On the evening of March 14th, at April 2nd Square (Nha Trang City), artists and actors from the Provincial Traditional Arts Theater performed a Bài Chòi folk game. This event was organized by the Nha Trang City People's Committee to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the construction and development of Nha Trang City (1924 - 2024) and the 15th anniversary of Nha Trang being recognized as a Class I urban area under Khanh Hoa province (2009 - 2024).
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| The artists and actors of the Provincial Traditional Arts Theatre play the roles of the "Hieu" and "Hieu" characters. |
At the Bài Chòi festival, locals and tourists alike can immerse themselves in the unique songs and melodies of the people of Zone V. There, Meritorious Artist Ái Ly, with her sweet voice, presented the audience with a newly composed Bài Chòi song titled "Khánh Hòa, My Homeland." This song includes verses about Nha Trang that are truly heartfelt: "The road back to my hometown crosses the Xóm Bóng bridge / Visiting Tháp Bà, gazing at the poetic Cái River / Nha Trang, the sea lulls the golden sands for generations, embracing a shared love / The folk song of the fishermen, imbued with unwavering love and faith…"
The most lively and captivating part is the Bài Chòi card game. In the middle of a large courtyard, nine thatched-roof huts are erected, with a tube of cards placed in the center. To help players understand the cards, the "Hieu" (male and female) singers perform an introductory song, then take turns drawing cards and calling out verses that are both witty and humorous, yet meaningful. For example, when the "Hieu" draws the "poor second card," they sing: "By day I lack clothes and food / By night I lie without a mat, using straw as a bed / Outside, bees and butterflies crowd the road / The embroidered curtain and phoenix pillow do not pity my poverty - I call out, 'poor second card'." After drawing the five matching cards, Mr. Hieu would sing: “If you love each other, you share six betel nuts for three meals/If you hate each other, you share six betel nuts for ten meals/This is a bad habit in life/Helping each other is pointless/Six betel nuts for one meal/Leaving is just as bad, what good is it to be kind - that’s the five matching cards” … And so, a game of Bài Chòi ends when a player collects three matching cards that match the cards they received. The player will be offered a tray of prize money, betel nuts, and wine by Mr. and Mrs. Hieu, along with songs of congratulations for the winner.
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| These thatched huts are used for players in the Bài Chòi card game. |
Watching the Bài Chòi performance, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Phung (a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City) shared: “I had heard about the Bài Chòi art form of the Central provinces, but this is the first time I’ve seen a complete performance firsthand. Indeed, this art form creates a joyful and lively atmosphere for both players and spectators; it also showcases the beauty of folk culture in Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa in particular and the people of Central Vietnam in general.”
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nha Trang City, the city's organization of the Bai Choi festival aims to contribute to preserving and promoting the artistic value of this intangible cultural heritage, a UNESCO-recognized representative of humanity. It also emphasizes community connection in modern life, creating a cultural hub for residents and tourists who want to learn about and experience the beauty of the local traditional art.
GIANG DINH
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