On visiting Nuoc Vang hamlet and asking for Mr. Nguu Ngot and Nguu Bu is familiar to Khmer people in here. The village elders have guided us to explore culture Tamun-Khmer people.

Village patriarchs of Khmer people witness every wedding or engagement ceremony. Upon break-ups, the married couples have to face judgment of those patriarchs. Those who are judged as ‘betrayal’ in marriage must return wedding awards and face punishments depending on words from the elders who, in the past, were very strong spiritual leaders of the ethnic community.

When we met Nguu Ngot, he has just returned home from hospital. His haggard face became delightful when we asked about his past years.

“Long before, Tamun-Khmer lived sparsely in An Binh, Mia spring, Cam Xo spring, and elsewhere under the rule of a puppet government. I was then assigned by Mr. Nam Pham, Mr. Tu Rau and other revolutionists to work as an agent spying on local puppet authority,” said Mr. Nguu Ngot.

Mr. Nguu Ngot shared that he joined revolutionary movements not only for his patriotism but also for his family tradition. After 1975, he continued to work in position of hamlet vice chief and a member to Phu Giao district’s Fatherland Front Committee.

Only at his 70, he is considered as a knowledgeable and trusted Tamun-Khmer patriarch. He explained that Tamun-Khmer people were once gathered up by then-puppet authority and they were forced to be named with different surnames from their original tradition.

Although he has retired, he still devoted to social activities and charity work. He also participated into reconciliation and gained great respect of local people.

We came to Mr. Nguu Bu who is very friendly. He told us story of his life. Nguu Bu was lucky person to follow his schooling up to third grade of elementary school. He was then designated to continuant course in an agricultural secondary school. With his knowledge, he not only attended activities serving the hamlet but also helped local people with livestock treatment.

What harassed him much was the fact that Tamun-Khmer culture is fading in Binh Duong.

Together with Nguu Ngot, Mr. Nguu Bu and Mr. Kim Nho are leading local Farmer Association and are entrusted by local people. Three of them are exemplary models in movement of “learning and following Ho Chi Minh moral example”. In modern time, they commit to the cause of development.

Reported by Tam Trang – Translated by Vi Bao