Older village Briu Thien - the man who keeps the village living with dignity

Song Kon commune has a large area and a large population of over 8,600 people, of which nearly 90% are Co Tu ethnic minorities. The terrain is fragmented, the lives of the people are still difficult, there was a time when young people violated the law, social evils infiltrated, internal conflicts arose and outdated customs persisted. Faced with this reality, older Briu Thien, a long-time party member and former head of the commune’s police force, spent many sleepless nights pondering over it. He understood clearly that, for the Co Tu people, the voice of the village older and the clan carried more weight than any slogan. In order to maintain peace in the village, must be preserved from each family. In order to have our children and grandchildren listen, must speak according to the moral principles of our ancestors.

Based on that idea, in 2022, Older Briu Thien proactively proposed and directly initiated the model of “Briu clan self-management of security and order”. He and his relatives went to the Guol house to draft the clan’s own customs and regulations: no violations of the law, no allowing children to fall into vice, no child marriage, no consanguineous marriage, no deforestation, no superstition; all conflicts must be resolved in a spirit of unity.

These customs are reiterated at every family meeting, analyzed through everyday stories and the lessons he himself has learned. Anyone who violates the rules is publicly criticized in front of the entire family, a form of discipline that is both strict and impactful.

For Older Briu Thien, maintaining security and order is not simply about preventing violations, but about building a healthy cultural environment where evil has no place to flourish.

Therefore, he placed particular emphasis on restoring and nurturing traditional cultural life. Community gatherings are being held more regularly. The tang tung - da da dances, the sounds of drums and gongs resound during festivals, when welcoming guests and during cultural events.

Over the past three years, the “Briu Family Self-Management Model for Security and Order” has provided more than 50 valuable pieces of information, helping the police force to promptly handle many incidents right from their inception. The rate of youth delinquency has decreased by over 70%. Drug use and organized theft are no longer present. Internal conflicts are resolved at the grassroots level, without escalating or escalating into physical altercations. But more importantly, according to older Thien, “the children and grandchildren have learned to feel ashamed when they do wrong and to be proud when they do right”.

In everyday life, older Briu Thien was a strict but warm father and grandfather. Six of his seven sons are living and working in community tourism in Bho ​​Hoong, all of whom he taught from a young age about traditional crafts, customs and how to be a good person.

The daughters-in-law of older Thien are also an important force in preserving the culinary culture. When tourists arrive, he assigns them cooking duties and instructs them on how to prepare buffalo horn-shaped cakes, bamboo-tube rice, wild chicken, wild vegetables,… in the authentic Co Tu style. He wanted the women in the village to clearly see that they were preserving the culinary soul of the nation.

In his free time, older Thien would sit on the porch, meticulously weaving baskets and carrying bags. Each product takes months to create, but for him, it’s a way to tell the story of his ancestors with his diligent hands.

When security maintained and cultural life revived, Bho Hoong village gradually found a new direction. With the development of community-based tourism, many young people have become tour guides, performing artists and craftspeople. Cultural identity is no longer just a memory; it has become a livelihood and a source of pride.

Older Briu Thirn also established a scholarship fund for the family, encouraging all descendants to attend school regularly. 100% of the children in the clan attend school. Many adults, after becoming teachers, officials, police officers, returned to serve their own hometowns.

According to Major Ho Quoc Tang, Head of the Song Kon Commune Police, village older Briu Thien is a strong bridge between the Party’s will and the people’s hearts, to be an important spiritual support for the “All People Protect National Security” movement to go deeper and be more sustainable.

Evening falls over the Truong Son mountain range. Blue smoke drifts lazily over the stilt houses. Older Briu Thien sat on the porch, the late afternoon sun casting its light on his kind face. Even in his twilight years, he diligently cultivated small values: from family traditions to village discipline, from ancient dances to civilized behavior.

For the people of Bho Hoong, village elder Briu Thien is like an “ancient lim tree” in the vast forest; he keeps the village not only peaceful but also preserves its identity, faith and future./.