In Hua Rốm, where 100 percent of the residents are Hmông, preserving traditional culture is not merely a slogan displayed on wooden walls. Instead, it is an “underground current” that quietly continues to “flow” through people’s thinking and everyday way of life.

Amid the deep green mountains and forests of the Northwestern region, Hua Rốm has the tranquil beauty of a highland community. With 142 households and 739 residents, Hua Rốm has long been known for the enduring vitality of its traditional culture, passed down from generation to generation.

Elderly people in Hua Rốm often say that wherever the Hmông go, the sound of the khèn and traditional folk games go with them. Artisan Giàng A Chu, 72 years old, puts it this way: “Without the spinning sound of the tù lu on the ground or the sight of a pao ball swaying in the wind, a Hmông person’s ‘heart’ feels as empty as a forest tree deprived of sunlight.”

What makes Hua Rốm particularly special, however, is that these games do not merely “come alive” during the Lunar New Year or festival occasions. They remain a vibrant part of everyday life.

The equipment used for traditional games in Hua Rốm is all handmade. The sturdy wooden tù lu spinning top and shuttlecocks made from chicken feathers are crafted by the skillful hands of the village’s own “artisans.” From a rough piece of forest wood, carefully carved and polished, the tù lu is shaped with remarkable balance so that, when its string is pulled, it can spin rapidly on the hard ground.

In Hua Rốm, when talking about those who “keep the spirit alive” and remain closely connected to traditional folk games, villagers often mention artisan Giàng A Chu. Though now in his later years, whenever he picks up a piece of wood to make a traditional tù lu, his hands-hardened by years of working in the fields-remain remarkably skillful.

“If you are Hmông, you must know the traditional games of your people. The tù lu, pao ball and shuttlecock are not simply toys for entertainment. They are the roots and the cultural essence handed down by our ancestors. As long as I have the strength, I will continue carving tù lu tops and teaching my children and grandchildren how to make and play them. We must make sure that young people see, preserve and develop a love for traditional games. Only then can our culture avoid fading away,” Giàng A Chu said.

There are no formal textbooks or structured curricula. Cultural transmission in Hua Rốm takes place as naturally as breathing. Those who know more teach those who know less; grandparents pass their knowledge on to parents, and parents teach their children. In this way, a love for traditional culture is passed from one generation to the next.

Having learned the skills from artisan Giàng A Chu, Giàng A Thể has now become one of the talented young artisans in Hua Rốm. Watching him carefully adjust the weight and balance of a tù lu, or meticulously attach each chicken feather to a bamboo base, one can appreciate the craftsmanship and respect that local people devote to their traditional games.

The most encouraging development in Hua Rốm today is the proactive participation of local teenagers and young people. No longer held back by distance or hesitation, young people are embracing folk games with a sense of pride in their cultural heritage.

“Our youth union branch currently has more than 20 members, and basically all of them can make the equipment used for traditional games themselves. Thanks to the guidance of older generations, young people in Hua Rốm today not only see these as forms of entertainment but also understand their responsibility to preserve the culture of the Hmông people,” said Vàng A Thanh, Secretary of the Hua Rốm village Youth Union branch.

While young men in the village build physical strength through tù lu games, women in Hua Rốm also take part in physical activities with colorful pao balls.

According to Giàng Thị Co, making a beautiful and well-balanced pao ball requires care at every stage, from selecting and sewing the fabric to filling it with flax seeds. Girls in the village are taught how to make pao balls by their grandmothers and mothers from an early age. Whenever they have free time, the women gather in small groups to sew pao balls, chatting as they work and passing their skills on to younger girls.

Speaking about traditional games and cultural life within the community, Vàng A Săng, Head of Hua Rốm village, could not hide his pride. Counting off the names on his fingers, Săng said: “Hua Rốm currently has 10 people with an in-depth understanding of traditional culture and 22 key figures in arts and sports who regularly represent the village and commune at cultural performances and competitions, from the commune and provincial levels to national events.”

According to Vàng A Sình, Secretary of the Hua Rốm village Party Cell: “The Party Cell has always identified maintaining and preserving traditional games as an important task in safeguarding ethnic identity. From the Party organization to the village’s socio-political organizations, everyone regularly encourages and creates opportunities for residents to practice and interact with one another. As villagers remain united and their spiritual lives become increasingly rich, we gain even more motivation to continue preserving these precious values.”

As dusk casts its shadows over the distant mountain ranges, the courtyard in front of the Hua Rốm village cultural house becomes livelier than ever. Elderly people sit by the cultural house, watching their children and grandchildren play tù lu. Pairs of young men and women toss brightly colored pao balls back and forth in the afternoon sunlight.

Together, these scenes create a vibrant picture of community life. In this space, older people rediscover memories, while younger generations find joy in traditional games.

In Hua Rốm, traditional cultural values continue to exist naturally in everyday life. As long as the tù lu continues to spin on the ground and pao balls continue to fly between skillful hands, the cultural identity of the Hmông people here will continue to flow, resilient and intact, just like the generations of forest trees that have endured through time and continue to reach skyward on the summit of Hua Rốm.