A restless feeling at the sound of a flute.

For generations, the Hmong mouth organ (khen) has not only been a musical instrument but also a spiritual symbol, the embodiment of the culture, soul, and intellect of the Hmong people in the northern part of the province. Made from readily available materials, the khen produces a clear, resonant, and melodious sound that easily evokes memories and awakens emotions in the highlanders.

The khene dance performance is often featured at spring festivals.

The unique characteristics of the Hmong flute.

In the northern part of the province, there are approximately 25,000 Mong ethnic people living, concentrated in the communes of Cao Minh, Nghien Loan, Bang Thanh, Ba Be, Cho Moi, Na Phac, Van Lang, etc.

For generations, the khene (a type of bamboo flute) has been used in many festivals, such as the Long Tong festival at the beginning of spring, village worship ceremonies, harvest prayer ceremonies at the start of the year, and cultural festivals of ethnic groups... The sound of the khene resonates in the fields, in the heart of the village, and amidst the mountains, promising a prosperous life; a feeling of unity, closeness, and love, as if looking towards a bright future that awaits.

Artisan Hoang Minh Tan, Chairman of the Mong Flute Club in Cao Minh commune, shared: "The Mong flute melodies performed at festivals all carry clear messages, encouraging labor, production, and daily life activities... Not only the music , but also the way each piece is played—the way it's played, the embellishments, the breath control, the sustain—creates a unique style, reflecting the creative spirit of the artisans."

Whenever the Hmong flute is played, people of all ages, men and women, join in the music and dance, sharing stories of their lives and the sentiments of the land and mountains. The flute stimulates the communal space, bridging age and status gaps, creating a strong bond.

Based on the artistic value of the Hmong mouth organ, in 2015, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognized "The art of Hmong mouth organ dance of Bac Kan province" as a national intangible cultural heritage. This contributes to the preservation and transmission of the Hmong mouth organ dance art; maintaining the methods of crafting mouth organs using bamboo, the selection of pipes, the playing techniques, the uniformity of tone… all closely linked to the skill of passing down the art from generation to generation.

According to artisan Hoang Minh Tan, despite its immense cultural value, its role in promoting unity and spreading beauty within the community, the Hmong mouth organ is facing many risks of extinction due to various reasons. In particular, with economic development and integration, many young people are leaving their villages to pursue independent trades to earn money, leaving little time to learn the mouth organ. Skilled mouth organ players and craftsmen are getting older, and fewer people want to learn. It is estimated that only a few dozen people in the area are capable of crafting and performing with the instrument...

Currently, the Hmong reed pipe (khen) is mainly found in a limited area, in villages and festivals, lacking proper practice venues. Stage performances, festivals, and competitions are quite rare. Despite attention from various levels of government and localities, the Hmong reed pipe has not yet been effectively integrated into tourism and cultural activities. There are no specialized "Hmong Reed Pipe" tour programs, no large-scale reed pipe festivals to promote it, and no tourism products such as learning to play the reed pipe, watching performances, buying souvenirs, or experiencing reed pipe making have been developed.

Aspiration to preserve and promote the Mong flute culture.

Mr. Ly Hong Quan and his students perform the khene dance.

In fact, some localities such as Cao Minh and Nghien Loan have organized Hmong flute dance classes, combined with guidance on building "Hmong flute clubs" for ethnic minority children and students in the area. These classes are held outside of regular school hours, or every Saturday evening… Artists in the clubs take turns teaching for free; however, the number is still modest compared to the artists' aspirations.

Mr. Ly Hong Quan (from Nghien Loan commune), one of the artisans who has been teaching the Mong flute to young people with a passion for the art form in the locality for many years, hopes that: the competent authorities of the province and locality should consider allocating appropriate funding and mechanisms to enable the locality to organize classes and teach this art form. At the same time, he hopes to develop a plan for a Mong flute festival along with other ethnic art forms on a provincial scale to promote regional exchange…; and to strengthen communication so that tourists know about, enjoy, experience, and spread the culture of the Mong flute.

The Hmong mouth organ in the province is not just a musical instrument, but also a symbol of the Hmong people's identity and aspirations for progress. Preserving and promoting Hmong mouth organ culture means safeguarding and echoing the sounds of the mouth organ, spreading traditional values, and linking this with investment in cultural tourism development and building a rich spiritual life for the people.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/tieu-diem/202508/thao-thuc-mot-tieng-khen-35f0acb/