Artisan Ya Hinh preserves Churu culture

A deep love for horns and gongs
“Back in my day, almost everyone in the village knew how to play the flat gong, the bronze gong, and the horn. Some played the flute, while others sang folk songs. There were no syllabi or formal classes like today. We simply followed the elders and learned by doing,” Ya Hinh recalled.

At the time, melodies were never formally transcribed; they were passed down purely through memory and direct instruction. Remarkably, these seemingly complex rhythms were absorbed quite naturally by the younger generation. This experience reinforced Ya Hinh’s belief that culture can only survive if actively transmitted. Without the elders passing down their knowledge, the sound of gongs, horns, and folk melodies would inevitably fade away.

From a learner, he became a cultural guardian and an instructor. Beyond his mastery of gongs, Ya Hinh plays the gourd horn and various other traditional instruments. Over the years, he has been a familiar face at local festivals and cultural events. Whenever the community performs or conducts traditional rituals, Ya Hinh and other senior artisans step up.

A memorable milestone for him was joining over 20 artisans from D’ran Commune at the 2026 Vietnam Ethnic Culture Day in Hanoi. It marked his first visit to the capital and his debut before a large, distinguished audience. Amidst the grand cultural stage and before thousands of visitors, he felt both immense joy and pride.

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Whatever I know, I must pass on to the youth. If I don't, future generations won't know their roots.
Artisan Ya Hinh

That trip made him realize how deeply the cultural values of his community are appreciated and valued by the public, giving him further motivation to safeguard and impart his heritage.

Passing the torch to the younger generation
Ya Hinh turns his passion into practice by conducting gong-playing workshops for local youth. Alongside Meritorious Artisan Ma Bio, he personally guides the learners through every movement and beat.

During these sessions, the weathered, calloused hands of the veteran artisans patiently guide young hands across the gongs. The learners listen, observe, and practice repeatedly. The village gong club, comprising around 30 members, holds regular practice sessions two to three times a week under Ya Hinh’s close guidance. Beyond teaching technique, he helps the youth grasp the deeper cultural significance behind each sound and ritual.

This conviction is also shared within his own household. Among his nine children, Touneh Ya Thiet is carrying on his father’s legacy. For Ya Hinh, seeing the traditions preserved not only within the village but also right under his own roof brings profound joy.

Ya Thiet shared that only when he began practicing and creating those resonant sounds under the open sky did he fully appreciate the beauty of the gongs. The more he learns, the more passionate he becomes, striving to understand the legacy left by previous generations.

According to Bui Khac Toan, Vice Chairman of the D’ran Commune People’s Committee, the local authority is honored to have been selected by cultural departments to host the New Rice Celebration ritual. This recognition reflects the Churu community's steadfast dedication to preserving their culture across generations and in daily life.

The local government is also constructing a Churu Community Cultural Center in the Diom area. Once completed, the center will serve as a dedicated space for the community to gather, preserve, and promote their cultural heritage. To ensure these traditions remain vibrant, the dedication of figures like Ya Hinh is invaluable.

Every rhythmic gong beat and horn note echoing through Diom today tells the story of a past generation, a continuing legacy, and an artisan who tirelessly guards the soul of Churu culture. As long as those sounds resonate throughout the village, the community's identity will endure and flourish for generations to come.