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| Distinguished artisans Ta Dur Tu and Areel Doi |
Dedication
Artisan Ta Dur Tu, currently the Deputy Head of the A Luoi District Department of Culture and Information, is a pioneer in the preservation of ethnic culture. Starting her journey of collection and research at the age of 20, she ventured into remote villages, meeting with elderly artisans to document traditional folk songs, dances, and festivals. “I’ve always been deeply concerned about seeing my community’s stories and songs fading into obscurity. This concern has been my greatest motivation to pursue this work,” she shared.
Ms Tu has compiled and published numerous valuable research works, including The Folktales of the Pa Ko People, a collection of hundreds of children’s rhymes, riddles, and proverbs, and an anthology of 18 types of folk songs from highland ethnic groups. Additionally, she translated 20 revolutionary songs from Vietnamese into the Pa Ko language.
While Ms Tu focused on in-depth research and documentation, her husband, Areel Doi, devoted himself to performing and teaching traditional culture. As a specialist at the A Luoi District Center for Culture and Sports, Mr. Doi mastered ancient dances and became a source of inspiration for the younger generation. “Since the 1980s, we’ve travelled to many villages to perform cultural programs. Seeing the villagers eagerly awaiting each performance made me realize how meaningful our work was. Culture is not just history; it is the bond that connects a community,” Mr. Doi said.
Beyond collection and research, the couple transformed their stilt house into a mini cultural museum. Here, they preserve over 50 valuable artifacts, ranging from traditional musical instruments like khèn bè (bamboo mouth organs), flutes, and drums to tools such as crossbows, backpacks, and ethnic clothing. “Initially, we collected over 200 artifacts. Due to storage challenges, many were donated to cultural organizations. We now maintain about 50 key artifacts,” Mr. Doi explained.
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| Artifacts displayed at the home of the couple Tu and Doi |
Mr. Doi shared that collecting these artifacts took over 20 years, often requiring personal sacrifices such as trading money or personal belongings. However, the biggest challenge has been preserving them in A Luoi’s humid and harsh climate, particularly bamboo and rattan artifacts. “We must regularly check and maintain these items to retain their original value. Using chemicals to preserve them would affect their authentic sound and structure,” he added.
Their stilt house also serves as a cultural education space for the younger generation. Each year, the couple organizes classes on traditional musical instruments, such as khèn bè, flutes, and drums, as well as ancient dances like pa dun ku ru (shaman offerings) and chat ti ria (buffalo stabbing rituals). Quietly and diligently, they pass on skills, art, and a love for the cultural heritage of their ancestors.
Passing the torch to future generations
The couple’s greatest joy comes from seeing young people increasingly appreciate the unique aspects of their ethnic culture and take on the mission of preservation. “When they understand that every instrument, every dance is a form of art, culture, and history, they naturally want to preserve and promote it,” Ms Tu shared.
As the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong once said, “If culture survives, the ethnic group survives. If culture is lost, the ethnic group is lost.” This principle has guided the couple to view cultural preservation as a sacred duty and a profound responsibility. “We’re happy to see many young people passionate about and committed to traditional culture. They are the hope for ensuring our heritage endures and spreads,” Mr. Doi shared. Yet, they remain concerned about the erosion of traditional culture in modern life, as younger generations increasingly adopt urban lifestyles.
To continue their mission, the couple hopes for greater investment from local authorities and organizations in preserving highland culture. They dream of expanding their stilt house to display more artifacts and hosting regular teaching programs.
Distinguished artisans Ta Dur Tu and Areel Doi are shining examples of devotion to their ethnic culture. They have transformed their love for culture into concrete actions, preserving and passing the flame to future generations. The “flame” they have lit will continue to burn brightly in the highlands, ensuring that each song and dance lives on in the hearts of the highland people and becomes a shared pride of Vietnamese culture and identity.