Dam, born in 1957, was awarded the title of Meritorious Artisan by the State President in September 2022 for her dedication to preserving and promoting the Quan ho heritage. Previously, in 2015, Bui’s mother, artisan Doan Thi Tinh, 96, also received this noble title.

Meritorious artisan Dam Thi Bui (first, left) and members of the Noi Ninh Quan Ho Club prepare costumes for a performance.

Born and grown up in Noi Ninh village - one of the five ancient Quan ho villages of Viet Yen district, which was very famous in the ancient Kinh Bac region, from a young age, Tinh was deeply passionate about Quan ho. When she was a teenager, many times when she finished working in the field, she and her friends swam across the Cau River to Bac Ninh to join Quan ho singing exchanges.

Over the past 80 years, Quan ho melodies have gone deeply into her soul and followed her throughout her life. In the past, people didn't call Quan ho clubs like now, they used the term "bon Quan ho" (Quan ho groups). 

Every time the village opened a festival, Tinh and others in her group sang the love exchange songs. Villagers sang Quan ho when going to the field, picking vegetables or cutting grass. Many generations of Noi Ninh villagers have been taught hundreds of ancient Quan ho melodies by her. Tinh is like the "Quan ho big tree" of Ninh Son commune as she is the oldest Quan ho singer in the province.

Meritorious artisans Doan Thi Tinh and Dam Thi Bui.

Tinh gave birth to four children, including two girls and two boys. Her children and grandchildren are also very passionate about Quan ho.

Talking about her childhood, artisan Dam Thi Bui still vividly remembers the times when she followed her grandmother and mother to see Quan ho singing at village festivals, communal houses and pagodas throughout the night so that she forgot to eat. At that time, Bui was about 9-10 years old. After finishing high school, she participated in social work in the village, serving as secretary of the youth union’s branch in charge of culture and arts.

With the desire to preserve the precious heritage left by the forefathers, in 2004, from a village art team with seven members, Bui set up the Quan ho club of Noi Ninh village. Now the club has more than 40 members, mostly farmers, small traders and freelance workers, including artisan Dam Thi Tinh and Bui’s sister-in-law. The good thing is that Bui’s two grandchildren and nearly 10 children aged 6-10 years old also join the club.

A performance activity of the Noi Ninh Quan Ho Club.

Artisan Dam Thi Bui shared that gathering many members is difficult, but how to make them understand and sing Quan ho songs, especially ancient lyrics, well is even more difficult.

Several decades have passed, with many ups and downs of the village, Tinh and Bui have gathered and taught hundreds of people in the village and commune how to sing Quan ho, thus promoting local cultural and art movements. They have made active contributions to many contests and festivals organized by the district, commune and clubs, and received many awards.

Bac Giang bustling with spring Quan ho festivals

(BGO) – As the spring comes, Quan ho (love duet singing) villages in the North of the Cau River are always bustling with festive atmosphere, urging tourists from near and far to join in the passionate Quan ho melodies.

Spreading the love for Quan ho

(BGO) – “We are really happy when more and more people wish to join Traditional village Quan ho Bon (Group) to widespread and preserve ancient Quan ho folk songs near and far,” shared Nguyen Van Kha, Chairman of Quan ho Club in Minh Duc commune, Viet Yen district (Bac Giang province) cum Head of Traditional village Quan ho Bon.

Flow of quan ho runs forever

(BGO) - Quan ho (love duet) folk singing was recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on September 30, 2009. Over the past years, the conservation and promotion of the value of the heritage in many localities and at the provincial level have been focused. Attention has been also paid to the teaching of quan ho to the young generation in Bac Giang, helping this art form to live forever.

Bac Giang’s Quan Ho Cultural Association join hands to preserve and promote heritage

(BGO) - Established in 2016, the Quan Ho Cultural Association of Bac Giang province has become the common house of people who love and are able to perform and teach quan ho folk songs. With the criteria "strong in organization, good in expertise and beautiful in lifestyle", the association has contributed to preserving and promoting the national cultural heritage.