For the past four decades, Ha Nam Ninh, a 75-year-old ethnic Thai man from Thanh Hoa province, has dedicated his life to collecting, preserving, and teaching the ancient Thai script.

Thanks to a handwritten Thai alphabet given to him by a former provincial leader, he became fluent in reading and writing his native language, setting him on a lifelong mission to protect this cultural heritage.

A lifelong passion for the Thai script

Born in 1949 in Canh Nang town, Ba Thuoc district, Thanh Hoa province, Ha Nam Ninh was fluent in spoken Thai from childhood. However, like many in his community, he never learned how to read or write the script.

"As a teacher, I often wondered, 'Why do we have our own script but can't read or write it?' I wanted to learn but didn’t know where to start," Ninh recalled.

In 1985, while attending a provincial meeting, Ninh met Ha Van Ban, then Vice Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee. Ban, a scholar of Thai culture, was shocked when Ninh admitted he couldn't read Thai script.

"He scolded me, saying, 'A Thai person who can't read Thai is unacceptable, especially for a government official!'" Ninh recounted. Ban then handwrote the Thai alphabet for him on the spot.

Motivated, Ninh quickly memorized the letters, practiced reading and writing, and began collecting ancient texts. Over the years, he amassed a vast collection of historical manuscripts, poetry, and folklore dating back centuries.

His collection includes priceless works such as:

“The Journey to Heaven” (written during King Le Chieu Tong’s reign)
“The Tale of Kham Panh”
“Khun Lu - Nang Ua”
“Song Chu Son Sao”
“The Love Story of Pha Dua”

These texts reflect the traditions, beliefs, and way of life of the Thai people, making them invaluable cultural artifacts.

Teaching Thai for free to keep it alive

Recognizing the importance of preserving the language, Ninh began teaching Thai script for free to locals. He also developed instructional materials, including the Thai Alphabet of Thanh Hoa, a Thai-Vietnamese teaching guide, and translations of ancient texts into Vietnamese.

In 2006, when Thanh Hoa province officially promoted Thai language education, Ninh, then Vice Chairman of the district’s Education Promotion Association, launched a Thai language class at the district government office.

By 2007, the Thanh Hoa Department of Education and Training invited him to train teachers at Hong Duc University in preparation for the provincial Thai language curriculum.

Every summer since then, Ninh and his students have traveled to remote districts to teach Thai to teachers and government workers of ethnic backgrounds.

Despite his advanced age, Ninh remains deeply committed to passing on his knowledge to younger generations.

In 2015, he was awarded the title of “Meritorious Artisan” by the President of Vietnam for his contributions to preserving ethnic cultural heritage.