Lighting up the soul of S’tieng culture

In the remote commune of Long Ha, about 130km from the center of Dong Nai province, there is a special cultural highlight - village 2. Here, the S’tieng ethnic people always strive to preserve and promote two precious heritages: gongs and brocade weaving, as if preserving their own souls.

For the S’tieng people, the sound of the gongs is not just a sound but the very breath of life; and the colors of brocade do not simply embody clothing but tell the story of pride, and of the skillful hands that weave national identity.

In the peaceful space of the countryside, the sound of gongs and the colors of brocade blend together, creating a unique cultural identity, the pride of the locality. These two cultural sources, if connected with community tourism, will open up a direction for sustainable economic development.

Members of the gong team of village 2 enthusiastically practice traditional gong pieces, preparing for the festival season - where the sounds echo in the heart of Long Ha homeland. Long Ha commune authorities visit and encourage the gong team of village 2 - a resource to preserve and spread the cultural identity of the S’tieng ethnic group. Thi Phot (right) and other women in the village weave brocade pieces with the vibrant colors of tradition and their love for the homeland. Artisan Dieu Ly Minh (standing) and members of the gong team of village 2 actively preserve national culture and at the same time pass on their passion to the younger generation. S’tieng brocade patterns are brilliant and delicate, containing the soul of mountainous women, preserving the national spirit through every stitch. Wearing brocade costumes, the gong team of village 2 practices diligently every day. The sound of gongs resounds throughout the countryside, connecting generations of S’tieng people in solidarity and pride. The gongs and brocades are the very soul and love of the Stieng people, preserved and nurtured every day in village 2, demonstrating the great love of the people for the national culture. Thanks to that, the heritage is not only preserved but also spread, contributing to nurturing the livelihood and national pride in the community of Vietnamese ethnic groups. By Quoc Phong – Translated by Quoc Dung, Thu Ha