For the Mong people, the flute is far more than a simple musical instrument. It is a confidant, a source of comfort in moments of joy and sorrow alike. Its melodies give voice to inner thoughts and emotions, expressing affection and longing for a beloved. Yet in modern life, as young people immerse themselves in contemporary music, smartphones, and new entertainment trends, the sound of the flute has grown fainter across the hamlets.

These heartfelt reflections from Thao A Tung, an artist of the provincial Centre for Culture and the Arts, help people better understand and admire young individuals like him who continue to nurture their passion for traditional instruments.

With a deep love for ethnic musical instruments, especially the Mong flute, and formal training at the Military University of Culture and Arts, Tung represents a generation of young Mong ethnics who are not only passionate but also knowledgeable, talented, and wholeheartedly devoted to folk performance. Over many years in the arts, he has become a source of inspiration, directly teaching flute techniques to locals and Mong flute clubs across the province. As a result, images of Gen Z boys and girls engrossed in their bamboo flutes are appearing more frequently. For these young people, playing the flute is no longer merely a duty to preserve culture; it is a voluntary commitment and a proud affirmation of their identity as “children of the mountains and forests”.

At the provincial Boarding School for Ethnic Students - the cradle for educating Son La’s ethnic minority students, the Mong Flute Club brings together students united by their passion for the traditional bamboo flute, maintaining regular practice and spreading their love for this emblematic cultural art form.

Vu A Hoang, leader of the club, shared that the boarding school environment provides favourable conditions for daily practice and frequent exchanges to improve together. The club currently has 66 members, primarily bamboo flute players, along with performers of several other Mong wind instruments. Whenever opportunities arise, members bring the flute’s melodies to performances across the region, proudly introducing their ethnic heritage to friends and audiences near and far.

From their passion for the flute, many young people in localities with growing tourism have begun transforming their talent into a way to both promote culture and earn additional income. Giang A Ky, a 12th-grade student at Van Ho High School, began learning flute playing at an early age. Now proficient in various techniques and capable of adapting tonal nuances to different melodies, he continuously refines his skills, performing pieces that range from traditional to contemporary. Today, Ky has become something of a young “artist,” invited to perform every weekend at Moc Chau pedestrian street and night market, A Chu Homestay, and other popular tourist destinations.

Speaking about his passion, Ky confided that the flute has been his companion since childhood. Every joy, sorrow, and unspoken thought can be poured into its melodies. Together with three friends, he regularly performs the flute for tourists. The work provides additional income to support his study and offers the joy of meeting visitors from all over, especially international tourists, to whom he proudly introduces the beauty of Mong culture. Today, many younger children in his hamlet are also learning and developing a passion for the flute.

Through these young individuals, love for the bamboo flute has quietly spread, igniting enthusiasm among those around them. A sense of responsibility for preserving traditional cultural heritage has taken root within this new generation, thus helping elevate their culture to new heights and allowing the Mong flute to soar ever higher, and shine brightly in the spirit of the times.