Lo Lo folk songs – A sound heritage amidst the stone plateau

Amidst the majestic stone plateau at the northernmost tip of the country, the folk songs of the Lo Lo people continue to echo through time: simple, sincere, and profoundly moving. These melodies embody a cultural heritage shaped by the daily life, labor, and spirit of the Lo Lo ethnic community in the mountains of Tuyen Quang.

Lo Lo women in vibrant traditional costumes exchange greetings during the Lo Lo Chai Cultural Festival.

The Lo Lo mainly inhabit the communes of Lung Cu, Pho Bang, Meo Vac, and Son Vi, consisting of two main groups: Lo Lo Den (Black Lo Lo) and Lo Lo Hoa (Flower Lo Lo). Each group has its own distinctive cultural traits, yet both preserve the pure and unique identity of their ethnicity. In daily life, singing is regarded as the “soul of the people.” They sing while working in the fields, weaving fabric, welcoming guests, celebrating festivals, or expressing their emotions.

In Lo Lo Chai Village, Lung Cu Commune, known as the “Village of the National Flag”, visitors can still hear ancient melodies during traditional festivals, beside the flickering firelight on cool highland nights. According to Tran Duc Chung, Chairman of the Lung Cu Commune People’s Committee, Lo Lo folk songs are the cultural soul of the community and a bond connecting generations. The commune is working with artisans to collect, preserve, and introduce these songs into cultural and community tourism activities, ensuring that the voices of the Lo Lo continue to resonate.

The Lo Lo have various types of folk songs associated with life events: lullabies, wedding songs, harvest songs, love duets, and farewell tunes. Each song is simple yet deeply expressive. Lo Lo folk songs require no elaborate instruments; the sound of clapping hands, stones striking together, or the wind blowing through rock crevices is enough to create their distinct rhythm - low yet bright, strong yet soft.

The performance space of Lo Lo folk songs and traditional dances attracts many visitors and locals.

In ceremonies, the bronze drum is considered a sacred treasure - the “voice of the ancestors.” Its sound, combined with folk melodies, creates a sacred and mysterious atmosphere. Today, alongside the growth of community-based tourism, local authorities and residents are making strong efforts to preserve and promote Lo Lo folk songs, turning this unique cultural treasure into a signature tourism product and a proud symbol of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark.

Duc Quy