Keeping the flame of folk singing alive.

Hát đúm, a unique form of folk singing from the coastal areas of Quang Ninh province, particularly in Quang Yen town, has existed for a long time and urgently needs preservation. The widespread dissemination of hát đúm in people's lives, contributing to the preservation and development of this beautiful traditional culture, is absolutely essential.

Since 2016, folk singing has been included in extracurricular activities at many schools in Quang Yen town.

In Quang Yen, folk singing was introduced during the time of the founding fathers who built dikes and reclaimed land from the sea, transforming this land into villages. During that arduous labor, folk singing served as songs to alleviate hardship. And so, folk singing has been passed down from generation to generation, nurtured by the very source of folk culture...

Mr. Ngo Dinh Dung, Head of the Culture and Sports Department of Quang Yen Town, said: Quang Yen Town has always paid attention to and prioritized the education and training of traditional music for the younger generation. We have coordinated and created conditions to open free classes to teach "hat dum" singing to students in some schools; we have focused on guiding schools to organize many extracurricular activities and traditional music education, especially incorporating "hat dum" singing into the curriculum of many schools; and we have created many beneficial playgrounds for young people related to this folk culture... Since 2003, the town has established a "hat dum" singing club, with many practical and beneficial activities. The art of "hat dum" singing has also been included in performances at festivals and folk art programs.

During the summer of 2024, the Youth Union of Phong Coc and Phong Hai wards organized classes on folk singing for students of all ages. The classes were taught by Meritorious Artist Pham Thi Thanh Quyet (Phong Hai ward), Head of the Quang Yen Folk Singing Club, who imparted the distinctive folk melodies of Quang Yen.

Distinguished Artisan Pham Thi Thanh Quyet, who has dedicated over 50 years to developing the unique cultural beauty of the "hat dum" folk singing tradition, shared: "In the face of contemporary music trends, attracting students to participate in this art form is not easy and requires dedication and passion from the artisan. To keep the children interested and actively involved in learning, I have to choose songs that are age-appropriate, easy to learn, and easy to remember, especially those that praise the homeland and country, thereby fostering love for the homeland in the younger generation."

Although "hat dum" is a traditional folk song that is not easy to sing, the students diligently practiced, quickly grasping the melody and content of the songs and showing great enthusiasm at learning about a unique aspect of their homeland's folk culture. Le Van Bao Nhat (Phong Hai ward) shared: "I was very happy to participate in learning 'hat dum' this past summer. At first, I wasn't used to it and found it a little difficult to sing, but after a few lessons, once I knew the lyrics and melody, the songs became familiar and easier to learn. Therefore, I attend 'hat dum' lessons regularly, without missing a single session."

Meritorious Artist Pham Thi Thanh Quyet and members of the folk singing club practice folk singing. — Distinguished Artist Pham Thi Thanh Quyet and members of the club practice folk singing. *(Photo: Provided by the subject)*

In addition to participating in folk singing classes at the Phong Hai Ward People's Committee headquarters, students also learn to sing and perform in the Coc communal house to appreciate the value of intangible cultural heritage within the historical site. Every weekend evening, the Coc communal house resonates with the melodies of the homeland. The integration of summer activities with the teaching of national cultural identity has attracted more students to participate regularly.

Besides practicing the art of "hat dum" singing, since 2016, Meritorious Artisan Pham Thi Thanh Quyet and other artisans in the "hat dum" singing club have also participated in teaching "hat dum" singing extracurricularly at many schools in the town. Through this, they help students better understand local culture and spread and preserve "hat dum" singing so that it does not fade away over time.

For over 20 years, Meritorious Artisan Pham Thi Thanh Quyet has tirelessly traveled to every village and hamlet where elderly people know how to sing traditional folk songs, collecting ancient songs and fulfilling her mission of preserving this ancient art form. In 2003, she published the book " Ha Nam - Yen Hung Folk Songs," which includes over 2,000 ancient folk songs. This book has become a valuable resource for preserving and spreading traditional folk songs. Currently, she is also finalizing and preparing to publish another book on the art of folk singing.

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