No grand stage or modern sound system is needed, just traditional ethnic costumes, a khèn (bamboo pipe), or a drum, and the art troupe of Bua hamlet, Mường Lạn commune can deliver emotionally rich, culturally infused performances on every festive occasion or major village event.

Lò Thị Vân, a member of the troupe, shared: “I have been part of the troupe for more than three years. Initially, I joined just for fun, but the more I sing and dance, the more I grow to love and appreciate my ethnic culture.”

The Bua hamlet art troupe currently has 15 members, mainly middle-aged women and a few young people. Despite their busy schedules with farming and family duties, they always dedicate time to rehearsing seriously whenever there is a performance.

“What is encouraging is that not only adults, but teenagers in the village are starting to take an interest in the arts. Some of them learn xòe dance quickly and memorize folk songs after just a few listens. That’s a positive sign, showing that our culture will not fade with time,” said Vân excitedly.

Beyond performing at events, many art troupes in Mường Ảng district maintain regular activities, becoming a spiritual and cultural gathering point for locals after long days of labor. In Lao hamlet, Xuân Lao commune, the art troupe holds meetings twice a week, both to rehearse and to foster social interaction and community bonding. The atmosphere is always lively and joyful, with enthusiastic participation from all.

Recently, art troupes have been leveraging social media platforms like Facebook and Zalo to share performance clips and connect with troupes in and outside the district. This not only promotes the village’s image but also motivates the teams to maintain regular activities, refresh their content, and offer performances that are entertaining, engaging, and in tune with modern tastes.

Lường Thị Sinh, a member of the troupe, shared: “We always encourage young people in the village to join cultural activities. Through participation, they gain a deeper understanding of their ethnic culture and develop love and respect for traditional values passed down through generations. Moreover, it is our way of connecting old values and developing them in our own way.”

Mường Ảng district currently consists of 10 communes and townships. Each locality maintains at least one regularly active grassroots art troupe, contributing significantly to the preservation and promotion of ethnic cultural identities at the grassroots level. Depending on each village’s cultural features, the troupes perform a variety of forms including xòe dance, sạp dance, khèn blowing, and solo performances with ethnic instruments. Many of them, beyond serving local events, are invited to perform or compete in festivals and competitions at the district, provincial, and regional levels.

Hậu Phái Sếnh is a notable member of Pú Súa hamlet, Ẳng Cang commune. Not only does he perform with great skill on traditional Mông instruments such as the khèn Mông, sáo Mông, and đàn môi (jaw harp), but he also quietly passes these cultural treasures on to the younger generation. With passion and a sense of responsibility, Sếnh has helped his local troupe not only remain active but also become a vibrant center for preserving and spreading the beauty of Mông culture in community life.

“In today’s modern life, many Mông people, especially among youths, no longer know how to perform or make the khèn Mông. That is why, for years now, I have opened classes to teach students how to perform with the sáo Mông, đàn môi, and to craft the khèn Mông. My classes welcome learners of all ages, from 15-year-old boys to men over 50. There is no fixed schedule; we usually meet on Saturdays and Sundays, and sometimes on weekdays too,” shared Sếnh.

Though not as bustling as urban areas and lacking the polish of professional artists, every performance by grassroots art troupes in Mường Ảng is a highlight in the effort to preserve and promote traditional cultural values. They not only teach each other dances and songs but also inspire the younger generation to love and appreciate historical and cultural values that have been safeguarded across generations.

Nguyễn Ngọc Trường, Head of the Sub-department of Culture, Information, and Science of Mường Ảng district, remarked: “Grassroots-level art troupes are one of the core forces in preserving cultural identity at the local level. They directly pass on folk songs, dances, and traditional rituals to the youth, helping to lay a solid foundation for the long-term cultural development of the community.”

Culture is not just something found in books or museums, it lives in the songs and dances of ordinary people in the villages. In Mường Ảng, these “non-professional artists” are keeping the cultural flame alive every day with love, volunteerism, and a strong sense of community responsibility. From the grassroots, culture is vibrant, spreading, and becoming a vital resource for the sustainable development of the locality.