Preserving the craft of making đàn tính

Then singing and Tinh lute are indispensable art forms in the cultural and spiritual life of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups. Over time, this art form has been continuously preserved and promoted thanks to the dedication of artisans who are passionate about their national heritage. Many artisans perform Then singing and make Tinh lutes to serve the cultural activities of the community, creating more income and improving the lives of their families.

Báo Thái Nguyên•06/12/2025

Mr. Nong Quang Hao's lute workshop in Cam Giang commune.

From handmade musical instruments

In Khuoi Tac village, Cho Don commune, folk artist Van Tien Khoi is not only known as a good Then singer and Tinh player, but also a person who can make Tinh instruments of the Tay ethnic group. Artisan Van Tien Khoi said that since 2008, when he opened the first Then singing class, students lacked instruments, so he learned to make his own instruments so that they could have tools to practice with. And so the profession has followed him until now.

According to artisan Van Tien Khoi, the Dan Tinh consists of the following parts: neck, body, face, fingerboard and strings. The neck is made of soft, light wood with dense grain, usually ink rope wood or mulberry wood. The neck length is from 75-90cm.

To make a đàn tính, the craftsman must go through many stages from choosing wood for the neck, choosing a gourd for the body, and then through skillful hands, planing, chiseling, carving, and stringing... to create a guitar with a standard, smooth tone.

As for Mr. Ly Van Chien, in Na Dau village, Nam Cuong commune, who has a passion for then singing and playing the Tinh lute and has participated in local cultural and artistic activities for a long time, he clearly understands that in order to spread the art of then singing and playing the Tinh lute, making the Tinh lute to serve the needs of those who love then singing is very important.

To make a beautiful đàn tính with standard tone, both resonant and true to tone requires the craftsman to be attentive and meticulous in every stage of production.

According to Mr. Ly Van Chien, the sound box is the most important part, deciding the quality of the instrument. The sound box is usually made from a gourd. It is necessary to choose a gourd that is not too big, not too small, with a round mouth, must be an old one, with a beautiful round shape, thick skin, and a clear sound to have a standard tone.

Other parts such as the face, the ears, the beak… are also carefully selected, especially the neck which must be made of old wood so that the instrument can be used for a long time and does not warp. All stages are done by hand, carved precisely.

Go to gift products

Currently in the northern region of the province, the Tinh lute is not only a traditional musical instrument associated with Then singing but has also become a popular tourist gift product.

From the guitars made to serve personal passion, the products of artisans such as Van Tien Khoi or Mr. Ly Van Chien have been known and ordered by many people.

Tourists experience learning to play the đàn tính and buy it as a souvenir for friends.

Each instrument sells for between 1,000,000 VND and 1,500,000 VND, bringing the artisans a fairly steady income. For them, making instruments not only helps them make a living but also motivates them to preserve the Then melodies and traditional crafts of the nation.

In Phieng Luong village, Cam Giang commune, the đàn tính (traditional zither) manufacturing facility of Ma Thi Day and Nong Quang Hao is bustling all day.

Through our conversation, we learned that when the facility first opened, Ma Thi Day and her husband only accepted orders from Then singing lovers in the province. But up to now, their products have been present in many provinces and cities and have been sent abroad as a gift with a strong highland flavor. Each year, the facility produces from 4,000 to 6,000 instruments.

The development of the instrument making profession and the dedication of artisans such as artisan Van Tien Khoi, Mr. Chien, Mr. Hao… help the art of Then singing continue to be preserved and spread. The sound of the instrument not only resonates in festivals and stilt houses of the Tay and Nung people, but is also present in tourists' luggage, as a reminder of a heritage that is being revived in modern life.

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