Preserving the Cultural Soul of the San Diu People Through Community Classes

Amid modern rhythms of life, as industrialization and urbanization rapidly transform the lives of ethnic minority communities, preserving spoken languages, scripts, and traditional cultural values faces significant challenges. For the San Diu ethnic group, their spoken language is not merely a tool for daily communication but a “key” to preserving community memory—housing a treasure trove of folk knowledge, customs, practices, beliefs, and Soong co folk melodies passed down through generations. Consequently, classes teaching the San Diu language and Soong co singing, currently maintained across many localities in Phu Tho province, not only contribute to safeguarding a cultural heritage but also nurture love for ancestral roots among the younger generation.

During summer days, the cultural house of Dong Giang Village in Binh Tuyen Commune is always alive with the sounds of children reading lessons and singing. Unlike conventional classrooms, young students here become acquainted with their own ethnic language, learning how to pronounce and communicate in San Diu while practicing rustic, soulful Soong co melodies. Over 30 children of various ages in the village participate in the class.

For many children, this is their first time learning their mother tongue systematically. From basic greetings and family forms of address to traditional folk songs, the children approach learning with great enthusiasm. Beyond learning a language, they gradually gain a deeper understanding of the history, customs, lifestyle, and cultural values that their ancestors have preserved across generations.

Members of the Dong Giang Village Soong Co Singing Club teach young children how to read the San Diu language.

Luu Thi Thanh Huyen, a child from Dong Giang Village, shared that while she often heard her grandparents and parents chatting in San Diu, she previously did not fully understand its meaning. Joining the class, she has learned many new words, can now communicate with family members in her ethnic language, and feels prouder of her roots.

A unique aspect of the class is that the entire curriculum was directly compiled by members of the Dong Giang Village Soong Co Singing Club. Drawing from linguistic heritage preserved over many years, artisans phonetically transcribed the San Diu language and developed teaching methods tailored for young children—making it easy for them to read, memorize, and apply in daily life.

According to Ms. Duong Thi Sinh, a member of the Dong Giang Village Soong Co Singing Club, instruction follows a step-by-step roadmap from simple to complex. First, children learn to read and speak through a phonetic system of the San Diu language. Once proficient in using their native tongue, they move on to learning Soong co singing. Teaching methods are designed to be accessible and age-appropriate, turning every session into a lively cultural experience.

Young San Diu children focus on learning the pronunciation of commonly used conversational words.

If spoken language serves as a vessel for identity, Soong co represents the soul of San Diu culture. These call-and-response verses not only reflect labor life, romantic love, and familial affection, but also convey community conduct, moral principles, and aspirations for a better life. Therefore, language preservation remains inextricably linked to safeguarding traditional folk songs.

Ms. Duong Thi Ba, Head of the Dong Giang Village Soong Co Singing Club, stated that the ultimate goal of the class is to revive and transmit the San Diu ethnic group’s cultural values to the younger generation. When children know how to speak their mother tongue, sing Soong co, and comprehend the meaning behind each lyric, those cultural values will continue to endure in community life rather than remaining solely in the memories of the elderly.

Members of the club teach Soong co singing in class.

Dong Giang is a village inhabited by five ethnic groups: Kinh, San Diu, Muong, Dao, and Thai, with the San Diu people accounting for 85% of the population. This region preserves many distinct cultural traits of the San Diu community. However, under the impact of integration and changing social conditions, traditional language, customs, practices, and folk songs are gradually fading, particularly among the youth.

According to Mr. Chu Van Duc, Secretary of the Dong Giang Village Party Cell, this is the third San Diu language and Soong co singing transmission class organized in the village by the Soong Co Singing Club. Regularly maintaining these classes not only enables local children to read and speak their native tongue, but also helps spark pride in cultural identity—laying the groundwork for traditional values to be continually preserved and promoted within the community.

Beyond Dong Giang, the movement to teach the San Diu language and Soong co singing is gradually spreading across the province. Since the beginning of the year, the Center for Research, Preservation, and Development of San Diu Culture has coordinated to open more than 10 transmission classes in communes such as Hop Ly, Binh Tuyen, Xuan Hoa, Dai Dinh, and Dao Tru... Each class opened contributes to language preservation while establishing cultural spaces that bridge generations within the San Diu community.

Meritorious Artisan Tran Thi Nam, Head of the San Diu Ethnic Community Liaison Board of Phu Tho Province, emphasized that with many young workers employed in industrial parks and clusters having few opportunities to engage in traditional cultural activities, organizing transmission classes holds paramount significance. These classes serve not only to pass down language and songs, but also to nurture national pride and awaken consciousness regarding cultural identity preservation among the young generation.

As long as the language continues to be spoken, song lyrics continue to echo, and pride in ancestral roots continues to be cultivated, the unique cultural values of the San Diu ethnic group will remain preserved and diffused—becoming a vital spiritual resource in building local cultural life and enriching the colorful cultural tapestry of Phu Tho province in its new phase of development.

Ha Giang