In the villages perched atop Mu La Peak in Thai Nguyen province, the charming melodies of the Mong ethnic people’s ‘khen’ (panpipe) drift through the vast forests and rugged mountains. Rising and falling in tone, the music of this traditional instrument has never fallen silent, thanks to the tireless efforts of local custodians of culture.

For generations, the Mong ethnic people in Ha Giang Province, now part of Tuyen Quang Province, have upheld the tradition of building ‘trinh tuong’ houses – a kind of earthen dwellings crafted entirely by hand.