Young people breathe new life into traditional crafts

Amid the rapid pace of modern life, young people on the Dong Van Karst Plateau are finding innovative ways to preserve traditional crafts and indigenous knowledge, transforming cultural heritage into sustainable livelihoods while boosting community-based tourism.

Visitors experience traditional indigo dyeing in Na Khoang Village, Quan Ba Commune.

In Quan Ba Commune, Vu Thi Hue (born in 1990) returned to her hometown to establish the “Story of the Forest” brand, producing handcrafted herbal products from locally sourced medicinal plants. Her product range, including soaps, shampoos and essential oils, is made using traditional methods and reaches customers across Vietnam each year.

Beyond product development, Hue has created a traditional indigo-dyeing workshop in Na Khoang Village, where visitors can experience the centuries-old craft firsthand. Tourists are invited to dye fabric, learn about the indigenous dyeing process and create their own handmade souvenirs. The initiative has helped preserve local knowledge while generating new income opportunities for the community and enriching the area's tourism offerings.

Meanwhile, in Ta Gia Khau Village, Lung Cu Commune, Sung Mi Nhu (born in 1993) is promoting the traditional craft of making the Mong khen, a bamboo mouth organ, through digital platforms. Via his TikTok channel, “Sung Va Nhu 1993,” he livestreams the instrument-making process, performs traditional melodies and interacts with audiences from across Vietnam and abroad. After just over two years, the channel has attracted more than 15,000 followers, helping introduce Mong cultural heritage to a wider audience.

By combining traditional craftsmanship with digital technology, Nhu's workshop now produces around 50 khen instruments annually for customers both in Vietnam and overseas, including Laos, China and the United States. The workshop has also become a popular destination for visitors and a venue where local children and young people learn the craft.

The successful integration of indigenous knowledge, creativity and digital transformation is opening up new opportunities for the sustainable development of traditional crafts on the Dong Van Karst Plateau. These initiatives not only safeguard cultural heritage but also create livelihoods, promote community-based tourism and bring the unique cultural identity of Vietnam's northern highlands to a global audience.

Pham Hoan