Reviving traditional crafts to preserve cultural heritage in Điện Biên

ĐBP - Known for its rich tapestry of ethnic cultures, Điện Biên province is home to numerous traditional crafts, many of which have been officially recognized and are considered important elements of intangible cultural heritage. These age-old trades are not only a testament to local ingenuity but also a legacy that must be safeguarded and passed down through generations.

A treasure trove of cultural identity

Điện Biên boasts a variety of traditional crafts, each deeply rooted in the cultural identity of its ethnic communities. To date, the provincial People’s Committee has officially recognized 12 traditional crafts, one craft village, and one traditional craft village.

Several of these crafts have been honored as part of Vietnam’s national intangible cultural heritage. These include: the embroidery shoe-making craft of the Hoa people (Xạ Phang); the art of creating patterns on traditional costumes of the Flower Hmong; the craft of making and playing the khèn (bamboo mouth organ) by the Hmong; traditional snack-making by the white Thai of Mường Lay (such as khẩu xén and chí chọp cakes); the traditional costume-making of the Hà Nhì; the blacksmithing of the Hmong; and textile ornamentation by the Lao community.

In late 2024, four traditional crafts in Tủa Chùa district were officially recognized, including the khèn crafting in Súng Ún hamlet, Mường Báng commune. Notably, in January 2022, “Folk knowledge and the art of performing the Hmong khèn in Điện Biên” was inscribed on the national list of intangible cultural heritage. The khèn craft is deeply woven into the everyday life and cultural identity of the Hmong.

Residents of Nà Tấu commune (Điện Biên Phủ city) display their traditional bamboo and rattan products.

Thào A Lử, head of Súng Ún hamlet, shared: “Khèn making is a traditional craft passed down through generations, deeply tied to Hmong culture. Currently, only two artisans in our hamlet continue this work. Yet, the khèn remains an essential musical instrument in our cultural and ceremonial events, especially weddings and funerals, making it vital to preserve and pass on.”

Creating a khèn is a meticulous process, requiring both dexterity and patience. Artisan Chang A Vàng of Súng Ún explained: “A Hmong khèn consists of three parts. The main body is carved from fokienia wood into a pre-defined shape, with holes drilled into the center and sides. The pipes are made of bamboo, one large pipe and five smaller ones of varying lengths. The reeds are carefully cut from red copper to match the tone of each pipe. All parts are then assembled. It may sound simple, but crafting a single khèn demands considerable time and effort.”

Like khèn-making, every traditional craft demands heartfelt commitment, pride, and love for one’s heritage. Each product is a reflection of communal identity and creativity, highlighting the craftsmanship and artistic sensibilities of Điện Biên’s ethnic groups and adding color to the province’s cultural mosaic.

Preserving and passing down the heritage

To safeguard this “cultural treasure,” local authorities are taking concrete steps to ensure continuity. In 2024, under Vietnam’s national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, Tủa Chùa district organized several vocational training classes. Among them were workshops for three crafts still undergoing official recognition: Hmong khèn-making, Hmong blacksmithing, and embroidered shoe-making by the Hoa. However, participation among younger generations remains limited, and few trainees continue to practice the crafts after the courses end.

This challenge is echoed across other traditional crafts, such as the Thai bamboo and rattan weaving in Nà Tấu 1 hamlet, Nà Tấu commune, Điện Biên Phủ city. One of the first officially recognized crafts in the province, this weaving tradition was recently included in the national list of intangible cultural heritage. While this recognition should have spurred local pride and renewed interest, reality paints a more somber picture.

Lò Văn Cương, former director of the Nà Tấu bamboo and rattan weaving cooperative, shared: “Our cooperative disbanded in May. We faced numerous challenges in sustaining the craft such as lack of a stable market, limited investment, dwindling raw materials, and aging artisans. The youth today show little interest in these traditions. Most skilled weavers here are elderly. Now that it’s a recognized cultural heritage, we can only hope this brings new opportunities for the craft’s revival.”

Bamboo and rattan weaving is an age-old tradition passed down through generations of Thai people. The products are diverse, spanning religious items, household tools, and farming implements. While some Thai communities across the province still maintain the practice, the Nà Tấu cooperative was once a model for preserving and commercializing traditional crafts, with ambitions to integrate them into tourism and offer sustainable livelihoods.

The closure of the cooperative highlights the broader difficulties of sustaining traditional crafts in today’s modern society. To truly preserve these cultural gems and enable artisans to make a living from them, stronger community engagement is essential, alongside targeted support, strategic planning, and investment from local authorities and cultural institutions.

Nguyễn Hiền
Comment

You have 500/500 characters left

Please enter 5 or more characters!!!

