AI is no longer just a tool for techies. In the past two years, systems like Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, Runway or Sora have become the “second hand” of creatives in Vietnam. From photography, fashion , fine arts to media, AI opens up opportunities that previously required a team and a large budget to realize.
But the most obvious impact appears in an area that few people think of: traditional culture. The MV “Cheo Moi Lai Ra” by director Pham Vinh Khuong is just a small piece of that big picture. The product uses AI to build characters, design scenes and create visuals close to international digital art trends. Domestic and foreign audiences can easily access the art of Cheo - which requires a lot of specialized knowledge - through new and easily consumed images on digital platforms.
However, what is more important to discuss is not the success of a MV, but why AI is becoming a new language for young Vietnamese people to tell cultural stories. AI also helps traditional elements become more accessible. Patterns, costumes, and props in cheo or xam are kept in their original spirit, while appearing in a visual form, suitable for the fast-paced content consumption habits of modern viewers. Digital content becomes attractive while still maintaining its identity, helping Vietnamese culture not only survive but also spread on social networks.
For international audiences, this visual image is enough to attract attention. Without understanding Vietnamese or having in-depth knowledge of Cheo, viewers can still feel the uniqueness and difference in every detail. AI is creating a new way for Vietnamese culture to be seen and understood in a more intimate and effective way.
To record the reactions of international audiences, the group of reporters invited some tourists to watch the MV “Cheo Moi Lai Ra” and share their feelings. Steven (57 years old, UK) said that although he had never heard of Cheo, he still felt it was easy to approach thanks to the AI images: “Everything is very clear and beautiful. I did not realize this was an AI product, it looked like it was made by a professional team.” He believes that the application of technology does not reduce traditional values, but helps foreign viewers understand more about Vietnamese cultural materials.
Emma (29 years old, from England) watched attentively and then burst out laughing with delight. She shared: “Actually, before coming to Vietnam, I had never known about the art of Cheo. This was the first time I watched it and I must say I was very surprised. Everything was so beautiful, colorful and more vivid than I thought. I was very impressed with the sound, costumes and props that looked so meticulous and real that I couldn't believe it was created by AI. I watched it and thought it was a real scene. We found it very interesting.”
However, the application of AI still requires the accompaniment of artists and experts to ensure that cultural values are conveyed correctly and sufficiently. Talking to reporters, artist Ha Thi Thao of the Vietnam Cheo Theatre said that AI can only truly play its role when accompanying professionals. According to her, technology provides a lot of visual support but cannot shape cultural identity on its own. “AI can create scenes very quickly and beautifully, but it does not understand the soul of Cheo,” she shared. “Without artist control, AI can easily create incorrect details about costumes, movements or context. At that time, viewers, especially international audiences, can misunderstand traditional art.”
She believes that the artist is the “key holder” to ensure that cultural values are conveyed correctly and fully. AI’s support in restoring scenery and recreating the space of communal houses or villages helps save time and money, but the core parts such as singing voice, performing techniques, and stage breath still depend entirely on humans.
Clearly, the emergence of AI is opening up a new approach to Vietnamese cultural heritage in the digital space. From the perspective of both creators and international audiences, technology shows its ability to shorten the distance, helping genres that are considered “hard to access” such as Cheo become closer and more attractive. However, the story does not stop at the rendering techniques or visual effects, but lies in who is leading the technology.
In the context of increasingly strong content globalization, AI is becoming a potential tool for Vietnamese culture to appear on the international creative map. If used wisely and with direction, technology will not only support preservation but also create momentum to spread national identity more widely. And then, AI can truly become a "new messenger" to bring Vietnamese culture to the world , with artists still at the heart of that journey.
Source: https://baophapluat.vn/khi-ai-tro-thanh-su-gia-moi-cua-van-hoa-viet-nam.html
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