Tuyen Quang, May 30 -- Under the early summer sun of Vietnam's northern mountainous region, the schoolyard of Sung La Semi-Boarding Primary School for ethnic minority students in Sa Phin commune, Tuyen Quang province, fills with a distinctive sound. The melodies of the Mong people's "khen" (panpipe) blend with the laughter of highland children, bringing life and warmth to the small school nestled amid the karst plateau.

In a land known for buckwheat flowers in season, old rammed earthen houses, and silver-grey stone fences, a special class is quietly helping preserve the cultural legacy of the Mong ethnic community. The training course on "khen" playing and dancing, organised by the Tuyen Quang centre for culture and cinematography, aims...