Preserving the spirit of the sea through the rhythm of the boatman's folk songs.

The "Hò Bá Trạo" folk singing has long been associated with the Fishing Festival – a religious practice of worshipping Ông Nam Hải (the God of the South Sea) among fishermen in coastal areas. In Trường Đông fishing village (Nam Nha Trang ward), during each festival season, processions with resounding folk songs, graceful rowing, and colorful traditional costumes attract large crowds of locals and tourists. It's not just a ritual, but also a spiritual symbol, a place to entrust the hope for a peaceful fishing season with abundant catches.

Traditional folk singing at the Fishing Festival in Nam Nha Trang ward.

This year, this cultural tradition is being passed on through nearly 20 young people, mostly students living in the ward. In a simple training space, each hand movement, footstep, and rowing rhythm is meticulously guided. From initial awkwardness, the children gradually show the demeanor of a "peacock rower" in the traditional boat rowing formation. The traditional costumes they wear further highlight the beauty of this folk performance art form deeply rooted in the sea.

The traditional folk singing class of Nam Nha Trang ward.

Mai Nguyen Khoi, a 9th-grade student, enthusiastically shared: “Ho Ba Trao is a very unique cultural feature of Nam Nha Trang ward. I participate because I love it and want to learn more about local culture. For me, the movements aren't too difficult, only the lyrics are a bit more complex.” Beyond learning to perform, for Khoi, participating in the class is also a way to spread traditional values. He wants to continue the Ho Ba Trao tradition to promote it to others and contribute to the development of local culture.

Nguyen Khoi (center) in the performance group for the "ho ba trao" folk singing performance.

Fifth-grade student Vu Hoang Truc Linh was also enthusiastic: “I saw the 'ho ba trao' folk singing online and really liked it, so I asked my mother to let me join the class. I will introduce it to my friends so they can come and learn together, so that we can preserve this cultural tradition in the future.” Then Linh confidently sang a line she had just learned: “Ho khoan, ho khoan…” – a simple folk song, but enough to show that the seeds of this heritage are being kindled by the younger generation.

The students in Nam Nha Trang ward are eagerly practicing.

Behind the rapid progress of the younger generation lies the dedication of those who "keep the flame alive." Mr. Nguyen Van Hao, considered a "folk artist" of Truong Dong village, has been involved with the traditional boat rowing chant for decades, since he was a young man accompanying processions. Now in his twilight years, he continues to teach, passing on each chant and each rowing rhythm to the younger generation.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hao (on the left) teaches the children how to sing.

Mr. Hao shared: “The custom of worshipping Ông Nam Hải (the Sea God) in our fishing village has existed for hundreds of years. Until now, the children only knew how to observe it from afar. Now, we're recreating it to show them more clearly, thus preserving the cultural traditions of our ancestors. We've only practiced for a few nights, but I'm very happy to see the children learning so quickly.” Mr. Hao's eyes shone not only with joy but also with a sense of peace knowing that someone is continuing the legacy of his homeland.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hao participated in the folk singing performance with the children.

Along with Mr. Hao, many local folk performance experts also participate in teaching the "ho ba trao" folk singing to the children. Mr. Truong Ngoc Long said: "We aim to pass on this tradition so that young people can continue to inherit it. The biggest difficulty is the children's learning, so we organize the classes on weekends and receive great support from parents. Many parents are very happy to see their children able to sing traditional folk songs at home. It 's not just a class; it's also a space for community connection . In the future, we will continue to expand the class, focusing on students, children, and young people with a passion for it, to teach this folk performance art in a more systematic way."

Mr. Truong Ngoc Long instructs on the movements in the "ho ba trao" folk singing performance.

Today's rowing chants are not only in preparation for a provincial-level cultural event, but also the beginning of a long journey to preserve the heritage. As young hands continue the rowing rhythm of their ancestors, the "Ba Trao" chants will not only resonate during festivals, but will also live on in the spiritual life of the people of the coastal region.

Nam Nha Trang Ward is urgently practicing its performance to participate in the 2026 Khanh Hoa Province Vietnamese Ethnic Cultures Day.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, that folk song still resonates as a thread connecting the past with the present, preserving and spreading the spirit of the Khánh Hòa sea through generations.

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/202604/giu-hon-bien-qua-nhip-ho-ba-trao-ed460cc/