Traditional dances, music and songs – the traces of Vietnam's intangible cultural heritage

As a country with a long and rich history that mixes several very interesting regional ethnic cultures, Vietnam has several intangible cultural heritages recognized by UNESCO. We invite you to take a getaway to discover these enriching artistic cultural heritages from north to south, including traditional dances, music, and songs of Vietnam.

General presentation of traditional dances, music, and songs of Vietnam

Traditional dances, music, and songs are an integral part of Vietnam's ancient culture. From the mountainous regions to the depths of the Mekong, these performing arts mark their presence in different forms and manifestations. If the Khen dance of the H'Mong has its own vocabulary that evokes the love of a couple, the Xoe dance of the Thai continues to be a choreographic creation that invites community solidarity. If the songs and music of the North of the country are formal and codified, those of the Center and South are less so and remain more evocative.

All Vietnamese are very proud of this heritage, some songs and music have been recognized by UNESCO and placed on the list of intangible heritage of humanity, while others are in danger and unfortunately destined to sink into oblivion. In this article, we accompany you and guide you through the steps of the traditional dances, music, and songs of Vietnam. We hope to contribute for some time to the conservation and promotion of these incredible Vietnamese performing arts.

The traditional dances, music, and songs of Bac Ninh

Thai Xoe dance

Among the 54 ethnic groups that populate Vietnam, the Thais are particularly known for their beautiful traditional dance: the Xoe dance. This dance deserves its first place on our list because it represents not only a dance of the Northern ethnic groups but also a typical dance of the country in terms of community solidarity. Recognized in 2014 as the nation's intangible heritage, the Xoe dance is an artistic creation inspired by the daily activities of this ethnic group.

Boys and girls dressed in traditional costumes hold hands, form a circle and all dance together to the tune of traditional ethnic musical instruments such as the Tinh tau zither (with two or three strings), drums and gongs, etc. Performances of this dance take place in front of the town hall during the main popular festivals or during the celebration of new rice.

Khen Dance of the H'Mong

Khen is not just a musical instrument, he is also the reincarnation of H'Mong's soul. Khen is the most effective means of communication for H'mong children when they are happy or sad, whispering with the great nature that surrounds them in the mountains of the North. Khen also remains his sharpest weapon to impress the beautiful mountain maidens during the days of the H'Mong love markets. So many nice words are not enough to describe the importance of Khen in the culture of this ethnic group.

But Khen only fully reveals its potential when accompanied by dance, called Khen dance. The particular movements of the child's body, the movement of his steps, his ingenuity... It all comes down to graceful and powerful body language, so bewitching that it is difficult to take your eyes off the scene. The sounds of Khen reach the valleys, filling H'mong villages and festivals with joy and bliss. The Khen dance is thus a figurehead in the long list of traditional dances, music, and songs of Vietnam.

Quan Ho, the alternate song

Already a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Quan ho or alternative singing (singers sing alternately during the performance) derives its name from a Mandarin origin of improvised songs. This performance art is performed during festivals and rituals in Bac Ninh province. Singers, brothers, and sisters named and dressed in traditional costumes of the old Viets thus begin their performance.

These are verses sung a cappella, whose lyrics full of emotion are sure to delight viewers. No other singing art form in Vietnam is like Quan ho, which relies not only on its own melodies but also on the vocal quality and elegance of the performers. It remains to further preserve and promote this rare pearl in Vietnam's rich repertoire of traditional dances, music, and songs.

Ca Tru

Also known by other names such as: “hat cua dinh or hat a dao”, ca tru is different from other songs and music because it is a form of sung poetry, hence its other name “wise song”. Performed in the past during community ceremonies, ca tru becomes more popular and exists in two categories: the ca tru used for rituals and the more entertainment-oriented ca tru.

Usually sung by young women, ca tru does not require many bulky instruments, just a drum, a wooden board and a stick are enough for an artistic performance. During a trip to Hanoi, we invite you to attend a ca tru performance to discover a beautiful aspect of traditional dances, music and songs of Vietnam and also to understand the reason why UNESCO has decided to inscribe this song on the list of the intangible heritage of humanity.

Hat cheo

Hat cheo or comic song, which appeared in the 10th century, is the metamorphosed fruit of the humor of the inhabitants of the Red River Delta. Known as the oldest form of Vietnamese opera, hat cheo has its own language and a very particular taste for humor but is highly appreciated by viewers due to the subtleties of the sayings and proverbs cited. This art, both simple and very lively, requires that the actors have an excellent command of the subject. Although striking and unique, as with many other traditional dances, music and songs of Vietnam, the return to the glory of yesteryear of this song is only in the preliminary phase.

