In Chan 2 village, Nà Tấu commune, Điện Biên province, artisan Lý A Lệnh has quietly preserved the traditional craft of making khèn Mông, dedicating his patience and passion to the culture of his people.

For the Mông, the khèn is not only a musical instrument for festive performances but also a sacred object imbued with deep spiritual significance. Known as qeej, it belongs to the wind instrument family and is present at major events, from the joyous sounds of spring festivals to the mournful notes at funerals. It is not just an instrument but a cultural emblem, the very soul of the community.

Now in his sixties, Lý A Lệnh is not only a master at playing and dancing with the khèn but also one of the few remaining artisans able to craft it by hand following ancient techniques.

“This craft was passed down by our ancestors. It requires many meticulous steps, from selecting raw materials to crafting and finishing. The khèn’s chamber is made from pơ mu (Fokienia) wood, known for its fragrance and durability, found high in the mountains. During the dry season, I go into the forest to find large bamboo stalks for the pipes. After harvesting, the materials are air-dried naturally to avoid cracking or pests,” Lệnh explained.

A particularly important step is making the metal reeds, which determine the instrument’s sound. Scrap copper is melted in a charcoal furnace, with secret medicinal leaves added to make the reeds thin, durable, and resonant. The tools, knives, chisels, planers, are all forged by Lệnh himself from iron and copper using traditional methods.

The crafting process begins with shaping the khèn’s chamber: carving the wood, splitting it, hollowing it out, then binding it back together with wild peach bark, both flexible and strong, ensuring airtight joints. Each bamboo pipe is drilled, fitted with a copper reed (the larger pipe with three reeds), then inserted through the chamber. Every pipe produces a distinct sound that blends into the signature polyphonic harmony of the khèn.

The mouthpiece, a short copper tube, is added to the chamber. When played, the musician blows air to vibrate the reeds while pressing the finger holes to create melodies. Every detail requires precision, dexterity, and a keen musical ear, skills that few can master.

On average, each khèn takes 4-5 days to complete, not counting the time spent collecting and drying materials. Despite the hard work, Lệnh has never thought of giving up: “To make the khèn is to preserve the identity of the Mông people,” he said.

Today, as modern life gradually transforms the highlands, the traditional handcraft of making khèn faces decline. Yet artisan Lý A Lệnh continues to pass down his knowledge to younger generations, hoping the craft will never be lost.

At festivals, the khèn he crafts resounds, sometimes joyful, sometimes plaintive, accompanied by dances and songs of Mông men and women. These melodies are not merely music; they are the cultural heartbeat of the community. The khèn echoes like the soul of the village, of the forests and mountains. Amidst the passage of time, artisan Lý A Lệnh still patiently crafts each instrument, teaching every delicate technique with the wish to preserve and carry forward the Mông people’s unique cultural heritage.