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Vietnamese music dates back a long time ago. Some genres of music are influenced by Chinese, Indian,... Each region has its own style of music as well as each era. We can classify the traditional Vietnamese music style in Vietnam in 3 regions: the north, the south and the center. The songs can be sung alone, in pairs, or in groups.
Traditional music in Vietnam is extremely varied, 8 of them have been recognized by UNESCO as intangible heritage. These are the Quan Ho singing, the Hue royal court music, the Ca Tru, the Tay Nguyen Gongs music and Hat Xoan - the songs of the villagers, Vi Giam, Don Ca Tai Tu, Bai Choi Singing. Those kinds of music might be threatened to disappear because of modernization and less young people keen on learning the old music, but fortunately, they are still retained till today.
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The Most Popular Vietnam Traditional Music
These are 8 kinds of Vietnamese traditional music that are both popular and listed as UNESCO intangible cultural world heritages.
Quan Ho singing: a typical folk song from the Red River in northern Vietnam, always sung in groups.
Hue Royal Court Music also called Nha Nhac Cung Dinh Hue, in which people play flute, percussion, oboe,... in ceremonies, festivals, coronation, funerals,...
- Ca Tru singing or Hat A Dao: this is a mixture of poetry and music from Northern Vietnam. This kind of music was at the time very popular among aristocrats. The ca tru groups are usually composed of a female singer and 2 instrumentalists. Today, this singing is divided into two categories, either diverse or ritual.
- Gongs of Tay Nguyen: in the central highland of the country, the Gongs music is practiced, usually with Gong instrumentals.
- Hat Xoan - the songs of the villagers: in the province of Phu Tho, this art is a performance that mixes singing, dancing, percussion,...
- Vi and Giam Folk Song: This type of music is popular among north-central Vietnam. The lyrics are sung in dialects, and show the respect for parents, loyalty, care and devotion, the importance of honesty and a good heart in the maintenance of village customs and traditions.
- Don Ca Tai Tu: If you have a chance to visit the Mekong Delta, don't miss a show of Don Ca Tai Tu among the orchards. The songs truly reflect the authenticity of life as well as express much of feeling and emotions.
- The art of Bai Choi singing: It combines the music, poetry and action to create an interesting performance. In the past, Bai Choi only was transmitted orally. Now people establish clubs, schools and associations to preserve it.
These kinds of Vietnamese traditional music can be heard during a puppet show on the water or in the villages of Mai Chau, Buon Ma Thuot, or Hue.
Other Favourite Vietnamese Traditional Music
- Chau Van or Hat Van: These are northern delta songs that play a highly important role in mother goddess worship performances. Singers can sing this spiritual song for 4 to 8 hours.
- Cheo: a North Vietnamese art, folk melodies, to be experienced during summer festivals. The scenic art of Cheo has a long history, so it has influenced the social life of Vietnamese people. The lyrics are always optimistic, loving, simple,... This form of comic song was brought to the theater and became the oldest of the opera style, accompanied by dance and a full orchestra.
- Cai Luong: This is an opera originating from the south of the country. The actor performs like in a play; the only difference is that the actor sings instead of speaking, and their gestures and movements align with the lyrics without being too dramatic. During the performance you are told many interesting stories from the past.
- Xẩm: Xam used to be a type of music from the north that was considered a job of the poor. The singers perform in the street, in places with many people, and not on stages. Xam singing is highly improvisational, allowing performers to spontaneously compose lyrics as they go along. Today the Xam arts are brought to stages to serve traditional art lovers. Instruments like the erhu and the "senh tien" are used.
Besides these above singing, there is still so much Vietnamese folk music, such as Ho, Ly, Tuong, etc. Each ethnic group has its own traditional music and different modes of expression. Some prefer singing, and others prefer traditional instruments. Vietnam has more than 54 different ethnic groups. Therefore, we have a huge collection of traditional songs and music.
Vietnamese Musical Instruments
For Vietnamese people, musical instruments are treasures, they express feelings, wish for a better life. They look simple to make but require great precision, and a lot of practice before a person can play it well enough. Still today, traditional musical instruments are still used very often, especially at important events and performances. Here are some of them:
- Dan Bau: a Vietnamese monochord, one of the most unique and attractive, this one-stringed instrument, made of mahogany and shiny wood, still manages to convey many emotions.
- Dan Nhi: This apparently is a simple instrument with 2 metal and wooden strings that is an essential for music groups, it allows to create a perfect harmony.
- Ken Bau: This kind of trumpet is used for parties, weddings, funerals, etc. There are three kinds, with low, medium, and high tones. The sound of this instrument is quite strong and high, so only men can play it.
- Cong Chieng (Vietnamese Gongs): Gongs are available in several sizes, in copper, gold, or silver. For ethnic groups, this instrument has great value and meaning. It is a sacred instrument used for rituals, sacrifices, marriage, etc.
- Dan Tranh: This instrument appeared around the 11th century and is composed of 13, 17, 22, 24, or 25 (the largest) strings.
In addition, Dinh Nam, Phach, T'rung, Dan Da, and many other instruments still exist.
Despite Western influences since the beginning of the 20th century, Vietnam maintains its authenticity and preserves its traditions, stories, and bewitching music. Discovering culture through Vietnamese traditional music will be a great experience during a Vietnam trip. If you wonder where to join a live traditional music performance, don't worry as some of the above-mentioned music is also performed in the Water Puppet show, which you can find in a big city’s theater.
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