"Keeping the flame alive" of Xoan singing in the flow of development.

On December 8, 2017, at its 12th session, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage officially removed Xoan singing from the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection and recognized it as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is the first and only case in UNESCO's history, affirming the value, vitality, and widespread influence of the heritage within the community.

Phu Tho Xoan singing performance opens the Hung Temple Festival and the Ancestral Land Culture and Tourism Week 2025.

During the period 2020-2025, Phu Tho province continued to focus its efforts on implementing the Project to preserve and promote the value of Xoan singing, achieving many important accomplishments from teaching to linking the heritage with sustainable tourism. This effort is not only a responsibility but also a great source of pride, creating a new position and vitality for Xoan singing. However, for this heritage to truly become an invaluable asset for generations to come, the province still needs to overcome challenges regarding policies to support artisans, attract young people, and promote digitalization.

Propaganda and promotion played a crucial role in bringing Xoan singing from ancient communal courtyards to the modern public, mobilizing the entire political system and media. The propaganda focused on clarifying the restoration efforts and the immense significance of the UNESCO event, while skillfully integrating it to promote Phu Tho's culture and tourism. During this period, hundreds of news articles and reports were produced and widely disseminated across traditional and digital media channels. The province's tourism information websites also continuously updated, turning Xoan singing into a topic that attracted millions of visits.

The image of Xoan singing has also reached the world through diplomatic events, especially the online competition for Vietnamese expatriates in many countries. This international recognition is a great source of encouragement, reflecting the spirit of those who are working day and night to preserve the heritage. As shared by People's Artist Nguyen Thi Lich, Head of An Thai Xoan singing troupe: "I am very proud to perform Xoan singing to serve my compatriots and tourists. This is both a responsibility and an obligation to preserve, spread, promote, and develop the value of Phu Tho's Xoan singing cultural heritage to people at home as well as international tourists."

Furthermore, the Education sector has integrated Xoan singing into schools, ensuring that 100% of music teachers at all levels in the province have participated in training and teaching. Research, inventory, and documentation work has also been carried out regularly by the province, showing that the community, especially the four original Xoan singing wards and clubs, has played a crucial role as "keepers of the flame," preserving the heritage through traditional festivals associated with the Hung King worshiping belief.

People's Artist Nguyen Thi Lich (the drummer) teaches Xoan singing to the core members of the arts clubs.

Xoan singing is regularly and passionately taught and practiced within the community, ensuring its sustainable transmission. In the four original Xoan singing wards, artisans diligently teach members and students on weekend evenings or during summer holidays, making the singing movement voluntary and widespread.

Over the past period, the province has organized many intensive training courses for members of original Xoan folk singing groups and high-quality training courses for aspiring artisans, aiming to nurture the future of this heritage. Many training courses have also been opened for key members of clubs and music teachers at all levels, creating a solid network for transmitting this heritage.

In terms of both material and ceremonial aspects, the performance spaces for Xoan singing at related historical sites have been renovated and restored to a high standard. These spaces are not only places of worship but also ideal locations for teaching, practicing rituals, and performing Xoan singing associated with the worship of the Hung Kings. The tradition of Xoan singing as a symbol of brotherhood, a beautiful tradition that had faded away, has also been successfully revived among Xoan singing troupes and villages. To honor these silent contributions, Phu Tho province has awarded the title of Xoan Singing Artisan to many People's Artisans and Distinguished Artisans. The original Xoan singing troupes also receive significant annual financial support to maintain their activities, along with investment in upgrading facilities, helping them both preserve and develop tourism.

Students learn about and practice Xoan singing at Lai Len Temple.

In the past, Xoan singing was only heard in ancient village courtyards; today, it resonates throughout the ancestral land. The value of Xoan singing has been exploited to become a unique cultural tourism product, an indispensable part of the itinerary for every tourist group visiting the ancestral land. Therefore, the performance spaces for Xoan are gradually expanding throughout the province.

Xoan singing performances for tourists are not only held in the birthplace of Xoan, such as the areas surrounding Hung Temple like Hung Lo Temple or Lai Len Shrine, but also in other ancient temples and shrines throughout the province. Many unique tourism products have been created, such as "Xoan Singing in Ancient Villages" and the "Hung Temple Night Tour" program with the theme "Returning to the Roots - Sacred Ancestral Land". Xoan singing is also a highlight at many important cultural and political events at the provincial and national levels.

In order to further promote the value of Xoan singing heritage, the province has proposed many important solutions such as: continuing to improve policies for artisans; maintaining the transmission of Xoan singing within the community and incorporating it into general education, while developing online courses; building a comprehensive digital platform to store data and calling for social resources to invest in the development of high-quality and attractive Xoan singing cultural products/services.

Le Hoang

Source: https://baophutho.vn/giu-lua-hat-xoan-trong-dong-chay-phat-trien-243503.htm