Xuân về trên đỉnh Huồi Mới

(Baonghean)One day before the Lunar New Year, following the members of the Youth Union of the Que Phong District People's Committee, we arrived at Huoi Moi 1 village, Tri Le commune (Que Phong) and witnessed the joy of the Mong people in this remote border region. As spring arrived, people's hearts were filled with joy; everything seemed to harmonize in a sacred rhythm...

Donating warm clothes to children in Huoi Moi 1.

At the end of the year, work was hectic, and the streets were bustling, but when a friend informed us that the Youth Union of the Que Phong District People's Committee was organizing a gift-giving trip to Huoi Moi 1 village, we quickly packed our bags and headed up the mountain to the "Que land." Kim Son town was busier than usual. The Tri Le highland market was displaying branches of peach blossoms with budding flowers, many already in bloom. Along with that, local specialties like black chickens, black pigs, and taro were being brought out in increasing quantities by the villagers. At this time, the fog in Bu Chong Cha was no longer thick, and the bright sun had begun to warm the mountains and forests, causing trees to sprout, bud, and bloom. Passing through the villages of Ta Pan, Minh Chau, Cam, and Don, we saw the Thai, Mong, and Khmu people busily preparing for Tet (Lunar New Year). The villagers were cleaning their houses and tidying their villages to welcome a truly joyful Tet.

The Youth Union of the Que Phong District People's Committee raised 20 million VND through donations and solicited contributions from benefactors. This money was used to buy warm clothes, sandals, and sweets for the students, as well as some clothing for the adults. The road to Huoi Moi 1 is still very difficult and treacherous, so nearly 30 Youth Union members transported these gifts by motorbike. The 5km stretch from Don village to Huoi Moi 1 is incredibly challenging. What was previously a footpath has been leveled and dug by locals to allow a motorbike to pass. If a motorbike comes from the opposite direction, one of the motorbikes must stop and pull over to the side to let the other pass before continuing.

The convoy carrying Tet gifts followed a small, winding road along the mountainside, with high mountains on one side and a deep ravine on the other. Sitting in the back, we had several heart-stopping moments as the vehicle lurched as if trying to hurl us to the ground. Ly Ba Cha, a Front Committee official from Tri Le commune, was considered the "local expert," so he took on the task of guiding and transporting the journalists. Cha's family used to live in Huoi Moi 1, before moving to the Minh Chau resettlement area. Therefore, for him, the road to Huoi Moi 1 was like the road home; he knew every slope, bend, and stream intimately. With his experience navigating the forest, Cha insisted that each member of the convoy maintain a distance of 30-50 meters, to prevent collisions or loss of momentum when going uphill, which would make it difficult for the vehicle to continue. Ly Ba Cha shared: "This is the dry season, so traveling is easier. But when the rainy season comes, the road becomes very slippery and muddy, and the vehicle might not obey our commands."

After more than an hour of struggling with our motorbike on the treacherous mountain pass, we reached the summit. From there, looking down, the center of Tri Le commune appeared like a colorful painting, with the green of the mountains, forests, and villages as the dominant color. The terraced rice fields, full of water, awaited the day the farmers would sow their seeds. About 10 minutes further, Huoi Moi 1 village appeared, its ancient tiled roofs peeking out from the mountain mist. The peach orchards were beginning to bloom, and the orchids were also opening their clusters of flowers. The villagers of Huoi Moi 1 greeted us from the beginning of the village with cheerful smiles and firm handshakes, showing their closeness and friendliness.

While everyone was admiring the peach blossoms and orchids, we chatted with the Party Secretary, Va Ga Vu. We learned that Huoi Moi 1 has a total of 64 households with nearly 400 inhabitants. The village is located 3 km from the border and only 5 km from a Laotian village. For generations, the Mong people of Huoi Moi 1 have been closely connected to the mountains, forests, and fields. In other words, the mountains and forests have sustained the people of Huoi Moi 1. Recently, the villagers have actively reclaimed 33 hectares of paddy fields, contributing to an increase in food supplies, and hunger is gradually being pushed back. Thanks to this, the people can live in peace and there is no longer any uncontrolled migration.

The Hmong people in Huoi Moi 1 still preserve their traditional cultural beauty. This is evident first and foremost in their architecture. 100% of the houses, including the primary school, kindergarten, and border guard station, are roofed and walled with fir wood planks. The fences separating each house are also made of nothing other than fir wood planks. This is understandable, as fir trees are readily available in the border mountains. Furthermore, the road to Huoi Moi 1 is very difficult and rugged, making it impossible to transport other building materials to the village. Along with the fir wood roofs, the Hmong people here also preserve the melodious sound of the Hmong flute, the traditional folk songs of Cu Xia and Lu Tau, and the Hmong dance. All members of the village have traditional clothing to wear during festivals and holidays.

