring a sense of responsibility and compassion. And that is precisely what journalists always strive for. The task of a journalist is sometimes very simple: to seek out acts of kindness, to recount their stories with all sincerity, so that positive things can spread throughout the community.

For journalist Thanh Son, currently working in the Special Programs Department of Quang Tri Newspaper and Radio & Television, the journey of making the documentary "Nurturing Green Seeds in Doong Village," one of many episodes he has filmed, and the field trip with the teachers there, was truly a memorable professional experience. It's impossible not to have cherished memories when he slept in a hammock for two consecutive nights right at the school because the teacher's cramped bed was only big enough for the writer of this article.

We, the television journalists, truly feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel, see, and convey the humane and heartwarming story of teacher Hoang Van Sau…

Tran Tu

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/van-hoa/202606/uom-mam-xanh-ban-doong-55823bb/