Quang Ninh possesses a remarkable cultural treasure with hundreds of folk melodies from the Dao, Tay, San Diu, San Chay and many other ethnic groups. These melodies, distilled from the wisdom, labor and spiritual life of generations, carry profound cultural, historical and humanistic values. The province and its localities have recently made strong, sustained efforts to safeguard and pass down these traditions, especially among children in ethnic minority communities.
A teacher instructs children in Then singing and dancing at Branch School No. III of Tien Yen Commune Kindergarten.
As a mountainous, border and island province, Quang Ninh is home to 42 ethnic groups with over 162,000 ethnic minority residents, accounting for more than 12% of its population. The Dao, Tay, San Diu and Hoa communities are the largest, concentrated in mountainous communes such as Dien Xa, Binh Lieu, Luc Hon, Ba Che and Tien Yen. Across these areas, the preservation of traditional culture, particularly the nurturing of folk melodies among children, has received dedicated attention and achieved meaningful progress.
Then singing, a culturally unique intangible heritage of the Tay people, is one of the most distinctive traditions in Binh Lieu. In order to keep this heritage alive, the commune has introduced numerous initiatives: bringing Then performances to major festivals within and outside the province, and opening classes where children learn to sing Then and play the Tinh musical instrument.
Today, Binh Lieu maintains five Then folk music clubs, which function as intimate cultural spaces for children. Here, music not only feeds the spirit but also preserves ethnic identity. Through these clubs, children gain confidence, develop artistic expression and strengthen their bonds with one another.
The mountainous communes of Tien Yen, Dien Xa and Dong Ngu, home to 17 ethnic groups, with minorities making up 52% of the population, have also taken innovative steps to protect and promote their cultural heritage. Schools with large ethnic minority populations regularly coordinate with community groups to organize extracurricular lessons in traditional dance, music and singing, helping children stay connected with their cultural roots.
A vivid example is School III of Tien Yen Kindergarten, with 18 classes and over 360 students, 90% of whom are ethnic minority children, mainly Tay. So as to instill pride in their heritage, the school has built a traditional stilt house to display local agricultural products and regularly includes students in festival activities and cultural experiences.
According to Vice Principal Ha Thi Lien, teachers are sent to learn folk melodies directly from artisans before teaching them to children. Parents are encouraged to sew traditional costumes for their children to wear during school events, allowing cultural pride to become a natural part of school life.
In Tien Yen where the San Chay community is prominent, Soong co singing has been preserved across generations as a cherished cultural expression. Each year, the commune’s Youth Union works with local schools to open Soong co classes and invite artisans to teach the young. These efforts help maintain a treasured spiritual heritage and strengthen the cultural identity of the San Chay people.
Folk songs and dances are born from everyday labor, emotions and communal life. They reflect the soul and vitality of ethnic minority communities. By preserving and enriching these traditions in the mountainous communes of Quang Ninh, local authorities and residents are nurturing cultural pride among the younger generation, ensuring that the melodies of their ancestors continue to resonate far into the future.