Currently, many forms of folk singing of ethnic minority groups in Luc Ngan district (Bac Giang province) are preserved, restored and promoted, and the ethnic groups have gradually become aware of the importance of conserving their cultural identities.

Singing San Chi folk songs at the cultural and sports festival of ethnic groups in Luc Ngan district.

Luc Ngan is a mountainous district. In 1996, the district Party Committee and People's Committee directed the restoration of the traditional folk singing activity at Chu market in the center of the district on the 18th day of the second lunar month every year and highland market days (Thac Luoi market in Tan Son).

Markets in Luc Ngan have unique cultural activities. People come to the markets not only to buy and sell agricultural, forestry and fishery products but also to meet, date and find each other through love-exchange songs. The annual ethnic folk singing festival has created a traditional cultural activity for the ethnic minority people in the mountainous district of Luc Ngan every spring.

In 2002, the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) issued Decision No. 752 QD-BVHTT on the implementation of the project "Building and developing the culture of the mountainous district of Luc Ngan in the 2001-2010 period”.

Since then, the ethnic folk singing activity has been upgraded to the Culture - Sports Festival of ethnic groups in Luc Ngan district. It is now one of the largest regional-scale festivals in the province. In 2012, the San Chi and Cao Lan folk songs were recognized as the national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

In order to conserve and develop folk songs, the district People's Committee has poured cash into collecting ethnic groups’ folk songs and opening classes teaching Nom (a Vietnamese writing system largely based on Chinese calligraphy), which is often used to record folk songs, while encouraging the formation of clubs.

The district has established 32 folk songs clubs. Some people have been awarded the title of Meritorious Artisan. However, as the ways of organizing activities are not diverse, with the lack of new elements and songs, the activities are yet to be attractive to young people.

From the above reality, the problem raised here is that the State should have a scheme for preserving and promoting ethnic minority groups’ folk songs. The first job is to regularly maintain folk songs clubs at the grassroots level. Besides, it's time to reconsider the organization of singing activities on stage. Accordingly, stage should only used for singing competitions, shows and festivals.

It is necessary to focus on arranging places and cultural spaces for singing folk songs... In addition, it is possible to study the teaching of folk songs during extra-curricular activities of schools, especially boarding ethnic minority schools; and organize contests to collect and learn about traditional folk songs... 

At the same time, the district will continue to direct the organization of folk singing activities as well as form cultural addresses to attract tourists and introduce typical products of Luc Ngan land.

In order to preserve and promote the values of folk songs of ethnic minorities in Luc Ngan in association with socio-economic development, in addition to the local efforts, it needs more attention of agencies at all levels and sectors.

The above-mentioned measures will be conditions to enhance the richness of national identity, contributing to the successful implementation of Resolution No. 33-NQ./TW on building and developing the Vietnamese culture and people meeting the requirements of sustainable national development.

Bac Giang marks 10 years since world’s recognition of folk arts

A ceremony was held in the northern province of Bac Giang on September 7 to celebrate 10 years since “Dan ca quan ho” (quan ho folk songs) and “ca tru” singing were recognised as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Preserving treasure of folk songs

(BGO) - Collecting documents, purchasing costumes and props by themselves, and maintaining regular activities ... are what have been done by folk singing clubs in Vo Tranh commune (Luc Nam district, Bac Giang province) to preserve and promote the value of cultural heritage of ethnic minority groups.

Teaching Cheo and Quan ho folk singing

(BGO) – The Center of Culture, Information and Sports of Bac Giang city joined hand with the Center of Culture and Cinema in Bac Giang province and the People’s Committee in Hoang Van Thu ward to organize the course to teach Cheo (traditional opera) and Quan ho (Love duet) singing to the grass root art talents in 2019.

Unique folk festival of Dot Mountain area

(BGO) - Phuc Son, a mountainous commune in Tan Yen district, Bac Giang province, bears the own characteristics of the Dot Mountain cultural area. The archaeological vestiges found such as stone hoes, hand axes or nuclear shaped tools... proved that from ancient times, people settled on this land. It also preserves many cultural traditions crystallized in the national cultural heritage treasure, typically the folk festival of the Dot Mountain area.

Teaching Cheo and Quan ho folk singing to the art talents

(BGO) – The Center of Culture and Cinema in the northern province of Bac Giang cooperated with the Center of Culture and Information in Tan Yen district on May 8 kicked off the course to teach Cheo (traditional opera) and Quan ho (Love duet) singing to more than 70 art talents in Phuc Hoa commune (Tan Yen district).

Le Xuan Thang,

 Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Luc Ngan district