"Gia Dinh Haha" - Exploring M’nong Culture Through “Ruou Can” and the Harvest Festival

In Episode 14, the cast had the chance to participate in many activities closely tied to the daily life of the M’nong: planting star apple trees, learning how to roast husks for yeast and brew ruou can, joining the harvest ceremony under the guidance of the village elder, and immersing themselves in the dances and gong music of the locals.

Making Ruou Can and Experiencing Central Highlands Traditions in "Gia Dinh Haha" Episode 14

If earlier chapters showed the cast plowing terraced fields, harvesting cassava, feeding pigs, and picking Shan Tuyet tea in Ban Lien (Lao Cai), working under the blazing sun making salt in Sa Huynh (Quang Ngai), or busy with garden and river life in Ben Tre; this time, in Episode 14, the group experienced something quintessentially tied to the Central Highlands: learning to brew ruou can. The traditional drink is always present in festivals and community gatherings of the M’nong.

The presence of Mrs. Dung - Xim’s mother became a highlight of the episode. She represented both Xim’s family in the M’nong matriarchal tradition and the image of a woman devoted to preserving and passing on M’nong and Central Highlands cultural values.

She explained that brewing ruou can was a familiar practice, as nearly every year Xim’s family prepares a fresh batch to welcome honored guests or to serve at important ceremonies. The process, she said, requires many careful steps: roasting husks until golden, mixing them with steamed sticky rice, sealing the mixture tightly in jars wrapped with galangal leaves, and waiting at least one month before it can be enjoyed.

Mrs. Dung Singing and Sharing With the "Gia Dinh Haha"’s Cast

While roasting the husks, Mrs. Dung cheerfully recalled her memory of traveling to Hanoi to compete in a lullaby contest, where she proudly received a certificate of merit from the Central Government. Her story delighted the group, and soon after, Duy Khanh, Bui Cong Nam, (S)TRONG Trong Hieu, and Rhymastic eagerly asked her to teach them lullabies in the ethnic language. The porch quickly filled with rustic, soothing melodies mixed with the clumsy pronunciation and innocent expressions of “Viet Kieu” (S)TRONG Trong Hieu creating a heartwarming yet humorous moment.

Mrs. Dung on the Matriarchal System of the M’nong

After the laughter, Mrs. Dung spoke more deeply about daily life and the role of women in the community. For the M’nong, women are not only mothers and wives but also the voices of authority within the family. If they are respected, economically capable, and deeply knowledgeable about customs and traditions, they can even become female village elders, revered by the whole community.

This partly explained why Toc Tien was “appointed” as the eldest daughter to represent the cast in visiting the village elder the next morning since under the M’nong matriarchal tradition, women often lead in community rituals.

Meanwhile, the cast also learned many other fascinating cultural insights through conversations with Xim during meals: the unique M’nong canh tro soup, the belief that elephants only recognize one rightful master due to their sacred loyalty, and the taboo that once two people are acknowledged as siblings whether of the same clan or not they can never fall in love or marry.