Bac Ninh: Soong Co folk songs and Tho Ha rice paper making are recognized as national intangible cultural heritages.

The rice paper making profession of Tho Ha village, Van Ha commune (former Viet Yen town), now Van Ha ward, has a history of hundreds of years. The products of the craft village are associated with the creativity, skillful hands and production techniques of artisans, which are passed down from generation to generation. To make delicious, chewy rice paper, the craftsmen carry out many meticulous steps.

The drying process is one of the secrets that determines the toughness and deliciousness of Tho Ha rice paper. Photo: Document.

First, choose good quality rice, wash it thoroughly and soak it in water mixed with salt in the right proportion, then grind it into flour. The flour is spread into a thin layer on a mold, steamed, then dried on a bamboo rack. The drying process is one of the secrets that determines the toughness and deliciousness of the cake.

Tho Ha rice paper is a famous product, widely consumed throughout the country and exported. Currently, the village has hundreds of households working in the profession, bringing in a good income. The existence and development of traditional handicrafts along with a system of typical relics such as communal houses, pagodas, and Tho Ha ancestral shrines create a lot of potential for tourism development in this land. In recent years, many households have combined making rice paper with welcoming tourists , allowing visitors to experience making and drying rice paper, creating a unique feature of Kinh Bac craft village.

Soong co is a unique, lyrical folk song form, closely associated with the spiritual life of the San Diu ethnic group in Luc Ngan district, now in the wards and communes of Phuong Son, Chu, Luc Ngan, Kien Lao, and Nam Duong. Soong co means "love song". The lyrics are simple, rich in metaphors, with a soulful, profound sound, and are a means for boys and girls to express their feelings, for parents to teach their children about human morality, and for the community to remind each other to unite and bond.

San Diu ethnic people in Luc Ngan commune exchange Soong Co singing. (Photo: PV)

During festivals, weddings, and housewarmings, people sing Soong Co enthusiastically. The opening lines are often gentle, then gradually push the emotions to a climax, bringing a special appeal to the listeners. The uniqueness of Soong Co lies not only in the melody but also in the flexible and creative performance. Each pair of songs can last all night, demonstrating the singer's talent for improvisation, intelligence, and rich language. This is the "key" to preserving the language and writing of the San Diu ethnic group in the modern context. In these places, many elderly artisans still preserve hundreds of ancient melodies, teaching them to the younger generation through art clubs.

The recognition of Soong Co folk performing art and Tho Ha rice paper making as national intangible cultural heritage not only affirms the unique cultural values of the locality but also opens up opportunities for authorities at all levels and functional sectors in the province to preserve, promote and effectively exploit the heritage potential, serving the development of community tourism, building cultural life and new rural areas.

Le Thanh

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/bac-ninh-dan-ca-soong-co-va-nghe-lam-banh-da-nem-tho-ha-duoc-cong-nhan-la-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-quoc-gia-postid421496.bbg