The “Khen Mong Festival” was officially launched on August 21st in Dong Van District, Ha Giang Province to start the “Impression of Dong Van Stone Plateau” Week with the participation of 500 figures and amateur artists from the districts of Dong Van, Meo Vac, Yen Minh, Quản Ba, Hoang Su Phi, Xin Man and Bac Quang.

At the festival, the organisers introduced a big Khen (a musical instrument played by ethnic groups in Vietnam) and listed it in the Guinness Book of Records for Vietnam for the biggest Khen. The musical instrument is 10 m high, 12 m long, 10 times bigger than normal khens of the H’mong people in Ha Giang Province.  

Its body is made from sa-moc wood, a kind of precious Hoang Dan tree. Other parts are made from long and straight pieces of bamboo.

Vuong Quynh Seo, leader of the team making the instrument, said that over 6 months artisans completed the Khen, meeting technical criteria of a normal khen.  

During the festival, there will be interesting activities, such as seminars for artists, writers, poets, and so on to exchange experiences to preserve and promote cultural values of the H’mong ethnic group.

Through the event, cultural values of 22 ethnic groups in Ha Giang in general, and the H’mong in particular, will be preserved and promoted. In addition, the event will help raise people’s confidence and strength to protect border areas.

Source: CPV

Translated by Tran Hoai