The Northern flute kite is a subtle combination between the simple shape of the kite and the flute sound in the air.
When the farm work was done for a while, when the beautiful male breeze blew across the dyke and slipped into the villages, one could see the young men dragging their kites together. Not so simple as the Southern kite which is just a children's entertainment, not picky, eye-catching and diverse as Hue kite - imprinted with imperial imprint, flute kite of the North is a very combination between the simple shape of the kite and the flute whipping in the air.

Following the Red River dike road, we return to Ba Duong Noi village (Dan Phuong, Hanoi) where is said to be the origin of the starling kite, where legends begin ...

Legend has it that at the village's Holy Shrine, the traditional flute kite is more than thousand years old. The story is that in the past, when heaven and earth were in harmony, people and elves were always together and didn't want to leave. Suddenly one day disaster struck, the world was dark, heaven and earth were divided. The sky is getting higher, away from the ground. Elves and humans cannot meet each other, causing so much nostalgia. So the kite was born, connecting the emotional rope between the sky and the earth, carrying a melodious flute expressing the hearts of the lower world with the upper realms.

The kite is a symbol of the wishes and aspirations of the Vietnamese people, always wanting to fly higher and farther. Flying kites in the air carrying love for the homeland, the village of farmers, raising the hope of always rain, wind and harmony in the field work. The time to fly a kite must be clear days, cloudy sky, kite wings brought by the new male breeze to climb, new flute sound echoes.

Flute kite as its name, consists of two main parts: kite and starling, made of familiar materials, available in most villages. According to artisan Nguyen Huu Kiem (currently the Chairman of the Vietnam Kite Club): “In the past, the instruments of making flute kites were mostly made of bamboo. From kite trunks to kite flutes, kite cages and kite cords are also made of bamboo ”.

To have a good kite, a good flute also takes a lot of effort and dedication. The kite flute is carefully selected from old, strong and firm bamboo trees, which are exposed to rain and rain without cracking. When making flutes, they have a reputation for sound, depth and soul. The flute is divided into two parts by a wooden middle partition. The more even the two parts are, the more resonant the new flute resonates. The surface of the flute is trimmed with light, soft woods such as heartwood, jackfruit and amber wood because it is durable. The flute decided to make a loud and small sound, quickly returning the flutes. The mouth of the recorder must be properly weighed, a little misaligned can distort the flute. The kite frame is made from two bamboo sticks, bent into a bow shape to catch the wind. Just hearing it is enough to see the care and detail in making kites.

But the most elaborate, according to the old people, must mention making the kite string. According to artisan Nguyen Huu Kiem, every time at the end of spring and summer, people look for smooth, smooth bamboos, then split them into nan fibers, depending on the size of the kite that the yarn is big or small. The nan fiber is boiled for 7 to 8 hours with a little salt, the fiber becomes soft, flexible and especially very durable.

The essence of the Northern flute kite is not only in making kites, but it is also shown through how to play the kite. Based on the humidity of the air, the weather, and the wind, it was decided whether or not to fly a kite. When the conditions were favorable, the kite welcomed the wind soaring into the air, carrying the sound of the flute, spreading far away throughout the village. The villagers, whenever they hear the flute, suddenly feel serene, gentle and relaxed.

The traditional kite flute is not just a sound, it is combined by many different flutes, including snails, bells, gongs and whistles. Each region has a different combination, so the kite flute also features each village. In the village itself, each person has their own unique flute. The chimpanzees only need to hear the flute and know who it is.

Making a good flute is not easy and hasty. There are people who have played kite all their life, made kites but they couldn't afford a good flute. Perhaps because of that, people appreciate and appreciate the flute set up and down, saving the soul of a flute kite maker. Unfortunately, when the kite breaks, you have to find and bring the flute home.

Flute kites now no longer appear as many in the villages as before, only in Ba Duong Noi village or some villages in Dong Anh (Hanoi), Hai Duong, Hai Phong, ... Children rarely get see the starling kite, listen and feel its melodious sounds. Instead, they gradually get accustomed to the red, colorful and eye-catching kites of China, Japan or some other Southeast Asian countries.