The elaborate kite flying hobby of an 80-year-old man in Nghe An

Mr. Dinh Xuan Quang (Hamlet 5, Lac Son Commune, Do Luong) currently owns dozens of kite flutes. His kite flutes are made from familiar items such as soft drink cans, dried gourds, plastic tubes, aluminum hand pumps, bamboo tubes, etc. Although homemade, these flutes resonate and whistle magically when the kites soar in the air.

Mr. Dinh Xuan Quang is a long-time kite player and collector. Photo: Ngoc Phuong

This year, he is 78 years old, but Mr. Quang still makes kites, makes flutes and flies them every day. Passionate about kites, he has known how to make kites since he was 10 years old. His family has a tradition of making and flying kites for many generations. Inheriting the way of making and flying kites from his father, Mr. Quang learned the secret of making flute kites very quickly.

His childhood passed quickly with kites flying in the wind, when he grew up he joined the army and went from one battlefield to another. In 1984, he retired under the regime, returned to his hometown, and continued his hobby of making and flying kites during the summer.

Mr. Dinh Xuan Quang's flute collection. Photo: Ngoc Phuong

When asked about the kite making process, he spoke enthusiastically and did not hide the family secret. He shared: "To make a kite, the upper wing must be hard and the two ends flexible. Bamboo for the kite frame must be selected and cut at the right time from November to December of the lunar calendar. The bamboo to make the kite's eyes must be even, straight, and not curved. After cutting, dry the bamboo, do not soak it. If soaked in water, the kite will weaken quickly. When sharpening the bamboo to make the kite's wings, it must be sharpened evenly, hard in the middle, and softer towards the end. The length and width of the kite must correspond to a ratio of 1/3." As for the fabric to make kites, Mr. Quang often uses the fabric of damaged umbrellas, because the fabric of umbrellas is very durable and light.

In addition to making kites, making flutes to attach to kites is also very elaborate. Mr. Quang demonstrated his high skill when making kite flutes from a variety of materials. He said that there are many types of flutes to attach to kites such as: 2-slot flutes, 3-slot flutes. And there are also 3-slot flutes, 5-slot flutes, 7-slot flutes, 9-slot flutes. Materials to make flutes can be from soft drink cans, dried pomelos, bamboo, reeds, plastic pipes... The flute mouth is made of yellow heart wood or jackfruit wood. The most difficult part of making kites and flutes is making the mouth of the flute, which must create a clear, long-lasting sound when exposed to the wind, with high and low pitches...

Mobile phone batteries and LED lights are used to attach to the kite so that the kite can be seen at night. Photo: Ngoc Phuong

To fly kites at night, Mr. Quang invented a light for the kite. It is a battery from a mobile phone attached to a tiny LED light. Thanks to the battery's power source, the LED light will be red all night long.

Currently, in addition to dozens of flutes of all kinds, Mr. Quang's house also has 9 flute kites, the longest is 5m, then there are other sizes from 3.5m to 3.2m, 2.5m, 2.2m. When he makes a kite, he often gives it to friends, children, and people who share the same hobby of flying kites.

Mr. Quang flies a kite in the field. Photo: Ngoc Phuong

Despite his advanced age, every summer afternoon on the windy fields, he and many friends, both old and young, enjoy flying kites. Then the sound of the kite flute resonates throughout the countryside…