Unique art festival of Then singing and Tinh lute of Tay, Nung, Thai ethnic groups

Overview of the opening ceremony of the Then singing and Tinh lute playing art festival of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups. (Photo: MH)

The festival attracted 15 delegations from various provinces and cities. This is one of the highlights in the series of activities organized during the "National Unity of Ethnic Groups - Vietnamese Cultural Heritage" Week in 2024.

The Then singing and Tinh lute playing art festival of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups is a meaningful activity aimed at honoring, preserving, and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values ​​of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups within the unified and diverse culture of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam.

This also provides an opportunity for localities to interact, learn, and exchange experiences, contributing to raising awareness and understanding in preserving and maintaining national cultural identity, and promoting the value of the UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage of humanity on "Then ritual practices of the Tay, Nung, and Thai people in Vietnam".

Deputy Head of the Festival Organizing Committee, Director of the Department of Ethnic Culture, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nguyen Thi Hai Nhung, speaks at the Festival. (Photo: Hong Ha)

In her opening remarks, the Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee of the Festival, Director of the Department of Ethnic Culture of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism , Nguyen Thi Hai Nhung, emphasized: “The Then cultural heritage of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups in Vietnam is a unique form of folk art created by the working people, closely linked to their daily lives, and becoming an essential need in the spiritual life of the people of these ethnic groups.”

With its unique artistic values, Then has contributed to nurturing the souls, emotions, will, and aspirations of the Tay, Nung, and Thai people, building a prosperous and happy life, passed down from generation to generation.”

Also at the event, Trinh Ngoc Chung, Acting Head of the Management Board of the Vietnam Ethnic Groups Cultural and Tourism Village, said: “Participating in the Then singing and Tinh lute playing art festival of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups with the theme “Preserving and promoting the Then singing and Tinh lute playing art of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups in the current period” has attracted 15 delegations from provinces and cities nationwide.”

This is an opportunity to introduce and promote the cultural heritage values ​​of the nation to friends both domestically and internationally, thereby honoring the unique cultural and artistic forms of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups, contributing to raising awareness of preserving, promoting, developing, and continuously creating new cultural values ​​in the era of sustainable national development, expanding international integration, and building an advanced Vietnamese culture rich in national identity.”

A Tinh lute player from the Bac Can delegation at the Then singing and Tinh lute art festival of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups. (Photo: MH)

At the festival, Deputy Director of the Bac Can Provincial Center for Culture and Tourism Promotion, Hoang Thi Hien, emotionally said: “We have made thorough and meticulous preparations, from inviting artisans to participate to practicing together with four elaborate performances to ensure that the unique cultural characteristics of Then singing art are presented to other ethnic groups and tourists both domestically and internationally.”

Each participating group presented 3 to 4 works, including traditional songs and developed versions of Then singing, creating richness. This was an opportunity for the artisans from Bac Can province to exchange and learn about Then singing and Tinh lute playing with other provinces in the region and nationwide.”

Attending the program, British tourist John Newman shared: “I have traveled to Vietnam four times, but this is the first time I have attended an event like this. It is truly unique and interesting. Many Vietnamese ethnic groups live far from the city, and tourists usually only have about two weeks to travel. They don't have enough time to go to the mountains or travel far. Therefore, if Hanoi tours include a visit to the Cultural Village, many tourists will have the opportunity to experience the culture of these ethnic groups without having to travel too far.”

The 7th Tay, Nung, and Thai Ethnic Groups' Then Singing and Tinh Playing Art Festival - 2024, will feature artisans, artists, and performers from the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups living, studying, and working in 15 provinces and cities, including: Hanoi, Bac Giang, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Son La, Dak Nong, Dak Lak, and Lam Dong, with many unique, heartwarming, and poignant performances.

Within the framework of the Festival, many attractive activities also took place, such as: an exhibition space showcasing traditional cultural products of the participating localities; demonstrations of traditional crafts such as brocade weaving and the making of the Tinh instrument by the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups; display, processing, and introduction of traditional ethnic cuisine; a photo exhibition on "The Artistic Heritage of Then Singing and Tinh Instrument Playing"; a thematic exhibition on "The Cultural Heritage of Then in the Life of the Tay, Nung, and Thai Ethnic Groups"; and performances introducing the art of Then singing and Tinh instrument playing.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/doc-dao-lien-hoan-nghe-thuat-hat-then-dan-tinh-cac-dan-toc-tay-nung-thai-293948.html