Drum making is a cultural tradition that handed down from generation to generation in the Red Dao family in Sapa. According to customs, every Red Dao family must have a drum set and a pan (including a drum and a basket) to serve the needs of cultural activities on holidays, weddings and funerals.

The drum making of Red Dao People

            The Red Dao people make drum mostly by manual methods but are quite elaborate. The drum face is selected from buff, buffalo or chamois, but must have the required thinness. If the skin is thick, it must be thinned to be used. The skin will be placed on the kitchen counter to dry gradually. After tanning, carefully select the wood to make “tang” and “nêm”. Then the mechanic will use small sticks of wood to tightly close the drum and then pull the rattan threads together so that the drum skin can stretch to create a high-pitched sound. Wood chips like small petals are the unique features of the Red Dao drum in comparison with some types of drum of other ethnic groups.

The Red Dao craftsman

            The drum of the Red Dao people in Sa Pa not only serves the daily needs, but also is a unique tourist product, attracting tourists to visit.

Translated by Ba Hien