"Gia Dinh Haha": Members Join the Harvest Ceremony Before Bidding Farewell to Toc Tien

Dressed in traditional attire, the members joined the village elder in preparing offerings for the Harvest Ceremony: carving the cay neu (ceremonial pole) with a traditional knife, cooking rice to offer the gods, and raising cups of ruou can in ritual.

After the ceremony, Mrs. Dung - Xim’s mother - arrived with her own jar of ruou can. The members expressed gratitude and congratulations to the elder, the shaman, and Xim. Ba Nam, himself a native of Dak Lak, shared that although he had often met the E De people before, this journey made him realize how much of his own homeland’s culture he had overlooked.

Despite language barriers, the warmth and affection of the villagers created a strong sense of connection. During the communal meal, the atmosphere grew livelier as everyone joined Mrs. Dung, the elder, and the villagers in music, immersing themselves in the sounds of gongs and the unique melodies of the M’nong people.

One afternoon, Mrs. Dung visited and taught the members how to brew traditional ruou can. She carefully explained each step: roasting husks until fragrant and golden, letting them cool, kneading them with cooked rice, and then mixing with yeast to ferment.

While working, she spoke about the life of M’nong women in the matriarchal system: they are the pillars of the household, hold influence in family and society, but also bear heavy responsibilities. In some clans, women who are knowledgeable about social policies, economically capable, and deeply familiar with customs can even become female village elders, respected by the entire community.

As always, "Gia Dinh Haha" remained tied to the fields. In Dak Lak, the group once again followed Xim to the land to plant trees, echoing the show’s earliest episodes. In Ban Lien, planting had symbolized renewal and greening barren hillsides; here in the Central Highlands, the gift symbolized a bond. Ba Nam added his wish: “When the tree bears fruit, think of us.” The group promised to return to Dak Lak one day to see the "Gia Dinh Haha" star apple tree bloom and bear fruit - a living symbol of their friendship and shared memories.

The farewell dinner for Toc Tien began with the M’nong invitation “sa pieng” - come eat. All the dishes that night were “made in M’nong,” as Anh Hai Thien playfully described.

Toc Tien shared that what impressed her most was that the program had no script: everyone was relaxed, happy, and able to experience new things. She recalled personal memories with the members: collaborating with Ba Nam on music but not meeting in person for three years, or knowing Anh Ca Thuan for over a decade but rarely having the chance to work side by side.

Xim admitted that when he first heard seven artists would be visiting his home, he feared fame might create a distance. But over time, he realized they were nothing like his assumptions. The "Gia Dinh Haha" members were warm, approachable, and sincere. Before parting with Toc Tien, he gifted her a hand-embroidered Central Highlands hat and a jar of his family’s ruou can.