At the provincial Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities, every Monday morning, students attend the flag-raising ceremony dressed in their colourful traditional costumes. Alongside regular lessons, the school offers classes on Xoe dance, notably the “Dance of Solidarity” - the signature performance of the Thai ethnic group. Today, all students can perform these traditional dances fluently. Notably, over 100 students from the school took part in a grand cultural performance celebrating the 130th founding anniversary of Son La province, proudly showcasing the beauty of local ethnic traditions.

According to Vice Principal Luong Thi Bich Hien, the school currently has nearly 800 students from various ethnic groups including Thai, Mong, Xinh Mun, Kho Mu, Khang, La Ha, and Dao. Alongside improving the quality of teaching and learning, the school prioritises cultural education, weaving lessons on ethnic festivals, customs, folk songs, and games into subjects such as literature, history, and local studies. During national and traditional holidays, students participate in folk sports like crossbow shooting, stick pushing, and stilts walking, as well as music and costume performances, all helping to preserve culture while fostering a friendly, inclusive school environment.

The school also maintains vibrant cultural clubs such as the Mong Flute Club and Brocade Embroidery Club, which attract strong student participation. “By joining the Mong Flute Club, I’ve learned to play traditional melodies like Spring Returns to the Mong Hamlet and Northwest Love Song, performing them at school events,” said Thao Thi Hoa, a Grade 10 student. “These clubs give us a space to develop skills, express our pride, and understand our culture more deeply.”

In Chieng La commune, where six ethnic groups live together, local schools have also developed creative ways to teach cultural heritage. At Tong Co Primary School, every classroom features a “Local Corner” decorated with familiar Thai items such as pieu scarves, bamboo baskets, brocade looms, and miniature stilt houses, bringing students closer to their traditions. “Over 80% of our students are from ethnic minority groups,” said Principal Nguyen Thi Chin. “We not only create cultural spaces in classrooms but also invite local artisans to perform, tell folk stories, and teach traditional khap Thai singing and Xoe dancing. These experiences help students understand and love their ethnic groups.”

Following the education sector’s yearly plan, the Department of Education and Training has directed schools to strengthen the “Friendly Schools, Active Students” movement, maintain courses on local culture, and organise two to three ethnic-themed extracurricular events each semester. Schools are also encouraged to establish cultural and sports clubs that help students build life skills, develop intellectually, physically, and artistically, and avoid social vices.

Integrating ethnic culture into schools through diverse and practical activities has become a distinctive feature of education in Son La. Beyond helping students understand and take pride in their roots, these initiatives shape character, foster civic responsibility, and ignite the cultural spirit of Son La’s ethnic communities in an era of integration and development.