Spring is the season of festivals, an essential part of the cultural and spiritual life of ethnic communities. Early spring festivals provide an opportunity to express sentiments and preserve the traditional cultural beauty of ethnic minorities.
For the Mông ethnic minority people in Điện Biên Province, khèn (a traditional bamboo mouth organ or panpipe) is a unique musical instrument deeply intertwined with their daily lives, adding vibrancy to festivals and celebrations.
In Tủa Chùa District, where over 70% of the population belongs to the Mông ethnic minority group, traditional culture remains rich and vibrant, with khèn standing out as a traditional iconic instrument. It is the soul of the Mông people, closely connected to their labor, spiritual life, and cultural identity. Recognizing its significance, khèn performance of the Mông people (Mông Khèn in short) was officially recognized as an intangible cultural heritage in 2022.
Sounds of khèn in spring on the Tả Phìn rocky plateau.
In recent years, to preserve and promote this traditional cultural heritage in modern life, Tủa Chùa District has actively organized training classes for khèn making and performance. These efforts aim to create spaces for cultural exchange and to develop and promote the art of khèn dancing. Regular activities such as khèn performance at the Tủa Chùa Night Market and cultural exchanges within and beyond the province help sustain and showcase this heritage.
Among the most anticipated events for khèn enthusiasts is the Traditional Mông Khèn Performance Competition, held at the beginning of every year. This event gathers artisans and cultural practitioners to showcase their skills, exchange experiences, and compete together.
Mr. Dương Thanh Sơn, Head Judge of the 2025 Tủa Chùa District’s Traditional Mông Khèn Performance Competition, highlighted that this year’s contest demonstrated significant improvement in quality compared to previous years. Solo, duo, and group performances were well-prepared, covering diverse themes such as celebrating the Party, welcoming spring, and honoring traditional festivals. The event attracted not only seasoned artisans but also young performers who are carrying forward the cultural tradition of their people.
A performance at the 2025 Traditional Mông Khèn Competition in Tủa Chùa District.
This year’s competition brought together over 50 contestants from 12 communes and township in Tủa Chùa District. Dressed in traditional Mông attire, they played khèn with melodies that ranged from lively and rhythmic to soft and melancholic. On the Tả Phìn rocky plateau, these performances vividly depicted the daily lives, emotions, and aspirations of the Mông people, drawing admiration from locals and visitors alike.
Mr. Giàng A Hồ, a 25-year-old contestant from Tủa Chùa township and the youngest participant in the competition, expressed his excitement about the event. He shared that, for the Mông people, celebrating spring is incomplete without the sounds of khèn. This festival provides a great opportunity for newcomers like me to interact with experienced performers and deepen our understanding of our cultural heritage. This year, he competed in both a solo dance performance titled ‘Highland Spring Festival’ and a group performance called ‘Spring Celebration.’
“Winning or losing is not as important as learning from the skilled artisans across the district,” he underlined.
Local youths in an experience-sharing in khèn performance.
Meanwhile, artisan Sình A Tâu from Sính Phình Commune, a regular participant in the festival, said he takes part in Mông Khèn performance event. In addition to presenting pieces celebrating the Party and spring, his team from Sính Phình Commune also performed traditional festival rituals and cultural ceremonies of the Mông people. “This not only enriches the event but also inspires the younger generation to appreciate the significance of khèn in Mông culture,” the artisan stressed.
This spring festive event in Tủa Chùa District, with its khèn performance competition, has created a space rich in Mông cultural identity in the highlands of the Northwestern region. With diverse performances, khèn melodies - sometimes deep and resonant, sometimes soaring and cheerful - echo across mountains, inviting visitors from near and far. Local Mông artisans not only showcase the beauty of their ethnic heritage but also ensure that khèn continues to resonate through the area, keeping the cultural flame alive for future generations.
Trần Nhâm
Dien Bien Phu News - en.baodienbienphu.com.vn - Feb 12, 2025
