The event began three years ago when Sung Manh Hung (R), a cultural officer at the Dong Van Regional Cultural Center, noticed that tourists in the old quarter had nowhere to go after dinner and proposed a gathering with dancing and music.

It has caught on since and become one of the most talked-about experiences in Dong Van. Hung is now something of a local celebrity, with visitors asking to take photos with him.

On Feb. 28 tourists arrived early in the old quarter not only for the event but also to meet him. Hung had been working in Xa Phin Commune, more than 25 kilometers away, but returned in time to lead the first dance. He says balancing work by day and hosting the dance at night has become part of his life.