Hat chau van

Hat chau van is linked to the spiritual and religious practices of the Vietnamese. It is therefore a surprising and particular song, played during mediumistic practice sessions to invoke the spirits of the Gods or Goddesses. Accompanied by violin, lute and cymbals, hat chau van is very rhythmic. Also inspired by trance prayers, hat chau van casts a spell on the participants during the session, thus creating an atmosphere of fervor. Once sung, hat chau van will hypnotize the viewers, and the magnificent melodies of the songs will make them navigate through time and space, like a trip to a dream world where God or Goddess will warmly welcome you.

Traditional dances, music and songs of An Nam

Hat tuong

Although heavily influenced by Chinese opera, hat tuong is known for its own gestures and decorations. Much more codified than other performing arts, hat tuong characters are immediately recognizable when they appear on stage thanks to their symbolic makeup and costumes. The colors of these makeups already say a lot about the role these characters played: Red represents courage and loyalty, white cruelty and betrayal, and green is said of the inhabitants of the plains while black is similar to the mountaineers.... The eyebrows also have their symbol according to their position on the character's face. The orchestra is animated by drums and a limited number of musicians.

If the other singing arts are gradually finding their place, the glorious return to the hat tuong scene still remains, alas, at the end of the obstacle course.

Hue Royal Elegance Music

Nha nhac cung dinh or the music of royal elegance is said of various styles of music and dance performed in the Vietnamese imperial court dynasties, especially that of the Nguyen which ended in 1945. Sessions are held during major festivals of court, in particular, the birthday or ascension of emperors, queens, or even religious holidays, special royal occasions, and funerals.

Real music performances bring together many artists, all dressed in sumptuous outfits, and involve a large number of musical instruments of all kinds: from percussion to wind and string instruments. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as an Oral and Intangible Masterpiece of Humanity in 2003, a nha nhac cung dinh session at the Duyet Thi Duong Theater is highly recommended when visiting the Imperial City of Hue.

Ho Hue
If royal music, as its name suggests, is reserved only for the court, the people of Hue nevertheless have their own music. Ho Hue designates a typical and melodious song from the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 19th century. With a very subtle and rich language, Ho Hué illustrates the activities of the peasants in songs and follows a fixed rule, that of alternating the versification of verses of 6 and 8 words. Interesting dialogues are carried out in the Hué dialect, ensuring humor without vulgarity. Ho Hué can be divided into three categories according to themes: ceremonies, leisure, and work.

The cultural space of Gongs and highland cymbals of the Southwest (Tay Nguyen)

Unique and original as its name indicates, the cultural space of gongs and cymbals is not just music or singing. It is a cultural space of an entire ethnic region of Vietnam: The Central Highlands. Registered as a UNESCO heritage site since 2008, the space of gongs and cymbals is both artistic and sacred heritage of the Center's minorities.

Indeed, gongs and cymbals represent an excellent link between man, nature and the world of divinities. Gongs and cymbals are not only a great material fortune for the people of Tay Nguyen (highland), but they are also a means of sacred expression, allowing them to express wishes and aspirations during important festivals such as funerals, buffalo sacrifice , new rice and wedding celebrations.

Traditional dances, music and songs of Cabeza de Cochino

Don ca tai tu, amateur music from the South

Primarily adapted and improvised for entertainment, don ca tai tu is the musical specialty of the South. This is music with a vocal and instrumental tendency. The orchestra, which may seem simple in appearance, however, includes a 16-string zither, a lute, a two-string violin, and a dan bau, or monochord (a typical Vietnamese musical instrument with a sound box and a single string). ), whose sounds are of eternal nostalgia). On a tour of the Mekong Delta's labyrinth of orchards and streams, don't miss your chance to see a performance!

Cai luong

Very similar to don ca tai tu, cai luong is still a category of South Vietnamese music. Considered the renovated opera house, Cai Luong dramatizes classic and contemporary stories. Cai luong has suffered a small influence from European culture and can introduce an electronic guitar into his orchestra. For cultural reasons, this music is an integral part of traditional Vietnamese dances, music and songs, but Cai Luong only gains ground in Southern Vietnam.

The information above includes an overview of traditional dances, music and songs. During your local Vietnam tour, it will be an unforgettable memory to be part of the audience and enjoy traditional Vietnamese music to have a deep understanding of Vietnamese culture.