At the largest house in the market, the Hong Mi Folk Arts Club from Ban Pho commune are performing folk music. The audience is captivated by the sounds of flutes and panpipes amid the scent of beeswax smoke. Nguyen Van Tuan, a tourist from Binh Duong province, said: “It takes time to explore and fully understand an indigenous culture. This is my third visit and I’m still learning about the culture of Bac Ha market.”

Giang A Hai is the Head of the Hong Mi Folk Arts Club (Photo: VOV)

The Hong Mi Folk Arts Club led by Giang A Hai used to be the Bac Ha Mong Panpipe Club. Born in Si Ma Cai district, Hai has been fond of traditional culture since his childhood. Hai, who works for the mobile information team of Bac Ha district’s Center for Culture, Sports, and Communication, has made a great effort to preserve and promote the Mong ethnic minority culture and connect it to tourism development. Hai and other club members have made the Mong culture space a favourite of tourists.

Hai said:“Our effort to preserve our traditional culture has gotten a good response from both locals and visitors. This encourages us to keep going.”

Most of the club members are young. Thanks to Hai’s instruction, many can now play the traditional musical instruments and perform the traditional folk dances.

A club member named Vang Thi Thu Ha said:“We love the Hong Mi Folk Arts Club. We hope to spread the traditional values of our homeland and draw more visitors here.”

Despite his advanced age, artisan Ly Seo Phong still teaches club members to play the panpipe and other traditional musical instruments.

“Through the Hong Mi Folk Arts Club, I hope to help the younger generation to continue the Mong culture,” Phong said.

Club members demonstrate the art of brocade weaving to visitors. (Photo: VOV)

Giang A Hai said that, in addition to performing weekly at the Bac Ha market, his club also performs at district, commune, and village art programs. Hai said: “We invite the visitors to dance and interact with us during our performances. I play the flute while other club members and visitors join in and dance. Visitors enjoy our performances and that lures more of them to Bac Ha.”