Unique art of Van Tien Poetry Recitation

On the evening of August 31, in Ben Tre ward, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vinh Long province held a ceremony to announce the inclusion of the "Van Tien Folk Poetry Performing Art of Ben Tre Province" in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List and receive a certificate from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Unique performing arts of the South

The work Luc Van Tien was composed by Nguyen Dinh Chieu in the early 1850s in Gia Dinh. This is a Nom poem of more than 2,000 six-eight verses, carrying profound humanistic content. The work praises the spirit of justice, loyalty, loyalty and ardent patriotism. The main character Luc Van Tien is the image of a righteous hero, daring to sacrifice himself to save others, living loyally to his ideals and pure feelings. Along with that is the image of Kieu Nguyet Nga, loyal, gentle, and devoted. The story and character become a moral example, a "living textbook" on how to be a human being of the people of the South in the context of many changes in the country.

Van Tien's poetry also plays a huge role in moral education . Photo: Anh Nguyet / Sports & Culture Newspaper.

From its literary value, Luc Van Tien quickly went beyond the framework of words to enter the daily life of the people. Initially, the work was read and told to students in Nom classes, but gradually, people created the form of "speaking poetry" to popularize the work more widely. Speaking Van Tien poetry is not singing, nor is it entirely telling, but is a subtle combination of language, rhythm and folk sounds. The performer often speaks in a simple voice, without the need for musical instruments or elaborate stage, sometimes just adding a few filler words like "ma", "o o" to keep the rhythm. That simplicity is the power that makes the poetry easily enter people's hearts, easily spread to all classes.

The art of Van Tien's spoken poetry has a strong Southern flavor. The flexible and rhythmic six-eight verse form, which is familiar to folk songs, when combined with the Southern rhythm in amateur music, creates a rich range of emotions. The tone can be eloquent and powerful when praising the character's spirit, or gentle and passionate when talking about loyal feelings, or sad and quiet when the character encounters misfortune and exile. That variation helps the listener not only receive the content of the story but also be moved by each level of emotion of the character, thereby living more fully with the moral that the work wants to convey.

Introducing to students the Van Tien Folk Poetry Performance at the National Special Monument of Nguyen Dinh Chieu's Tomb and Memorial Site. Photo: Ngoc Thach / Dong Khoi Newspaper.

It is noteworthy that Van Tien Poetry is closely associated with community life. Without the need for a theater or stage, these unique melodies resound in many ordinary situations: in the fields during harvest days, during tea and wine sessions, at parties, festivals, and even on a ferry across the river. Sometimes, mothers even use Van Tien poetry to lull their children to sleep, instead of a lullaby. It is this widespread popularity that has turned this art of poetry into a natural part of the daily life of the people of the South, so that everyone can memorize a verse of poetry and be ready to sing it at any time.

Everlasting value

Besides its artistic and entertainment value, Noi Tho Van Tien also plays an extremely important role in moral education. Thanks to its close, easy-to-listen-to, easy-to-remember way of communication, the poems become a means of advising and teaching the younger generation about filial piety, loyalty, integrity and humanity. The image of Luc Van Tien rushing in to save Kieu Nguyet Nga or the scene of Nguyet Nga steadfastly maintaining her loyalty have become vivid examples, much easier to accept than the dry lessons in books. The people of the South, especially in Ben Tre - Nguyen Dinh Chieu's hometown, consider Noi Tho Van Tien as a way to admonish themselves, to maintain their faith and spirit in difficult times. In the Dong Khoi movement, that resilient spirit is also likened to the appearance of "new Luc Van Tiens" in the Southern countryside.

Through many generations, Van Tien Poetry has been preserved orally. The elderly and folk artists have become "living treasures", passing it on to their children and the community. Many families consider this a precious tradition, preserved as part of the family tradition. In particular, in Ben Tre, the government and cultural organizations have organized many clubs, performances, and classes to preserve and spread the art of reciting poetry. At Phan Liem High School (Ba Tri district, former Ben Tre province), Van Tien Poetry has been included in the Literature extracurricular activities since 2018. Students not only learn the theory of the work but also participate in performances, competitions, and listen to artists perform. Thanks to that, they feel the true vitality of folk literature, while imbuing moral values in a more natural and profound way.

Luc Van Tien is a work that will live forever with the nation. Photo: VNtre.

Not only stopping at the local community, Noi Tho Van Tien is also introduced to the world . In cultural exchange programs, especially in Japan, this art has made a strong impression on international friends because of its uniqueness and humanistic depth. At Osaka University, the story of Luc Van Tien was translated into Japanese to teach Vietnamese, opening a new direction for promoting Vietnamese culture. This shows the cross-border appeal of Noi Tho Van Tien, when the humanistic values of the work can touch the hearts of people in any country.

The conservation efforts were duly rewarded when the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially recognized the art of Van Tien Poetry as a national intangible cultural heritage in June 2025. This is not only the pride of the people of Ben Tre but also a testament to the enduring vitality of a folk art form. This recognition creates the premise for Van Tien Poetry to receive more attention, with the opportunity to appear in cultural tourism programs, in education, as well as on stages at home and abroad.

It can be affirmed that Noi Tho Van Tien is one of the typical evidences of the vitality of Vietnamese folk culture. Originating from a literary work, the spiritual values have gone beyond the pages of the book to become lyrics, voices, lifestyles and moral lessons in the community. After more than a century, this art form still retains its appeal, still sowing in people's hearts lessons about loyalty, humanity and belief in justice. In the context of globalization, preserving and promoting the value of Noi Tho Van Tien is not only a responsibility towards the past, but also a way to affirm the cultural identity of Vietnam in the future. When the six-eight verses still resound in Ben Tre or on the international stage, it is a testament to the immortal vitality of a unique folk heritage, rich in value and imbued with the identity of the South.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/doc-dao-nghe-thuat-noi-tho-van-tien-post2149050478.html