Along a stream in Khe Cat Village, Truong Son Commune, Quang Tri Province, the sound of village elder Ho Ai's flute blends with the melodies of Sa Not, the epic of the Bru Van Kieu people. These simple yet evocative notes reflect the community's rich cultural traditions while carrying spiritual values that have been preserved for generations.

For the Bru Van Kieu people, the flute is much more than a musical instrument. Traditional beliefs hold that its melodies allow people to express their emotions and convey prayers to the spiritual world. As a result, the flute plays an important role in ceremonies, festivals and community gatherings.

Crafted from bamboo and other forest materials found in the Truong Son mountains, the Bru Van Kieu make several types of flutes. The Khui flute is commonly associated with performances of the Sa Not epic and everyday life, while the Pi and Sui flutes are reserved for sacred rituals.

For many years, Ho Ai has quietly dedicated himself to preserving this cultural heritage. In addition to performing, he teaches young people in the village every step of the tradition, from selecting raw materials and crafting the instruments to mastering flute-playing techniques.

"This is the legacy handed down by our grandparents and parents. If our children and grandchildren neither know nor learn it, one day it will disappear. That is why I am always willing to teach, so the sound of the flute will continue to echo through our villages," Ho Ai said.

For the Bru Van Kieu people, preserving the flute also means safeguarding traditional knowledge, customs and their cultural identity.

Tran Van Du, a resident of Khe Cat Village, said he grew up listening to master musicians perform the flute during festivals and community events. However, as many skilled flute players grow older, he believes passing the tradition on to younger generations has become increasingly urgent.

"If we want to preserve our culture, there must be people to carry it forward. Young people need to understand the value of the flute if this tradition is to survive," Du said.

According to artisan Ho Ai, the flute is a precious legacy inherited from previous generations. Every melody and every stage of its craftsmanship reflects the life experience and spiritual world of the Bru Van Kieu community.

Hoang Trong Duc, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Truong Son Commune, said preserving the traditional culture of ethnic minority communities is a key priority for the local government. Authorities are studying plans to organize classes on flute performance and traditional folk arts for younger generations while strengthening the role of master artisans in passing on cultural heritage.

Meanwhile, Mai Xuan Thanh, Deputy Director of the Quang Tri Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the most sustainable way to preserve cultural heritage is for the Bru Van Kieu community itself to continue practicing and transmitting its traditions across generations.

In recent years, Quang Tri Province has introduced various initiatives to preserve the traditional culture of ethnic minority communities. These include maintaining folk culture clubs and creating more opportunities for the Bru Van Kieu flute and other cultural traditions to be practiced regularly, particularly by young people.

The province has also completed documentation recommending that village elder Ho Ai be awarded the title of Meritorious Artisan in recognition of his contributions to preserving and passing on the Bru Van Kieu flute performance tradition.

"Cultural preservation must remain closely connected with people's daily lives. When communities recognize the value of their heritage in the present day, they will have greater motivation to preserve it and pass it on to future generations," Thanh said.

Amid the pace of modern life, the sound of the Bru Van Kieu flute continues to resonate through the vast Truong Son mountains, standing as a symbol of identity, faith and the cultural memory of a community determined to preserve its unique heritage.

Hai Sam