In Bản Bộng, you can hear the melodies of the whole homeland.

(Baonghean.vn) - At the age of 74, Mrs. Lo Thi Huong in Bong village, Thanh Son commune, Anh Son district, still sings clear, melodious folk songs every day. For her, singing is a joy.

From the center of Thanh Son commune, Anh Son district, upstream along the Con River to Bong village. This place is considered a region rich in local culture, with stilt houses clustered together, creating a peaceful atmosphere of a village. If you ask about Mrs. Lo Thi Huong here, everyone knows her, because she is a treasure trove of ancient folk songs.

As soon as we reached the alley, we heard the melodious singing of Mrs. Huong. For us, this was the first time we had heard such an ancient song, so we felt even more delighted; it was a strange yet captivating experience…

Ms. Lo Thi Huong is one of the very few people in Bong village, Thanh Son commune, Anh Son district who still preserve the traditional folk singing style. Photo: Huyen Trang

Over a cup of green tea, Mrs. Huong recounted: “My family has a tradition of singing. When I was young, my mother was also a renowned singer in the area. I was taught the folk songs by my mother and the elders in the village, so I loved them. For me, I only needed to learn each song a couple of times to memorize it and pick the right melody very quickly. At 15, I followed the young people in the village to the forest to gather firewood and pick bamboo shoots. At that time, the folk songs were sung by the village girls to dispel the fear of the deep forest and also to pray to the mountain spirits for protection and guidance.”

"Until now, I can't even remember how many places or how many times I've sung," Ms. Huong added. "For generations, the Thai people in Bong village have considered the 'khap' folk songs as a form of cultural art, a source of spiritual nourishment during labor and production. This intangible cultural form embodies humanistic values, carries the essence of folk culture, and is closely linked to the national identity. That's why, for Ms. Huong, preserving these ancient songs has become a responsibility and a burning passion."

These folk songs are still frequently used by Mrs. Huong in her daily life. Photo: Huyen Trang

Her deepest concern was how to preserve the songs of her homeland and her people amidst the influx of various cultural forms. To enrich the songs of her village and to teach her descendants, Mrs. Huong also composed many new melodies related to the work of farmers, such as building new houses, welcoming the bride, and constructing new bridges.

It is known that Ms. Huong is currently one of the very few people who still preserve and promote the original folk melodies. With her clear, resonant voice, and her ability to sing many melodies well, Ms. Huong has participated in cultural and artistic exchanges in the district and province many times, and has won numerous awards.

With all her passion, effort, and desire to preserve and promote this art form, Ms. Lo Thi Huong has been contributing to revitalizing and enlivening it.

Huyen Trang