Connecting generations through folk music

A music night organized by the Ca Cam Association at a coffee shop on the 3rd floor of apartment building 26 Ly Tu Trong street (Sai Gon ward, HCMC)

Originated from family memories

Linh Mai grew up in a multi-generational family with a special love for traditional music . Although no one was a professional artist, the passion for traditional music, folk music, and traditional music was instilled in Linh Mai from a young age. He shared: “The love for traditional folk music is a sacred bond between generations in my family. That is why I want to do something so that traditional folk music will also become a bond in other families.”

The first music night named Hoi Ca Cam was held on the occasion of Vietnamese Family Day, June 26, 2025. The name "Hoi Ca Cam" was inspired by the Hanh Van amateur music piece, a cheerful and congratulatory style. Since then, Linh Mai and her colleagues have organized a regular music night every month, with rotating themes, connecting cultural, social and historical stories combined with Q&A with the audience. A unique point is that each guest attending Hoi Ca Cam will receive a random "Kieu fortune telling" as a spiritual gift.

The previous venue of the Ca Cam Association was a coffee shop on the 3rd floor of the apartment building at 26 Ly Tu Trong Street, Saigon Ward. However, the music night themed “Ru ca - Tiếng hát dưỡng minh” scheduled to take place in November will be held at a larger venue to serve a larger audience.

After 4 years of organization, the Ca Cam Association has become a familiar meeting place for young people who love traditional culture. Young audiences come to experience, learn, and find spiritual values from traditional melodies. A young audience member named Thu Hoang shared on the Ca Cam Association's social networking page: "The atmosphere of the show is very cozy, more like sitting with friends in an art conversation than a performance."

Connect to keep the tradition alive

Although the initial desire was to unite many generations in the family, the reality is that the audience of Hoi Ca Cam is mainly young people. However, this is also a positive sign that traditional cultural values are being rekindled in the hearts of the new generation.

In addition to the Ca Cam Association, Linh Mai also carries out many unique activities, connecting a network of cultural researchers, artists, painters and audiences, creating a platform for exchange and sharing of ideas. These activities are highly experiential, such as: practicing betel leaf wrapping; Mid-Autumn Festival "La vong fishing"; "Trung duong poetry and wine" festival; workshop "Learning Hoan Thu's jealousy of her husband"; workshop "The quintessence of the sounds of the capital"; Hue Ca Hue music night in the middle of the city...

Each program is a new approach, arousing the curiosity and interest of young people, turning traditional art into a vivid experience instead of a distant concept. “Culture and art are not only the past but also a part of the present and the future,” Linh Mai believes. Linh Mai’s perseverance clearly demonstrates the mission of connecting and promoting cultural and artistic values in the community. With a youthful but not superficial approach, he and his colleagues are contributing to building a community that understands, loves and practices traditional culture, applying it to modern life. Linh Mai admits: “The two words mission are too great for me. We only use the enthusiasm of youth to practice, then once we are no longer young, we will look back and see that life has been lived meaningfully, without being ashamed of ourselves.”

The Ca Cam Festival is not only an art program but also a reminder of the responsibility to preserve and promote heritage. The return of folk art through the hands of young people like Linh Mai contributes to adding vitality to national culture, so that each melody and song continues to resonate in today's life. It is the connection between tradition and modernity that creates a unique beauty, contributing to preserving identity and enriching the spiritual life of the community.

“I am not a professional or a researcher. I am just using my limited strength to study and practice issues related to folk arts. The Ca Cam Festival program series is a journey with the community to continue the values of previous generations,” Linh Mai expressed.

BLUE

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/ket-noi-the-he-bang-am-nhac-dan-gian-post821159.html