Stories of ethnic minority culture "ambassadors"

Driven by a passion for exploring the cultural beauty of ethnic minority communities across Dong Nai Province, two sisters, students Pham Nguyen An Nhien and Pham Nguyen Anh from Long Khanh Ward, have undertaken research projects dedicated to this field.

Pham Nguyen Anh (right) and a friend learn about S’tieng brocade weaving at the S’tieng Ethnic Cultural Conservation Area in Bom Bo Hamlet. Photo: Courtesy of the subject

Their participation in the Youth and Children’s Innovation Contest and the Science and Technology Competition for secondary school students has helped shape a long-term direction, enabling the two young students to continue their journey of promoting and sharing the traditional cultural values of ethnic minority communities.

Applying digital platforms to promote S’tiêng brocade

The application of digital platforms to preserve and promote the S’tieng brocade weaving craft in Dong Nai, which faces the risk of fading away, is one of the projects that won fourth prize at the provincial-level Science and Technology Competition for the 2025-2026 academic year. The project was carried out by Pham Nguyen Anh (Class 8/7) and Nguyen Ngoc Gia Han (Class 9/8) from Le Quy Don Secondary School in Long Khanh Ward. During the implementation process, the students sought to contact S’tieng brocade artisans in the northern areas of Dong Nai Province. They visited craft villages to gain a deeper understanding and firsthand experience.

Nguyen Anh shared, “Currently, the brocade weaving craft is facing many challenges and is at risk of fading away despite its significant cultural value. The number of artisans is gradually declining, few young people pursue the craft due to low income, it is difficult to compete with industrial products, markets remain limited, promotional channels are scarce, traditional knowledge has not yet been digitized, and young people’s interest is still limited”.

In light of this reality, Nguyen Anh and Gia Han developed a range of digital platforms to help preserve and promote the S’tieng brocade weaving tradition in Dong Nai. The group launched a website titled “Ve mien di san tho cam S’tieng” (Journey to the Land of S’tieng Brocade Heritage), designed to introduce the craft and raise students’ awareness about the importance of cultural preservation. The website features seven main sections: Heritage Introduction; Creativity and Application of Digital Technology; Brocade Products; Engagement with Artisans and Craft Villages; Experiential Tourism and Digital Mapping; Heritage Connection (including YouTube and fanpage channels to share and bridge generations in preserving the craft); and a Resource Page, which compiles articles, reports, videos, and reference links gathered from official sources.

The group also developed an AI chatbot that provides information on S’tieng brocade weaving in Dong Nai, along with a brocade exhibition model to promote the cultural heritage of the ethnic community.

Small projects, big aspirations

It was no coincidence that eighth-grade student Pham Nguyen Anh chose to research S’tieng brocade weaving for a science competition. Her interest in ethnic minority cultures was shaped by lessons in the Local Education subject and the influence of her older sister. Nguyen Anh shared, “I had the opportunity to learn about ethnic minority cultures through the Local Education subject and through the research topics my sister had previously pursued. I realize that both I and today’s youth have a responsibility as well as an advantage in preserving and promoting cultural identity. Using the internet allows us to easily reach other young people and effectively spread the unique cultural values of ethnic communities”.

The older sister Nguyen Anh referred to is Pham Nguyen An Nhien, a student in class 10C5 at Long Khanh High School (Long Khanh Ward). An Nhien began participating in science competitions in eighth grade and won second place at the provincial level with a project proposing solutions to raise students' awareness at Le Quy Don Secondary School about preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Cho Ro ethnic community in Long Khanh City. In 2024, she also received a consolation prize at the Long Khanh Youth and Children’s Innovation Contest for a project featuring a model of a Cho Ro ethnic cultural space made from recycled materials.

Pham Nguyen Anh, a student of Class 8/7 at Le Quy Don Secondary School, shared that during her project on S’tieng brocade weaving, she visited Bom Bo Hamlet, explored traditional houses, and saw cultural artefacts firsthand. She also experienced weaving brocade herself. Through this experience, she gained a deeper appreciation for the meticulous craftsmanship required to create each piece of brocade.

This school year, An Nhien continues her work with the project titled “Long Khanh High School Students with Solutions to Preserve and Develop the Lithophone Art of Ethnic Communities in Dong Nai in the Digital Age”.

An Nhien said, “Having the opportunity to learn about ethnic minority communities in Dong Nai has helped me appreciate even more the richness of their cultural identities. I hope to promote the role of young people in the 4.0 era by spreading awareness about preserving cultural identity and acting as a bridge to encourage more young people to participate”.

She affirmed that in the coming years, she will continue pursuing the promotion, preservation, and development of the unique cultural characteristics of ethnic minority communities. She plans to maximize the use of technology and social media to broaden and enhance the dissemination of traditional cultural values.

With each ethnic group possessing its own distinct cultural features, she hopes to continue researching more communities and become a cultural ambassador in the digital age, using social media and technology to spread appreciation for ethnic cultures.

Through research projects rooted in a passion for cultural exploration, the two sisters have gradually demonstrated the younger generation's role in preserving and promoting ethnic minority cultural identities. Their scientific projects extend beyond school competitions, serving as vivid examples of how young people with knowledge, creativity, and a desire to contribute can carry forward the mission of safeguarding and promoting national cultural values.

By Hai Yen – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho