Man revives Vietnamese Town with traditional dance
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Sung Manh Hung, a 34-year-old in Vietnam’s Tuyen Quang Province, attracted tourists to Dong Van Ancient Town by sharing videos of traditional Hmong dances.
Three years ago, Dong Van lacked evening activities for visitors, who primarily walked around the historic town. Hung began posting videos of himself dancing, and the clips gained international attention, prompting people to travel to Dong Van specifically to meet him and participate in the dances.
Every evening at 8:00 pm, Hung leads open dance sessions in the town’s community area, modifying the traditional steps to include visitors from all backgrounds. He aimed to create a space where people could connect and celebrate Vietnamese culture, and his efforts have changed Dong Van. The town now sees more tourists staying longer, rather than just passing through, and has welcomed visitors from 124 countries.
Hung has also built a team of ten local performers, prioritizing young people from low-income families. Previously, many young people left Dong Van to find work, but now they can earn a living by sharing their culture with tourists. Pham Duc Nam, chairman of the Dong Van Commune People’s Committee, confirmed that Hung’s work has helped spread local culture and increase awareness of preserving cultural heritage.