Recent news

  • 'Strengthening quality of Party organizations and competence of troops in the Điện Biên provincial Military Command

    Strengthening quality of Party organizations and competence of troops in the Điện Biên provincial Military Command

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - Inspired by President Hồ Chí Minh’s teaching that “to lead a revolution, the Party must be strong; a strong Party depends on well-functioning grassroots cells; strong cells depend on virtuous Party members,” the Điện Biên provincial Military Party Committee firmly believes that Party members are the vital link between the Party and the people. The Party Charter emphasizes that grassroots units are the Party’s foundation and that its members are revolutionary pioneers of the working class and the nation.
  • 'Promoting effective command work, completing military and dfense tasks

    Promoting effective command work, completing military and dfense tasks

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - As a mountainous border province with a strategically vital position in national defense and security, Điện Biên has always been designated as a key area in building a strong defensive zone. In the context of implementing organizational streamlining policies for a more efficient and effective government apparatus, the restructuring of military agencies presents new requirements: maintaining and improving the quality of advisory work despite reduced personnel, broader management responsibilities, and increasingly complex coordination, while still ensuring the successful execution of local military and defense duties.
  • 'Điện Biên’s education sector sees positive signs in pedagogical field

    Điện Biên’s education sector sees positive signs in pedagogical field

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - In recent years, the education sector of Điện Biên province has witnessed encouraging trends in pedagogical enrollments, signaling a renewed interest in the educational profession. This shift reflects the effectiveness of state support and incentive policies, as well as the efforts of the sector and local training institutions in career guidance and outreach.
  • 'Ensuring essential goods supply during rainy season

    Ensuring essential goods supply during rainy season

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - With the goal of timely supply and preventing shortages of essential goods during the rainy and stormy season, the Điện Biên provincial Department of Industry and Trade has coordinated with localities and businesses to proactively prepare supply plans and stockpiles. As of now, essential goods have been fully stocked and are ready to be promptly delivered to residents, especially those in remote and mountainous areas, should natural disasters strike.
  • 'Điện Biên grasps the opportunity of “golden” demographic structure

    Điện Biên grasps the opportunity of “golden” demographic structure

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - The “golden population” period marks a unique demographic phase not only for the province but also for the entire country, when the working-age population makes up the largest proportion of the total population. If effectively harnessed, this window offers a powerful opportunity to drive sustainable development.
  • 'Motivation for disadvantaged children

    Motivation for disadvantaged children

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - The SOS Children’s Village Điện Biên Phủ in Điện Biên province has become a safe haven for hundreds of orphans and children from particularly difficult backgrounds in Vietnam’s remote northwest. Facing challenges in maintaining operational funding, Resolution No.10/2025/NQ-HDND (known as Resolution No.10) adopted by the provincial People’s Council represents a deeply humanitarian policy, providing strong momentum for the village to continue its mission of nurturing and shaping a brighter future for vulnerable children.
  • 'Huổi Trẳng project “racing against time”

    Huổi Trẳng project “racing against time”

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Huổi Trẳng, a highland resettlement hamlet in Tủa Thàng commune, Điện Biên province, relies heavily on the Huổi Trẳng wharf as a vital transportation hub. While the construction of this wharf is of significant importance, the project has faced numerous challenges during implementation.
  • 'Điện Biên must uphold the “Điện Biên Phủ Spirit”

    Điện Biên must uphold the “Điện Biên Phủ Spirit”

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - On the afternoon of July 27, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Tô Lâm, along with a delegation of senior leaders from the Party, State, and Government, held a working session with key officials of Điện Biên province to discuss socio-economic development, national defense, security, and social welfare in the region.
  • 'Party General Secretary Tô Lâm offers incense to fallen heroes, visits veteran in Điện Biên

    Party General Secretary Tô Lâm offers incense to fallen heroes, visits veteran in Điện Biên

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - On July 27, marking the 78th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947 - 2025), Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, accompanied by a delegation of the Party and State officials, visited the Memorial Temple for Martyrs on the Điện Biên Phủ battlefield, paid tribute at the A1 Martyrs’ Cemetery, and visited the family of war veteran Phạm Văn Ngân in Điện Biên Phủ ward.
  • 'Wounded but not useless veterans

    Wounded but not useless veterans

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Though the war has long passed, many wounded and sick veterans still carry the scars of bombs and bullets on their bodies. In this time of peace, these Uncle Hồ’s soldiers continue to rise above pain and disability, standing firm on a new front, working tirelessly to develop their livelihoods, build their families, and contribute to the progress of their homeland. They are the quiet yet resilient examples of President Hồ Chí Minh’s saying, “wounded but not useless,” living honorable lives in peacetime.
  • 'Gratitude given to national contributors

    Gratitude given to national contributors

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - “Gratitude for those who came before” is a deeply rooted tradition in Vietnamese culture. Upholding that spirit, the province of Điện Biên has, in recent years, remained steadfast in implementing policies to support war veterans and revolution contributors, organizing meaningful initiatives to improve their physical and emotional well-being.
  • 'An ever-flowing source of gratitude

    An ever-flowing source of gratitude

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - July arrives with solemn emotion in the hearts of millions of Vietnamese people. It is a month of remembrance and gratitude, a time of quiet reflection for the nation to honor the heroic individuals who bravely sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. In Điện Biên province, once a fierce battlefield, every road, every martyr’s cemetery, and every engraved stone bears witness to a legacy of sacrifice, reminding us that gratitude must be preserved through heartfelt actions.
  • 'When local government becomes the starting point

    When local government becomes the starting point

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - What was once considered a routine administrative formality, such as issuing marriage certificates or birth certificates, is now being transformed in many communes and wards in Điện Biên province into meaningful, respectful, and emotional ceremonies. By treating these legal documents with dignity, local authorities are marking a significant beginning for families and shifting public perception of government as one that is truly close to the people.