"Addicted" to the dance of the ethnic boy, Western tourist promises to return to Vietnam

(Dan Tri) - By bringing dances into exchanges with international guests, Mr. Hung builds an image of Vietnam as friendly and hospitable, making many Western guests promise to come back again to experience it.

At 8:00 p.m., at the small coffee shop of Mr. Sung Manh Hung in Dong Van commune (old Ha Giang , now part of Tuyen Quang), the atmosphere suddenly became lively when the familiar melody of the song "As if Uncle Ho were here on the day of great victory" rang out.

In the warm yellow light, Mr. Hung swayed enthusiastically to the music, surrounded by a group of 30-40 international tourists who joined in, clapping and dancing with all their hearts. When the song reached its climax, both Vietnamese and foreign tourists shouted in unison in Vietnamese: “ Vietnam! Ho Chi Minh ! ”. Everyone burst into emotion.

“Here, there is no longer the concept of East or West, there are only hearts that love music and are passionate about exploring and traveling,” Mr. Hung said with a smile.

Hero dances with international guests (Video: Character provided).

Born on the Dong Van stone plateau, Mr. Hung grew up with the familiar sounds of the panpipe, dances, and earthen houses. After studying far away, he returned and chose to pursue community tourism and traditional culture, a path that is both a passion and a responsibility for a son of the gray stone region.

Currently, Mr. Hung is an official of Dong Van Regional Cultural Center, and also runs a coffee shop and organizes many experiential activities. For him, tourism is not only about introducing beautiful landscapes, but also about bringing tourists a sense of safety and peace.

The special thing about Hung’s journey is the way he brings music and dance into tourism. From the Khen dance, the Sap dance, the Xoe dance, to the modified folk dance, he creates a space where everyone, regardless of nationality, can hold hands and dance, joining in the laughter. Those exchanges quickly spread on social networks, becoming the driving force to attract tourists to Dong Van.

"I never studied dancing professionally, but learned directly from international tourists and everyday life," he said.

He incorporates labor movements such as cutting rice, pounding corn, catching fish, etc. into his dance, making it both familiar and lively. It is this authenticity that makes tourists no longer just spectators, but feel as if they are immersing themselves in the lives of the local people.

For Mr. Hung, music is the "common language of humanity", helping to erase cultural gaps, leaving in the hearts of friends from all over the world a heart-to-heart harmony.

Roaily was impressed with the dance and hospitality of the Dong Van people (Photo: Character provided).

Roaily, a young girl from London (UK), arrived in Vietnam in the fall, carrying with her a desire to explore the culture and nature of strange lands.

After a few months of experiencing bustling Hanoi, she chose Ha Giang (old) as the next stop on her journey, because she had heard from friends that this place was the “stone heart” of the North, where people live slowly and nature is majestic and overwhelming.

Not traveling alone, Roaily and two close friends who are also backpackers. The three girls rented motorbikes and traveled through winding roads, across mountain slopes, and through steep cliffs.

With Roaily, every turn seems to open up a new picture, the golden terraced fields valley, the villages in the blue smoke of the afternoon, or the bright smiles of Mong and Dao children waving to passersby.

The campfire night in Dong Van was a moment that she will never forget. In the flickering firelight, the sound of the Mong flute harmonized with the drum beat. Invited by Hung to join the dance around the fire, Roaily hesitated at first, but then got caught up in the bustling rhythm.

As her hands held her friends' hands, her feet stepping in circles, she felt a strange feeling, both joyful and close.

She shared that it was that moment that made Ha Giang leave a deep impression in her heart.

“I have participated in many street festivals in Europe, but I have never experienced such a warm and harmonious experience. Here, people dance not only for fun, but also because they want to share their love for their homeland and culture with others. That really touched me,” Roaily said.

Thanks to dancing, Mr. Hung made many foreign friends (Photo: Character provided).

After the trip, Roaily posted a video of himself, his friends and locals dancing around a campfire. In just a few days, the video received tens of thousands of views, with many comments amazed by the simple beauty of Ha Giang.

For Roaily, the most precious thing is the connection. “Ha Giang gave me more than a trip. It gave me a memory that I know I will tell my friends over and over again. And maybe one day, I will come back,” she shared.

Not only Roaily, but many other groups of tourists were also impressed by Hung's dance and the hospitality of Dong Van people. Even after returning home, they still kept in touch, sent souvenir photos, shared their emotions and made plans to return.

For Mr. Hung, introducing Vietnamese culture through music and dance is not only an entertainment activity, but also a mission. Each drum beat, each dance step contains a story about the life, customs and soul of the Vietnamese people, especially the ethnic minorities in the Dong Van highlands.

When international tourists join in the dance, they not only "dance" but also truly "live" in the local culture, touching the soul of the rocky plateau.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/nghien-dieu-mua-cua-chang-trai-dan-toc-khach-tay-hua-quay-lai-viet-nam-20250925120050577.htm