Boys and girls of Huoi Moi 1 village sing to celebrate spring.

To celebrate the Year of the Horse, most families have prepared everything they need. From sticky rice and banana leaves for wrapping cakes to chickens, pigs, and new clothes for the children. In a few days, the village will hold a rice cake making competition, a pao throwing competition, and a bullfighting contest. Secretary Va Ga Vu added that, like the Mong people throughout the country, the Mong people in Huoi Moi 1 used to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) around December, when the harvest was complete and the rice was stored in the granaries. Recently, following the call of the Party and the State, the people of Huoi Moi 1 have celebrated the Lunar New Year together with the rest of the country. This demonstrates the spirit of solidarity and unity.

In the warm, sunny weather, the Tet gift-giving ceremony for students and residents of Huoi Moi 1 began. First, the group distributed warm jackets to preschool children, then to grades 1 through 9. These young people, who usually spend their days working with computers and processing documents, enthusiastically traveled 40 kilometers, enduring hardship and difficulty, to personally select and put the best-fitting jackets on the Hmong children. Their eyes shone with joy and a sense of sharing. Luu Van Hung, Deputy Secretary of the Youth Union, said: “Que Phong is a poor district, especially the villages along the border. The terrain is rugged, transportation is difficult, and the climate is harsh, so the lives of the people, especially the children, are always disadvantaged. Therefore, our Youth Union unanimously decided to mobilize its members and solicit support from benefactors so that the people can have a warmer and happier Tet holiday.”

Youth Union member Nguyen Thuong Thuong shared: “Coming here and seeing the carefree, innocent children, who have suffered many disadvantages compared to their peers in the central areas, I was truly moved. From then on, I wanted to do truly meaningful things to bring joy to them.” And in the eyes of the children when they were dressed in their pretty warm coats, we could read joy, excitement, and gratitude. As the Party Secretary Va Ga Vu said: “Thank you for the kindness of the Youth Union members; you have brought joy and warmth to our village. Our people are very happy; it feels like spring has arrived earlier in Huoi Moi 1…”

At midday, the mist and clouds dissipated, giving way to abundant sunshine. The young men and women of Huoi Moi 1 began to sing, dance, and perform enchanting dances. They wore colorful traditional costumes adorned with intricate patterns and motifs, showcasing the skillful hands of the weavers. The Hmong girls' songs were heartfelt, resonant, and captivating. The boys' flutes sometimes echoed far and wide, sometimes softly, like the calls of forest birds. Standing amidst the village with its ancient cypress houses, surrounded by blossoming peach orchards, the melodious singing, and the vibrant Hmong girls, we felt as if we had wandered into a Hmong village on a grand festival day. It was the Spring Festival, the whole village bustling with singing, the graceful pao-throwing game, and, of course, warm cups of rice wine. The singing called the forest birds to join in the festivities, the white butterflies to spread their wings beside the budding peach blossoms, and the warmth that permeated the entire village. Here, humanity and nature are intimately connected, the human spirit and the earth seem to share the same rhythm – the rhythm of spring.

On the summit of Huoi Moi, the wind had eased the biting cold, the stream flowing through the village was cool and refreshing, the scent of the forest began to spread, the sounds of the forest filled the air, and hearts were overflowing with joy. Suddenly, a young woman sang the song "Spring Comes to the Hmong Village," perfectly fitting the mood, the scene, and the occasion: "Look, the bright spring is coming to the high mountains / We raise our voices to the thousand flowers, praising the joyful fields / Peach blossoms bloom, welcoming the coming spring, a le... / The rhythmic shuttle carries the song / The stream murmurs, the rice fields are lush green / Look, in the golden sunlight, the sound of the leaf trumpet / The sound of a thousand birds singing, the bright spring is coming / The branches sway, welcoming the songs / Everywhere in the forest, umbrellas flutter / Look, many wings spread, playing with the flowers / The wind and birds sing, the songs come and go / Ah! The bright spring has returned / We sing, pì nà aa ai dô a ai dô." Next came songs like "Meeting in the Dream Forest," "Hmong Girl,"... with lively, cheerful melodies, reflecting the joy and excitement of Hmong boys and girls when spring arrives.

Spring on the summit of Huoi Moi has its own rhythm and colors that evoke feelings of nostalgia and enchantment in anyone who sets foot here. It was time for the group to leave Huoi Moi 1 and return home. Ahead lay a challenging journey, but no one showed any fear, for they had contributed to bringing new warmth to the people of this remote border region.

Cong Kien