Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Grow up with the sound of ancestors

The photo demonstrates a Hmong family gathering around fire stove, the children is sleeping while the elders are playing the ancient tunes from Khèn (pan - pipe). Khèn plays a very important role in the life of Hmong people, it's sprit of ancestor, the soul of mountain and forest. Khèn is a wind instrument consisting of several small bamboo tubes, arranged close together with one end connected to a wooden sound box. Hmong people use Khèn in many occasions such as worship, anniversary, festival. Khèn is only blew by men, sometime man also blows Khèn to get the attention of the girl he likes.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Hà Giang, Vietnam
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Copyright: © Thong Nguyen