The H’mong Ethnic Cultural Festival and the H’mong Khen Festival 2023 is expected to attract a large number of domestic and foreign tourists to explore the unique cultural activities of the H’mong people in Ha Giang province.

Ha Giang province in general and Meo Vac district in particular are inhabited by many ethnic groups. The H’mong people is the major ethnic group in Dong Van Stone Plateau, who are one of the main factors creating the cultural identity of this land. Over thousands of years of formation and development, the H’mong ethnic people in Meo Vac district have built their unique culture, which has been preserved quite well.

With the policy of turning the potential and strengths of heritage into resources for socio-economic development, in recent times, the H’mong ethnic cultural festival has been organized annually by Ha Giang province.

The event has made a practical contribution to promoting the cultural values and identities of ethnic groups in Ha Giang; restoring and developing the good customs and traditions of the H’mong ethnic people, creating impressions that attract a large number of tourists to Ha Giang.

According to the plan, the H’mong Ethnic Cultural Festival and the H’mong Khen Festival 2023 will be organized with many unique contents to showcase the traditional cultural activities of the H’mong ethnic community that has been maintained for hundreds of years.

Khen - the "soul" of the H’mong people

Although the economic life of the people in the rocky plateau has changed a lot, the Khen still maintains its position in the daily life of H’mong people.

In the H’mong language, the Khen is called "chua kenh," which is very important and considered an object of spiritual value, associated with the spiritual life of the H’mong people. The sound of the Khen is considered the "soul" of the H’mong people.

The Khen is attached to the H’mong people every day, every time they go to the market as well as during holidays, Tet holiday, or when they look for a lover... (except weddings).

In particular, the Khen is an indispensable item in funerals, because the H’mong people believe that the sound of the Khen is a tool for the living and the dead to communicate with each other. 

Only with the sound of the Khen then the souls of the dead be brought back to their ancestors. There are more than 60 melodies of Khen in the H’mong funerals, which are used depending on the family situation and the death.

The art of performing the Khen is unique, combining the sounds and movements of the Khen player with the Khen. The Khen player passionately perform the Khen, accompanied by smooth movements. Blowing the Khen goes hand in hand with dancing. When one plays the Khen, his feet cannot stand still. Not only one person plays Khen but up to four people or more. 

Khen performance represents the unique cultural identity of the H’mong community, leaving a deep mark in rituals. At the same time, it reminds young people to remember their roots. It shows a practical meaning of humanity, community, and is a cultural beauty that contributes to promoting and enriching the culture of the ethnic groups in each area. 

Yen Minh