Village Elder A Lang Doi – A Companion of the Village Since Its Earliest Days

Some people come to Toom Sara for work; others stay because they've fallen in love with the place. For the Toom Sara team, he isn't just a colleague - he's the one who patiently tells the story of Co Tu culture to every visitor who passes through.

Since the earliest days of building the Village, he has been closely tied to every Guol communal house, every corner of the village, and every group of visitors who came through. Many people still call him the "village elder" of Toom Sara, because whenever guests arrive, he's always the one patiently sharing Co Tu culture with pride and affection.

He talks about the life of forest-dwelling people, about traditional Zo Ra bamboo tubes, about brocade woven by the hands of Co Tu women, about the sound of gongs and drums, and about the wooden statues standing in front of the Guol house. He doesn't tell it like a tour guide's script, he tells it like the story of his own homeland.

Perhaps what he has always wanted is simply for more people to understand, love, and appreciate the values that the Co Tu people have preserved across generations.

A Time Set Aside for Family

When his family was expecting a new member, he and his wife decided to return home to care for their small household. He went back to earning a living like any other man, spending most of his time on everyday life.

Even so, whenever the Village came up in conversation, his eyes would still light up with joy. Because for him, it wasn't just a workplace - it was the place where he had poured his love for Co Tu culture.

A Return to Continue What He Always Believed In

When the team at the Village invited him back, Mr. Doi agreed - not to start a new job, but to continue the journey he had once chosen.

This time, he brought his small family back to the Village with him. Every day, he joins the team in welcoming guests, guiding experiences, telling stories about Co Tu culture, and passing on what his ancestors taught him since childhood.

He still believes that culture is preserved most enduringly when more people are able to touch it, listen to it, and experience it for themselves.

Continuing to Tell the Story of the Co Tu People

Today, if you visit Toom Sara Village, Da Nang, you might find Mr. Doi sitting by the Guol house, guiding a small group in making Zo Ra bamboo tubes, introducing the art of brocade weaving, or telling children why the Co Tu people have always loved and protected the mountains and forests.

These are simple stories, told by a true son of the mountains - and this is how A Lang Doi continues to preserve Co Tu culture, not only for today's generation, but for all those who will find their way to the Village in the years to come.