The journey of promoting Mong ethnic group's traditional music

ABO/NDO- As a member of the Mong ethnic minority group, born and raised in the Dong Van Karst Plateau (Ha Giang Province), Ly Mi Cuong is pursuing a six-year intermediate programme in traditional musical instruments at the Vietnam National Academy of Music.

By choosing the cultural heritage of his ethnic group as his foundation, Ly Mi Cuong remains steadfast in preserving and spreading Mong traditional music, taking it from the karst plateau to stages across Vietnam and internationally.

Ly Mi Cuong’s first Mong flute composition, "Nui Dem" (Night Mountain), draws inspiration from the love songs of the Mong people in the rocky highlands. In late September, his music video (MV) was released on YouTube, portraying a musical journey through Mong history, symbolised by the steady footsteps climbing mountains to survive, settle, and thrive. The MV uses the sound of the khen—at times mellow and heartfelt, at times soaring—to evoke memories of landscapes and migration journeys. It also represents his deep love for his homeland and people and is a tribute to the rich culture that shaped his soul. By blending Mong folk elements with modern musical arrangements, "Nui Dem" offers a fresh and successful expression of traditional music in contemporary life.

Born and raised in Lung Phin Commune, Ly Mi Cuong learned to play the flute and khen from local folk artisans in his youth. His journey into professional music began at the Vietnam National Academy of Music, where he dedicated himself to mastering traditional music despite starting later than his peers. Since 2019, he has been guided by People’s Artist Nguyen Ngoc Anh, a flute instructor at the academy. According to Anh, "Nui Dem" effectively taps into the rich folk material of Cuong’s mountainous homeland, telling a moving story through music. The lullabies his grandmother and mother sang are the foundation for his smooth and emotional melodies.

Ly Mi Cuong in a performance in Hanoi. (Photo: LC).

At just 20, Ly Mi Cuong already has a profound understanding of his cultural identity. His distinct presence on domestic and international stages is marked by his traditional attire and the iconic Mong khen. Aspiring to develop folks art in a contemporary manner, Cuong has gained significant experience through performances such as collaborating with rapper Den Vau on "Di Theo Bong Mat Troi" (Chasing the Sun) during the ‘Show cua Vau 2023’ (Show of Vau) concert, performing at the 9th Global Young Parliamentarians Conference and the National Congress of Vietnamese Students, and participating in music fieldwork in Ha Giang with the Thanh Canh artist group.

Performing on professional stages has enabled Ly Mi Cuong to share, promote, and narrate the cultural stories of his ethnic group. His impressive achievements include winning the 2022 Vietnam Talent Star competition and the first prize in the Vietnamese Traditional Instrument category at the 2024 Singapore-China International Music Competition. In July, he also emerged as the champion of the Sound Award at a youth talent competition in China.

Ly Mi Cuong’s commitment to preserving the unique essence of Mong music while finding innovative pathways in contemporary art is unwavering. Collaborating with professional artists across various genres has deepened his appreciation for traditional arts and revealed the diversity and richness of musical languages, further motivating him to create works that reflect his distinct identity.

As a prominent member of Mong Culture, a group of Mong students in Hanoi, Ly Mi Cuong actively promotes Mong culture through musical projects, instrument exhibitions, and events like Mong Tet in the City. He and his peers recently supported the Mong Phong Van Hoi event at Vietnam National University, which combined performances, cultural exchanges, and discussions about ethnic minority traditions.

His passion for Mong instruments, especially the flute, inspired him to launch the Not Si music project. He explains that in Mong folk music, the B note holds a distinct meaning, representing heartfelt confessions and the raw beauty of Mong youth. The project is focused on collecting, documenting, and preserving traditional Mong music and performance forms. Looking ahead, they plan to connect different generations and collaborate with artists from the Vietnam National Academy of Music to provide training and professional development for young musicians of the Dong Van Karst Plateau.

In the context of fading cultural and performing arts traditions, the responsibility of preserving ethnic music and culture increasingly falls on the younger generation, alongside local artisans, government authorities, and cultural management organisations. Ly Mi Cuong’s project aims to preserve and revive traditional melodies, lyrics, and dances and to expand research, education, and the dissemination of Mong cultural values. Through music, they hope to raise local people’s awareness of their ethnic heritage and inspire broader communities to appreciate and protect this unique cultural treasure.

(Source: NDO)