 |
| Traditional music has accompanied the local people through the ups and downs of history - Photo: AT |
Village artisans
In the cozy stilt house of Mr. Ho Van Vat in Ka Tang village, Lao Bao commune, the golden ta lu and khen be instruments, gleaming in the sunlight of the vast forest, are skillfully arranged in a corner. The space is subtly scented with the gentle aroma of dried bamboo and reeds, mingled with the scent of forest wax, a binding agent that creates a harmonious soundscape. With calloused yet incredibly skillful hands, Mr. Vat meticulously carves and shapes even the smallest details to craft these traditional musical instruments of the local people.
“The bamboo flute and the ta lu lute are the soul of our people. I make them not just for display, but to preserve the voice of the mountains for future generations. Every time I pick up a bamboo stick or a reed tube to sharpen, I remember the old days, when the village held a festival and the sounds of the flute and lute echoed joyfully across the mountain slopes,” Mr. Vat confided.
 |
| A space displaying traditional musical instruments belonging to Mr. Ho Van Vat, Ka Tang village, Lao Bao commune - Photo: AT |
Not far from there, there is an old craftsman who has dedicated his entire life to the art of the bamboo flute. That is Mr. Ho Van Chon from Ky Tang village, Lia commune, affectionately known by the villagers as "the guardian of the breath of the great forest." At his advanced age, with eyes as dim as the morning mist on the mountaintop, craftsman Ho Van Chon still diligently works on crafting bamboo flutes. For him, this is not just a means of livelihood, but also a way to express his intense love for his ancestral culture.
“I learned to make bamboo mouth organs (khen bè) when I was young. Back then, the sound of the khen was like the soul of the village; you could hear it everywhere. Because I loved the sound of the khen bè, I taught myself and learned from those who came before me. Making a khen bè isn't actually too difficult, but it requires meticulousness, patience, and especially a passion for music . Every time I hold a newly made khen in my hands and play a familiar melody and hear the sound resonate exactly as I intended, I feel incredibly happy,” shared artisan Ho Van Chon.
For millennia, the traditional musical instruments of the Van Kieu and Pa Ko people have been close companions, accompanying the people through the ups and downs of history. These sounds are like breath, intertwined with the lives of the villagers from birth, through life, until death. They are also sacred sounds amidst the vast forests during festivals and spiritual rituals, such as the New Rice Festival and the Ariêu Ping ceremony.
 |
| Artisan Ho Van Chon in Ky Tang village, Lia commune, making bamboo flutes - Photo: AT |
“For the Van Kieu and Pa Ko people, traditional musical instruments are not simply for blowing or plucking; they are the soul of the village, the voice of their ancestors passed down through generations. From the time a child is in the cradle listening to their mother's lullaby, to when young men and women learn to date in the fields, and even when they return to their ancestors, the sound of musical instruments is always there to accompany them,” said artisan Ho Inh, Chairman of the Traditional Culture and Arts Club of Lia commune.
Preserve the sounds of the vast forest.
Since ancient times, traditional music has been considered the "language" through which villagers tell each other stories about the history of their villages and the ups and downs of life in the highlands. It is the joyful sound of a bountiful harvest, a sacred prayer sent to the gods, and a bond that strengthens the bonds of brotherhood amidst countless hardships. Today, these musical instruments carry the unceasing concerns of dedicated artisans who strive to preserve the cultural heritage of their ancestors.
“The reality is that young people today are no longer interested in traditional ethnic musical instruments. That’s something I’m always concerned about. I’m always willing to teach young people in the village who want to learn. I just hope they understand that preserving traditional musical instruments means preserving the roots left by our ancestors,” confided artisan Ho Van Vat from Ka Tang village, Lao Bao commune.
With that concern in mind, for many years, Mr. Ho Van Vat has devoted much effort to participating in training courses to teach the techniques of crafting traditional musical instruments to the younger generation. Mr. Ho Van Hoan, Head of Ka Tang village, Lao Bao commune, said: “Our village is very proud to have someone like Mr. Ho Van Vat. Not only does he make the instruments himself, but he is also very enthusiastic in teaching many young people in the commune. In the recent crafting training courses, thanks to Mr. Vat's guidance, many young people in the village have begun to learn how to distinguish good bamboo, how to carve and shape them, and understand the value of traditional musical instruments.”
On the veranda of their stilt houses, these artisans, though their eyesight may be failing, silently pass on their passion for their ancestral culture to the younger generation with all the dedication and wisdom accumulated over a lifetime of connection with the melodious sounds of the instruments. They understand that as long as the younger generation cherishes and respects each instrument, the stream of heritage will continue to flow.
“Life is like a yellow leaf on a tree; one day it will fall. I'm not afraid of death, I'm only afraid that when I close my eyes, no one will know how to make bamboo flutes anymore. Now, seeing the young people willing to listen to me and get acquainted with the bamboo tubes, I'm very happy. I've told them: Don't let the bamboo flute fall silent. Our ancestors preserved it through bombs and bullets, so our descendants must preserve it now that the village is peaceful,” added artisan Ho Van Chon from Ky Tang village, Lia commune.
 |
| Passionate artisans dedicated to the traditional musical instruments of the Van Kieu and Pa Ko people - Photo: AT |
Ho Dinh Nhan, from Ky Tang village, Lia commune, shared: “When artisan Ho Van Chon patiently guided me, I realized how difficult and precious it is to shape a bamboo stick and select a piece of forest wax to make a mouth organ. Seeing the sweat on his face, I promised myself that I would study diligently. I want the hands of future generations to be able to create and play the sounds of our ethnic group, so that it doesn't fade away.”
Although modern life may sweep away many old values, we believe that as long as dedicated artisans continue to diligently preserve the rhythm, the traditional musical instruments of the Van Kieu and Pa Ko people will forever remain an endless love song amidst the mountains and forests of western Quang Tri .
“The traditional musical instrument system of the Van Kieu and Pa Ko ethnic groups is not merely a means of expressing popular music, but a repository of their entire worldview and philosophy of life through sound and history, adapted to the vast forest environment of their communities. The most unique aspect is the structure and flexibility of these instruments. They have a simple construction from bamboo, rattan, and forest wood, yet they possess the ability to mimic natural sounds with remarkable subtlety. In the context of today's strong cultural exchange, preserving these instruments is not just about preserving a physical product, but about preserving the cultural identity of the ethnic groups,” shared Dr. Nguyen Thang Long, from the Central Vietnam Branch of the Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism.
Ms. Ho Thi Thuy, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Lia Commune, said: “In recent years, the local Party committee and government have always prioritized the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values, especially musical instruments. We have proactively coordinated with relevant departments and levels to organize training courses and teach the crafting and use of musical instruments to the younger generation. At the same time, the commune encourages the inclusion of traditional music forms in festivals and school activities. In the future, we will continue to research policies to support artisans and create more beneficial playgrounds so that the cultural heritage of the Van Kieu and Pa Ko ethnic groups can continue to be sustainably preserved in modern life.”
Snowlight
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/van-hoa/202606/gin-giu-thanh-am-dai-ngan-ca11447/
![[Image] A look back at the capital's preparations for the century-long master plan.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/06/29/1782750453122_quy-hoach-100-nam-minh-duy-1-2118-jpg.webp)
![[Photo] General Secretary and President To Lam works with the Party Committee of the Government on the work of preventing and combating storms, floods, extreme natural disasters and climate change.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/06/29/1782729441945_a1-bnd-0385-9454-jpg.webp)
