On the evening of August 31st, in Ben Tre ward, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vinh Long province held a ceremony to announce the inclusion of "The folk performance art of reciting Van Tien poetry in Ben Tre province" in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage and to receive the certificate from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The distinctive performing arts of Southern Vietnam
The work Luc Van Tien was composed by Nguyen Dinh Chieu in the early 1850s in Gia Dinh. It is a long narrative poem in Nom script, over 2,000 lines in the lục bát (six-eight) meter, carrying profound humanistic content. The work extols the spirit of righteousness, loyalty, filial piety, and fervent patriotism. The main character, Luc Van Tien, is the image of a righteous hero, willing to sacrifice himself to save others, living faithfully to his ideals and pure feelings. Alongside him is the image of Kieu Nguyet Nga, loyal, gentle, and devoted. The story and its characters have become a moral example, a "living textbook" on how to be a good person for the people of Southern Vietnam during a time of national upheaval.
From its literary value, Luc Van Tien quickly transcended the boundaries of written words to enter the daily lives of the people. Initially, the work was read and narrated to students in Nôm script classes, but gradually, people created a form of "recitative poetry" to disseminate the work more widely. Reciting Luc Van Tien poetry is not singing, nor is it entirely storytelling, but rather a subtle combination of language, rhythm, and folk melodies. The performer usually speaks in a simple, unadorned voice, without the need for musical instruments or elaborate stage setups, sometimes just adding a few interjections like "ma" or "oh oh" to maintain the rhythm. This simplicity is precisely what makes the poetry easily resonate with people and spread to all social classes.
The art of reciting the Vân Tiên poem is deeply rooted in the Southern Vietnamese style. The graceful and rhythmic six-eight verse form, familiar to folk songs, when combined with the Southern musical mode in traditional music, creates a rich range of emotions. The tone can be powerful and eloquent when praising the character's spirit, gentle and heartfelt when speaking of loyalty and fidelity, and at times melancholic and somber when the character faces hardship and exile. This versatility allows listeners not only to grasp the story's content but also to be moved by the character's emotions, thus fully experiencing the moral message the work aims to convey.
It is noteworthy that the recitation of Van Tien verses is closely intertwined with community life. Without the need for theaters or stages, these unique melodies resonate in many ordinary circumstances: in the fields during harvest season, during casual gatherings over tea and drinks, at parties and festivals, and even on ferry crossings. Sometimes, mothers even use Van Tien verses to lull their children to sleep, instead of traditional lullabies. This widespread popularity has transformed this art form into a natural part of life for the people of Southern Vietnam, so much so that everyone can memorize a verse and readily perform it at any time.
Enduring value
Besides its artistic and entertainment value, the recitation of the Van Tien poem also plays an immense role in moral education. Thanks to its accessible, easy-to-listen-to, and easy-to-remember style, the poem becomes a means of advising and teaching the younger generation about filial piety, loyalty, integrity, and humanity. The image of Luc Van Tien rushing to rescue Kieu Nguyet Nga, or Nguyet Nga steadfastly upholding her fidelity, has become vivid and easily understood evidence, far more accessible than the dry lessons in textbooks. People in Southern Vietnam, especially in Ben Tre – the birthplace of Nguyen Dinh Chieu – view the recitation of the Van Tien poem as a way to self-reflect, to maintain faith and courage during difficult times. During the Dong Khoi movement, this indomitable spirit was even likened to the emergence of "new Luc Van Tiens" in the Southern Vietnamese countryside.
For generations, the recitation of Van Tien poetry has been preserved through oral tradition. Elderly people and folk artists have become "living treasures," passing on their knowledge to their descendants or the community. Many families consider this a precious tradition, preserved as part of their family heritage. Particularly in Ben Tre, the government and cultural organizations have organized numerous 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), the recitation of Van Tien poetry has been included in the extracurricular Literature program since 2018. Students not only learn the theory of the work but also participate in performances, competitions, and listen to artists perform. Through this, they experience the authentic vitality of folk literature and absorb its moral values more naturally and profoundly.
Not only confined to the local community, the recitation of the Van Tien poem has also been introduced to the world. In cultural exchange programs, especially in Japan, this art form has made a strong impression on international friends due to its uniqueness and profound humanistic depth. At Osaka University, the story of Luc Van Tien has been translated into Japanese for teaching Vietnamese, opening a new avenue for promoting Vietnamese culture. This demonstrates the transcendent appeal of the Van Tien recitation, as the humanistic values of the work can touch the hearts of people in any country.
The preservation efforts have been richly rewarded as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially recognized the art of Vân Tiên spoken poetry as a national intangible cultural heritage in June 2025. This is not only a source of pride for the people of Ben Tre but also a testament to the enduring vitality of a folk art form. This recognition creates a foundation for Vân Tiên spoken poetry to receive more attention, giving it opportunities to appear in cultural tourism programs, in education, and on stages both domestically and internationally.
It can be affirmed that the recitation of Van Tien's verses is one of the typical examples of the vitality of Vietnamese folk culture. Originating from a literary work, its spiritual values have transcended the pages to become songs, spoken words, lifestyles, and moral lessons within the community. For over a century, this art form has retained its appeal, continuing to instill in people lessons of loyalty, compassion, and faith in justice. In the context of globalization, preserving and promoting the value of Van Tien's recitation of verses is not only a responsibility to the past but also a way to affirm Vietnamese cultural identity in the future. As long as these six-eight verses continue to resonate in Ben Tre or on international stages, it is proof of the enduring vitality of a unique folk heritage, rich in value and deeply rooted in the Southern Vietnamese identity.
Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/doc-dao-nghe-thuat-noi-tho-van-tien-post2149050478.html
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