The countryside of Tho Ha, Van Ha commune (Viet Yen district) is now changing day by day. Viet Yen has just been recognized as a 4-tier urban area. Quan ho - the treasure of this land has always been cherished and preserved. The quan ho culture still exists in folklore.

The Tho Ha Quan Ho Club.

Nguyen Thi Thuy (born in 1961), from Minh Duc commune (Viet Yen) has been singing quan ho since the age of 17. Now she lessens farming work to serve as a collaborator of the district Culture, Information and Sports Center to teach quan ho to students. Thuy and a number of other artisans and teachers all teach these classes for their passion for quan ho, but not for remuneration.

Female singer Duong Thi Hoai Thu (born in 1979) just returned to her office after teaching quan ho to the 6th graders. Originally a teacher, Thu is currently Deputy Director of the Culture, Information and Sports Center of Viet Yen district. Thu, together with female singer Nguyen Thi Thuy and lecturer Nguyen Hai Duong from the provincial Intermediate School of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is teaching quan ho to children at the Viet Yen Folklore Club and clubs in schools and villages.

A quan ho class for young children in Viet Yen district.

The predecessor of the Viet Yen Folklore Club is the "Bagico Quan Ho Club" established in 2008 following the initiative of Duong Thi Hoai Thu and businesswoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuc. It is operating under the auspices of the Bagico Company with Thuc as its director.

Many outstanding singers have grown up from the Bagico summer camp. They are Tran Tung, currently a music teacher at the Hanoi-based Nguyen Binh Khiem education system - one of the first students of the club; and Nguyen Thi Hoa Le, an actress of the Bac Giang Cheo Theater, who was once the third generation of students of the club and won a gold medal at the "National Student Singing Contest".

Regularly, Thu spends time going to schools to set venues to invite artisans to teach quan ho to students free of charge. She has also opened classes at the center and organized the opening of the Fanpage "Viet Yen Folklore Club" for teachers and students to exchange. Sometimes, online teaching and learning have been available on the forum. Currently, thousands of elementary and secondary school students know how to sing quan ho. Gradually, the club has received the attention of several businesses in the district.

Female singer Nguyen Thi Thuy teaches quan ho to students.

Doan Van Toan, Director of the Culture, Information and Sports Centre of Viet Yen district said: "Currently, Viet Yen district has implemented a project to restore quan ho singing as well as bringing the practice of quan ho back to life, especially in Quan Ho villages along the Cau River in Tien Son, Van Ha, Ninh Son, Quang Minh, Quang Chau and Van Trung communes and Nenh township".

Making quan ho eternal and become a driving force in economic development requires the wisdom of many departments and the people. When quan ho is both a heritage and a tourism product in the new era, surely, the conservation story will be simpler. Seeing the children passionately singing quan ho next to the blooming yellow mustard flowers, I believe, one day...

Spring is present in every lyric of quan ho. In the midst of this life, the flow of quan ho will run forever.

Quan ho singing festival to be kicked off on October 18 in Bac Giang province

(BGO) – According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the sixth Quan ho (Love duet) singing festival in Bac Giang province will be kicked off on October 18, 2020 in Bac Giang city (Bac Giang province) with the participation from 10 art troops in 10 districts, city and Quan ho Culture Association in Bac Giang province.

Duong Thi Hoai Thu with special passion for Quan ho folk song

(BGO) – I met Duong Thi Hoai Thu (born in 1970), an officer at the Center of Culture, Informaiton and Sport in Viet Yen district (Bac Giang province) in a severe hot day of July. Though she is in charge of directing 3 major programmes and contests, she took time to share about her career of long dedication.

The charm of Tam Tang ‘quan ho’ singing

(BGO) - People living along the two banks of the Cau River have long been aware that when playing ‘quan ho’ (love duet singing), they must understand thoroughly, play according to rules, and sing with their hearts to preserve the traditional identity. Tam Tang ‘quan ho’ village, Quang Chau commune, Viet Yen district (Bac Giang province) is one of the ‘quan ho’ villages that still retains the "fire" in maintaining that cultural activity in Kinh Bac (Northern) region.

Arousing passion for quan ho singing

(BGO) - Being home to the quan ho (love duet) folk songs of the northern bank of the Cau River, Viet Yen district in Bac Giang province has established many quan ho clubs in villages and communes to teach and preserve the heritage.

Bac Ninh preserves and develops Quan Ho folk songs

Quan Ho love duet singing has been recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. Bac Ninh province has made efforts to preserve the art to implement commitments to UNESCO on conservation and development of Quan Ho.