As one of the three most populous ethnic groups in Dien Bien province, the Mong people mainly live in high mountainous areas and still preserve many unique cultural values, from their flute music, traditional costumes, handicrafts to customs and festivals. In today's life, these values are continuing to be passed down and promoted, contributing to the unique cultural identity of Dien Bien.
Preservation begins in community life.
In the cultural life of the Hmong people, the sound of the Hmong flute has long been associated with the spiritual life of the community. In the highland commune of Sinh Phinh, the sound of the Hmong flute is still present in many cultural activities, becoming a familiar part of the lives of the people.
According to the distinguished artisan Sinh A Tau, the khene (a type of bamboo mouth organ) holds a special place for the Hmong people. From a young age, many men in the village have been introduced to the khene, learning how to play and use this traditional instrument. Those who know it first pass it on to those who don't, and adults guide the younger generation, so that the khene continues to live on in community life.
For Mr. Sinh A Tau, teaching the khene (a type of bamboo flute) is not just about passing on the skill of playing an instrument, but also about instilling in the younger generation a deeper understanding of their culture, customs, and national pride. Those who know how to play the khene are therefore always conscious of guiding the younger generation, ensuring that each generation has successors and that the melodies of the khene are not interrupted over time.
Passing on the craft is also considered a responsibility to the community by those knowledgeable in making the khene (a type of bamboo flute). Mr. Sung A Cau, from Sinh Phinh commune, said that as long as he is healthy, he is willing to teach people in his village how to make khene. For him, the older the generation gets, the more they need to pass on the skills they have accumulated to the younger generation, so that the craft of khene making does not fade away.
In 2022, the art of crafting and playing the Hmong flute in Dien Bien province was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. This is an acknowledgment of the cultural values that have been preserved by the community through many generations, and also creates further motivation for the transmission, preservation, and promotion of the Hmong flute.
Besides the Hmong flute, traditional clothing is also an important part of the Hmong people's cultural life. To create a dress, a woman must go through many stages from weaving, dyeing with indigo, creating patterns, to embroidering and piecing together fabric pieces. Each stitch not only shows skill but also contains patterns and colors passed down through generations.
For Ms. Ho Thi Do, from Sa Long commune, making traditional costumes has become an integral part of her life. Since childhood, Ms. Do has been taught embroidery by her mother. After getting married and having children, she continued to teach them embroidery techniques and the traditional patterns of the Hmong people.
"The patterns are passed down from the elders in the village, from mother to daughter, and from one generation to the next," shared Ms. Ho Thi Do.
From simple traditions passed down within families, the patterns on Hmong traditional clothing continue to be present in modern life. Not only worn during festivals, holidays, and community activities, traditional clothing is also incorporated into cultural and tourism activities, becoming a way to introduce the Hmong identity to visitors.
Expand the space for culture to be present.
Hmong culture is also reflected in festivals, holidays, and community activities. Traditional rituals, costumes, rice cakes, dances, and flute music create a distinctive cultural space where the community meets, preserves customs, and showcases its identity to tourists.
In some villages, these values are being incorporated into community-based tourism development. Traditional clothing becomes an experiential product; handicrafts, cuisine , and community activities become content for tourists to learn about the lives of the Hmong people. These values, which are inherently linked to daily life, are not only preserved but also given more space to continue to be present and promoted.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Chuyen, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dien Bien province, the Mong culture in Dien Bien has unique characteristics, expressed through many traditional values, including tangible cultural values such as houses, tools, clothing, and traditional rituals. Preserving and promoting Mong cultural values should aim at creating suitable cultural and tourism products. Through this, traditional values will not only be preserved within the community but also widely introduced, helping tourists better understand the land, culture, and people of the Mong in Dien Bien.
This direction is also reflected in the context of Dien Bien hosting the 4th Mong Ethnic Culture Festival, from October 9-11, 2026. The festival brings together artisans, performers, and amateur athletes of the Mong ethnic group from 11 provinces and cities, creating a space for exchange and showcasing the diverse cultural nuances of the Mong people from different regions.
The activities are organized with a focus on identity and experience, featuring Hmong flute performances, introductions to traditional costumes and crafts, folk art, cultural exhibitions, and spaces for experiencing traditional cuisine and folk games. Through these, locals and tourists have the opportunity to directly learn about and appreciate the cultural values preserved by the community.
Some activities also link culture with community tourism spaces, including the Tu Lu-Tia Lo cultural village experience program in Pu Nhi commune. This is a way to bring culture out of the performance space, allowing tourists to directly meet the community, learn about the life, food, traditional crafts, and cultural activities of the Hmong people.
Through this festival, the cultural values of the Hmong ethnic group gain more space for introduction, exchange, and connection between localities. At the same time, culture is not only approached from a preservation perspective, but is also gradually promoted in tourism development, creating more space for the community to participate in and benefit from its own cultural values.
With values passed down through generations, the Mong cultural identity in Dien Bien continues to be enriched in the flow of life today. This is the foundation for traditional cultural features to be preserved, spread, and continue to accompany the community in the future.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/giu-mach-nguon-van-hoa-mong-qua-tung-nhip-khen-sac-tho-cam-o-dien-bien-post1139795.vnp
