Aur village of kindness

A peaceful corner of the village in the early morning, people live cleanly in a valley surrounded by high mountains.

Arriving in Aur, in A Vuong commune, Tay Giang district, is a journey not for the faint of heart and feet.

We, the “dreamers of the past”, formed a group and prepared ourselves physically and mentally. And, we could not do without a guide who knew the trail through the forest. Mr. Phich, a son of Aur village, told us not to bring plastic items or give the locals industrial food.

Overcoming challenges...

Leaving the city before dawn, after three hours of driving, we stopped at A Vuong commune. Luggage was quickly packed and the “expedition” into the forest began.

Children play together in the village or go to the fields with their parents.

Although we had heard many stories about the difficult road ahead, the excitement still crept in. The jagged rocky slopes, deep streams, and winding paths under dense trees appeared, challenging the patience of those who set foot here for the first time.

To reach the village, we had to continue walking for about 6 hours. Along the way, there were steep slopes that made us want to “breathe out all our lungs”, and slippery streams that made the whole group have to hold each other’s hands tightly to keep their balance.

Two hours passed with heavy steps, we stopped at the “wave-catching hill”. The name sounded strange. Mr. Phich - the guide explained, this was the only place where we could catch Viettel signal, although it was very weak. That was also the last moment we connected with the modern world, quickly sending a few messages before “losing contact”, returning to primitive life.

From the top of the mountain, it takes 3 hours and 40 minutes to reach the center of Aur village, after passing through a 15-kilometer journey and many large and small streams. The stream water here is as clear as a mirror reflecting the green forest, and of course it is drinkable. These are truly valuable “rest stops” to regain strength.

The tray of food served to guests usually has sticky rice, cassava, corn, stream fish and a bowl of wild vegetable soup.

After those special “rest stops” is a dangerous road. On one side is a deep abyss, on the other side is a steep cliff. Lunch in the middle of the forest, next to a babbling stream becomes unusually delicious, with simply prepared sticky rice balls.

The jungle rain came suddenly. We were about an hour walk from the village. The rain poured down on the slippery trail, the leeches also took advantage of the “reunion”, occasionally someone shivered slightly.

After six hours of crossing streams and climbing steep slopes, Aur village finally appeared before our eyes. At the village gate, Co Tu children stood shyly to welcome us, next to a rustic wooden sign: “Welcome to visit the village”. We were warmly invited by the villagers to stay at the guol - the sacred communal house of the village.

“Feeding guests”...

In Aur, the custom of “hosting guests” is highly respected. In the evening, as the sun sets behind the mountains, the village elder announces the number of guests arriving at each household.

Unlike many other Co Tu villages, the people here raise pigs far from their living areas to ensure cleanliness. Although the pigs live together in the same forest, they still distinguish between their owners and do not fight over food.

Then, warm, simple meals were served. Each meal had a bowl of fragrant sticky rice, a plate of green wild vegetables, some grilled stream fish, and flavorful wild boar meat... The daily dishes were served to guests visiting the village.

Families take turns welcoming and taking care of guests. No matter what guests bring (like cakes or fruits), the host will prepare rice, vegetables and other food to entertain them. This custom has existed for a long time and has been passed down from generation to generation. “It is a sin not to entertain guests” - this saying has become a cultural trait ingrained in the blood of the Aur people.

However, there are certain rules for welcoming guests. If guests notify in advance, villagers will prepare enough food. If there is a large group of guests (25-30 people), they can also cook together. Strangers from other villages will also be welcomed according to this custom. For guests staying in the village for two nights or more, villagers will buy a pig together to entertain them.

If guests stay longer, about two or three people will “follow” a family to be taken care of. “Following” here means that guests will help the family with work such as farming and digging.

The villagers of Aur are kind to each other, to the forest, to the land, and to visitors from afar. The way the Aur people take care of their fields also surprised us.

They do not continuously grow the same type of crop on a piece of land, but rotate crops to restore the soil's nutrients. "Many people think we are nomadic, but they are wrong. We love the land, protect the forest we live in, crop rotation is to restore and rest the soil," a local shared.

Aur, a village hidden in the Truong Son mountain range, is strangely clean and peaceful. Cleanliness is not only reflected in the landscape but also permeates deeply into the way of life of the people.

And what makes Aur special is the kindness that permeates every house, every forest, and every gentle gaze of the people. Leaving Aur, we brought with us not only beautiful memories but also profound lessons about a simple, sincere life, full of humanity.

We are planning to go back to Aur village, visit the people there, help them grow other easy-to-harvest crops. It is not just a trip, but also a gratitude, a connection...

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/aur-ngoi-lang-cua-nhung-dieu-tu-te-3156476.html