Connect to preserve then - Lang Son Newspaper and Radio and Television Station

- Then is not only a type of folk performance but also a belief and cultural soul of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups in the northern mountainous region. However, in modern life, Then is still at risk of being lost. In that context, the establishment of the Then Cultural Heritage Association (CHC), under the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association, has become a bridge for Then lovers to join hands to preserve and fuel the fire so that Then can maintain its "vitality" and survive in today's life.

Exchange activities of the Then Cultural Heritage Association in Lang Son (May 2025)

In 2018, the National Association of Then Singing Enthusiasts was established, creating a movement of folk cultural activities among Then lovers. Artists, mass actors and Then lovers from provinces such as Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Quang Ninh, Ha Giang, Hanoi , Yen Bai... voluntarily connected, exchanged and learned from each other. Not dependent on the State budget, the association operates in a self-managed manner, self-funds, and builds cross-provincial cultural relationships.

Since then, on average, the association has organized at least one exchange between provinces each year. Specifically, in Bac Kan (2019); Quynh Son Cultural Village, Lang Son (late 2019); Phuong Do Tourist Village, Ha Giang (2022); Tan Trao Relic Site, Tuyen Quang (2023)... Each organized activity attracts from 100 to 400 participants.

Members of the Then Cultural Heritage Association perform in the program "Then Soul Echoes Forever in the Mountains" held in Hanoi (November 2024)

Based on the National Association of Then Singing Enthusiasts - Singing to Each Other, at the end of 2023, the Then Cultural Heritage Association was officially established by the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association with more than 120 members. The diversity of the membership is a special feature, creating a "network" of activities that are both professional and rich in community and spreading.

Mr. Hoang Viet Binh, Chairman of the Then Cultural Heritage Association (Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association), Vice Chairman of the Lang Son Province Folk Song Preservation Association, said: As a young artist myself, I understand the thoughts of Then singers about who will continue, who will keep the fire burning for Then in the future. Then cannot only exist in the honor records. If Then is to last forever, there must be singers, musicians, and a younger generation to succeed. In fact, there are places in our Tay and Nung ethnic communities where many young people do not know how to sing Then or play Tinh. With that concern, we - young artists in the provinces - have built an organization that connects not only artists with artists, but also connects the "old" generation with the "new" generation, connects this locality with that locality, to together preserve Then as a continuous flow in national culture.

With that goal, in just over a year of campaigning and spreading, the Then Cultural Heritage Association has now increased to more than 250 members from the northern mountainous provinces. Of which, Lang Son province has the largest number of members with 130 people.

Mr. Hoang Van Y, Hung Dao commune, Binh Gia district shared: I am a Then lover. I often participate in cultural clubs in my village and commune, but have few opportunities to interact and learn from others. When I learned about the Then Cultural Heritage Association, I registered as a member because I wanted to connect and interact with Then lovers across the country. In May 2025, I was recognized as a member of the Association.

The formation and development of the Then Cultural Heritage Association has contributed to creating space for Then conservation activities, creating a large-scale Then singing movement through organized, oriented and inter-provincial connected activities.

For example, recently, in April 2025, the Then Cultural Heritage Association organized an online Then singing and Tinh lute festival to create a playground for members. Over 30 entries with invested costumes and good quality were sent to the Organizing Committee by members from the provinces, contributing to the success of the festival.

Members of the Then Cultural Heritage Association perform in Lang Son city (May 2025)

By mid-May 2025, the Then Cultural Heritage Association organized an online Then singing and Tinh lute festival award ceremony combined with exchanges and card distribution for 125 new members. The program was held in Lang Son city and at Mau Son mountain (Loc Binh district) with the participation of over 240 members and guests. Among them were many famous artists and folk artisans who have been associated with Then singing and Tinh lute for many years.

People's Artist Xuan Ai, former Director of the Viet Bac Folk Dance and Singing Theater, Thai Nguyen Province, commented: Currently, the Northern provinces have established many Then singing clubs. The establishment of the Then Cultural Heritage Association has become a bridge, a place to attract clubs to exchange, learn, and share experiences, thereby expanding, helping Then singing and Tinh lute of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups to be increasingly known to the public and the community, and to participate in preserving the national cultural identity.

People's Artists and Meritorious Artists evaluate the significance of establishing and maintaining the activities of the Then Cultural Heritage Association

Through performances, competitions, exchanges, etc., the Then Cultural Heritage Association has created conditions for Then lovers to share experiences, learn skills, and at the same time promote and introduce Then to the community. In these activities, the artists not only sing to each other but also exchange, perform in public, and pass on to the younger generation.

Ms. Au Thi Nga Son, Vice President of the Provincial Cultural Heritage Association, said: Through information gathering, we know that joining the Then Cultural Heritage Association is a long-standing desire of many artisans and Then lovers in the province. Because it is not only a place for cultural activities but also a bridge for the "sound" of Then in Lang Son to spread, not only in the province but also to other provinces. Therefore, we always support the activities of the Then Cultural Heritage Association organized in the area.

Although newly established, the Then Cultural Heritage Association has been affirming its role as a bridge connecting tradition and modernity, between individuals and communities, between local heritage and national cultural values. Each activity organized by the association carries a profound message that "Then heritage is not only to be preserved, but also to be shared". To do that, a strong connection is needed. The connection of the members of the Then Cultural Heritage Association today has been contributing to building the foundation for sustainable Then conservation in the Tay - Nung ethnic communities in the North in particular, and the whole country in general in the coming time.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/ket-noi-de-bao-ton-then-5047812.html