Born in 1987, Pa Co man Nguyen Xuan Bay from Ra Looc village - A Soc hamlet, Hong Bac commune (now A Luoi 2 commune) came to traditional music with a pure, instinctive love. “I learned by myself, I felt for myself, and I listened the rhythms that echoed from village festivals, through the hands and breaths of the elders, then practiced on my own,” Bay shared.

“Vang son ky my – the essence of Vietnamese craftsmanship” is something that photographer Nguyen Phong is particularly passionate about as he introduced to Thua Thien Hue Weekly a series of photos showcasing “the golden hands” of artisans perfecting the process of applying gold leaf and lacquer to the columns of Thai Hoa Palace.

Invited to participate in the 2024 World Grand Prix Model Competition in Korea by the Korean Institute of Traditional Culture & ORIHERI, four representatives from Hue, among many from Vietnam, achieved significant awards, with Nguyen Ngoc Phon honored with the First prize.

With the ability to sing and skillfully use the traditional musical instruments, artisan Pi Ke Do, 50, Hong Bac Commune is also jokingly called “king of musical instruments” by the Pa Co people. He has spent more than 30 years researching, and crafting traditional musical instruments and has become an artisan in the most sophisticated musical instruments in A Luoi District.