Bac Ninh organizes the first Then singing and Tinh lute festival in 2025

According to the Plan, the Festival is organized to implement the content of Project 6 "Preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development", under the National Target Program on socio -economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas, period 2021 - 2025. This is also a practical activity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day (November 23).

The Festival is expected to be held in mid-November 2025 at the Bac Ninh Provincial Cultural - Exhibition Center.

The festival contributes to concretizing the National Action Program on protecting and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage "Then practice of the Tay, Nung, Thai people in Vietnam", recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2019. Thereby, raising awareness of all levels, sectors and communities in the work of preserving and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage in general and the heritage of Then singing and Tinh lute of the Tay and Nung people in particular.

At the same time, this is an opportunity for ethnic minority artisans and actors in the province to meet, exchange experiences, introduce traditional cultural identities, contributing to building Bac Ninh people and culture to develop comprehensively, rich in identity; strengthening the great national unity bloc, building a healthy and progressive cultural environment.

According to the Plan, the Festival will be organized at the provincial level, gathering 29 communes and wards of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas to register to participate. The expected time of organization is mid-November 2025, for 2 days at the Cultural - Exhibition Center of Bac Ninh province.

Each locality established a delegation to participate, including 20-30 artisans, actors, and musicians of Tay and Nung ethnic groups living, working, and studying in the locality.

With the theme "Preserving and promoting the art of Then singing and Tinh lute of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups in Bac Ninh province in the present period", the Festival took place with many rich activities such as: Space for displaying and introducing traditional cultural products; performing and introducing the art of Then singing and Tinh lute praising the Party, Uncle Ho, homeland, country and people of Bac Ninh; reflecting the life, production and cultural activities of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups.

Each group builds an art program with a maximum duration of 30 minutes, including the following genres: Then singing (classical Then, modified Then), solo singing, duet singing, group singing, solo performance, ensemble singing, dance; encouraging creativity in content and form of performance, reenacting Then rituals in traditional cultural activities.

The Organizing Committee will award First, Second, and Third Prizes to the entire group, A, B, and C prizes for performances, and special prizes to the oldest and youngest artists participating in the Festival.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is the presiding agency, assigning the Bac Ninh Center for Culture and Tourism Promotion to organize and coordinate with relevant units to prepare facilities, promote and celebrate, ensuring the Festival takes place thoughtfully, practically and effectively.

The People's Committees of communes and wards with participating groups shall proactively select artisans, actors, and musicians; develop performance programs, prepare content for displaying traditional cultural products, and send the list and application documents to the Center for Culture and Tourism Promotion before November 5, 2025.

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/bac-ninh-to-chuc-lien-hoan-hat-then-dan-tinh-lan-thu-nhat-nam-2025-postid430251.bbg