Choreographer Ha Nhung: Passionate about national culture

After graduating from Ho Chi Minh City Dance School in 2011, choreographer Ha Nhung has been working in the profession for more than 10 years. She is a talented young face, having won many medals at national dance competitions. What is admirable about this Thai girl is that she is always concerned and passionate about preserving the traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities in her homeland.

Choreographer Ha Nhung instructs dance movements for members of the Stieng Folk Cultural and Artistic Activities Club in Tranh 3 Hamlet (Tan Quan Commune, Dong Nai Province). Photo: NVCC

“For the past 10 years, what I have thought about the most is how to develop the traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities in my locality such as: S'tieng, M'nong…” - choreographer Ha Nhung expressed the reason that urged her to have many movements and activities to promote, teach, and contribute to preserving and conserving the national cultural identity.

Thai girl passionate about Stieng culture

The Club of Typical Cultural and Folk Art Activities of the Stieng Ethnic Group in Tranh 3 Hamlet, Quang Minh Commune (formerly Binh Phuoc Province), now Tan Quan Commune (Dong Nai Province), launched on the afternoon of June 12, is the second club that Ha Nhung has participated in teaching this year. In addition to the passion of the young choreographer, the Club was established with the support of functional departments and agencies to raise awareness of preserving heritage in the community, especially the younger generation.

As a freelance dancer, in addition to staging programs and performances for units in need inside and outside the province, Ha Nhung especially prioritizes spending time contemplating and researching the culture of the local Stieng and M'nong people. After many trips to remote areas, immersing herself in their daily lives, up to now, she has created many dance works imbued with traditional features in community activities, choreographing from the labor movements and farming tools of the people into typical dances. She researches and re-stages major festivals such as: New Rice Celebration, Rain Praying Festival, Peace Praying Festival of the Stieng people...

“Speaking of culture, I especially love the traditional dances of the Stieng people, from daily dances to farming and farming. From my love, I have created new movements while still maintaining traditional features. The second is brocade weaving. I have directly seen artisans spend a lot of time and perseverance weaving very unique brocades. I really appreciate the people who always preserve the good values ​​of their people” - Ms. Ha Nhung could not hide her joy when sharing about her love for ethnic culture.

“I can tell everyone that I love my job very much. What keeps me connected to dance today is the emotions I have experienced. I have been to the people’s homes, experienced their culture, their festivals and the values ​​they have preserved over many years, through many generations…” - choreographer Ha Nhung said.

To keep cultural heritage alive with the times

In addition to the Stieng ethnic group, the M'nong ethnic group is also an ethnic community that has long lived in the Southern Central Highlands. In June 2025, the cultural colors of the M'nong ethnic group had the opportunity to be introduced to a large number of tourists in a series of Family Festival activities at the Vietnam Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village (Dong Mo, Son Tay, Hanoi). The person behind these performances is Ha Nhung.

On the big stage, 23 M'nong members in Bu Gia Map commune confidently brought the unique cultural features of their people through many activities, such as: reenacting the Community Reunion Festival, performing T'rung and gong musical instruments, performing folk songs, demonstrating traditional handicrafts such as brocade weaving, weaving, and typical dishes (com lam, grilled meat, canh boi, canh thut, cantaloupe shoots)... The cultural colors of the M'nong people truly brought memorable experiences to visitors.

Stepping out of the fields, villages, and performing at the Vietnam Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village, the non-professional actors are truly proud of their ethnic culture. It is a culture that reflects a life closely connected to nature and all things. It is a culture that is a synthesis of traditional culture and cultural exchange and acculturation with some local ethnic groups in the process of cohabitation and development. They are even more proud to perform the traditional craft of brocade weaving of the M'nong people, which has been listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Ms. Dieu Thi Huong, one of 23 actors participating in the performance at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, emotionally said: “This is the second time performing at the Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, I am very happy to introduce the beauty of my ethnic group through dances recreating the daily life of the M'nong people such as: fishing, collecting cashews, pruning rice... The troupe's performances received many compliments from tourists. I am very happy!”

M'nong girls in a traditional dance at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in June 2025.

For the M'nong people, dance is a link to the spiritual world. Through dance, they express their wishes for good harvests and favorable weather. Therefore, Ha Nhung pays special attention to adapting the typical dances of the people to make them more familiar and modern, but still not losing the "soul" of each dance.

Cultural dream of "growing up"

In June 2025, in the old Binh Phuoc province, two typical clubs for cultural and folk art activities of the Tay and Stieng ethnic groups were established. This step not only helps people raise awareness of traditional cultural values, but also creates a foundation for local authorities to more clearly define strategies for preserving and maintaining heritage, while creating more livelihoods for people in ethnic minority areas.

“Directly seeing the unique cultural features of the ethnic people, I have had the desire and passion to try to spread those good values ​​so that everyone can know them. In particular, I want people to be proud of those core and extremely beautiful values, so that they can go further, be more confident and also so that everyone can know them more” - choreographer Ha Nhung confided about the things she cherishes.

She said that there are actually many clubs that have provided additional income for local people through cultural performances at festivals and tourism events in and outside the province.

Culture is the “string” that connects the past, present and future. It is the enthusiastic hearts that love national culture, including Ha Nhung, that have brought culture further, beyond the corners of the forest and villages, into the major cultural events of the whole country. When the beauty of national culture is displayed and accepted, it means that culture will have a new life, more sparkling and radiant.
brighter...

Nam Phuong

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202507/bien-dao-ha-nhung-tam-huyet-voi-van-hoa-dan-toc-2ae1efd/