The Lu people and dances of the Sin Ho region

The Lu people in Sin Ho, Lai Chau, still preserve many of their unique traditional cultural features, despite cultural exchanges with other ethnic groups. They live in villages, have a high sense of community cohesion, and mainly live in lowland areas.

The folk songs and dances of the Lu people are rich and diverse, created during their daily lives and productive work. Their folk dances express strength, decisiveness, vigor, and resilience.

Some of the prominent dances of the Lu people, often performed during festivals, holidays, and community cultural events, include:

• The scarf dance: Showcases the softness, grace, and skill of the Lu women.
• Clapping dance: This is a group dance with decisive, cheerful movements, expressing joy and unity.
• Circle dance (or Lu people's circle dance): This is a popular, highly communal group dance. The lively drumming and simple, cheerful rhythm encourage everyone (both guests and hosts) to participate in the circle dance, creating a sense of togetherness and joy after days of hard work. The movements are stylized from activities in daily life and production.

When performing folk songs and dances, the Lu people often use traditional musical instruments such as drums, gongs, and double flutes (also known as mother-child flutes).

The dances and songs of the Lu people are not only a means of entertainment but also a way for them to express their moods and emotions, praise their homeland and the renewed villages, pray for a peaceful and prosperous life, and pass on cultural values ​​from generation to generation.