“The Call of Love Season” – Where Northwest Culture Converges

On a weekend morning, the road leading to the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism seems to be wearing a new coat. The golden autumn sun gently spreads on the stilt house roof, the forest rustles in the wind, and somewhere, the sound of panpipes, gongs, and Then singing seems to awaken the whole space.

In that context, the program “Call of Love Season” – a folk song and dance activity of the Northwest ethnic group at the “Common House” opened again, like an appointment with memories, where Northwest culture returns and spreads in the heart of the delta.

The program "Call of Love Season" was held at the Thai ethnic village .

Sharing with reporters, Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, representative of the Service and Event Organization Department of the Vietnam Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village, said: “We hope that through the program, we can introduce to the public the folk songs, folk dances and folk performances of the 8 ethnic groups in the North that are active every day. This will be a space for the public to enjoy and feel the liveliness and uniqueness of the culture of the ethnic groups in the North.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, representative of Service and Event Organization Department of Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism .

On the familiar folk music, the colorful flared skirts, the hands holding hands in the dance circle seem to tell a love story of the mountains and forests, of the simple but profound people of the Northwest. "I feel extremely proud to bring the Then singing melodies of the Tay people to a large audience, from within the country to international friends. My greatest joy is when I see everyone listening and feeling together so that the image and singing of the Tay people can spread and be more appreciated", Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Xuyen, a Tay ethnic, Thai Nguyen shared.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Xuyen performs Then singing by the Tay ethnic folk music group of Thai Nguyen province.

The program “Call of Love Season” brings together a series of performances imbued with the highland identity, vividly recreating the cultural life of the Northwest people. On the open stage in the middle of nature, the melodies of the Thai Xoe dance, the deep resounding Then Tay singing, mixed with the sounds of the Mong flute, festival drums, and the love songs of the Nung people. In addition, there are also bamboo dances, bell dances, Muong folk songs, and many performances of traditional costumes and musical instruments.

Everything is arranged seamlessly, creating a space of convergence of colors, sounds and emotions - where each ethnic group contributes its own unique features, together blending into the music of love for the homeland and national pride. "The Call of Love Season" is therefore not just a performance, but a journey for the audience to feel the breath of the mountains and forests right in the heart of the plains, to see that folk culture is still alive every day in today's life.

All ethnic groups blend together with traditional rhythms . Photo: Nhu Quynh

Ms. Xuyen also shared: “To preserve the soul of the old dances and songs, first of all, you must have love for them in your heart. Without love, how can you sing well and dance with soul? I am old, but every time I sing, I still feel like I hear the voices of my grandparents and parents. I just hope that the younger generation will also preserve and not lose what their ancestors left behind.”

Keeping the national soul in today's life

Amidst the sounds of gongs, flutes, drums and the resounding đàn tính, viewers seem to relive the atmosphere of an ancient village festival. Here, audiences, especially the young, not only enjoy the culture but also actively enter that "cultural circle". In the bustling sound of flutes, groups of students, domestic and foreign tourists join in the xoè dance, sing love songs together, and try their hand at bamboo jumping. The laughter and rhythmic footsteps make the distance between regions and ethnic groups seem to disappear. There, people not only "watch culture" but they actually "live in culture".

“When participating, we understand more about the traditional beauty of ethnic groups. These things make us proud and want to learn more about Vietnamese culture,” said Dinh Tam Tue, a 12th grade student at Hai An High School in Hai Phong City, after a bamboo dance exchange with ethnic groups.

Tourist Nguyen Thi Thao, Hung Yen province is also very excited about this activity: "Activities like this help us understand and become closer to each other, to together build an increasingly civilized and prosperous Vietnam."

Hung Yen tourist group exchange cultural activities with Ba Na ethnic group .

That atmosphere - harmonious, close and full of emotions, shows that traditional culture still has a place in contemporary life through songs and melodies. Besides, at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, many programs and diverse activities continue to be organized, giving visitors the opportunity to participate and experience the unique cultural values ​​of the ethnic groups.

Article and photos: NHU QUYNH

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/xa-hoi/dan-toc-ton-giao/giu-hon-mien-nui-giua-long-dong-bang-khi-ban-sac-duoc-ke-bang-dieu-mua-loi-ca-959186