Spreading the love of folk music in today's life.

VHO - On the evening of May 19th, at Ben Ninh Kieu Park, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City held the closing ceremony and awards presentation for the "Southern Folk Music and Singing Festival" of Can Tho City in 2026, concluding four nights of vibrant performances that attracted a large number of artisans, amateur performers, and audiences who love Southern folk art.

The festival is significant as it coincides with the 136th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2026).

The organizing committee awarded 26 prizes to groups and individuals with outstanding achievements in the categories of instrumental ensemble, choral singing, duets/trios/drama, and solo singing, along with 10 overall prizes for participating units. In addition, there were individual prizes for authors, directors, and performers, and 10 "Potential" prizes to encourage participation.

The festival took place from May 15th to 19th, aiming to continue introducing and promoting folk songs and traditional musical instruments of Southern Vietnam; and at the same time, create a platform for exchange and learning for amateur artisans and performers in the city.

This contributes to promoting the mass arts movement, discovering and nurturing talented individuals for professional artistic activities in the locality.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phu, Deputy Director of the Can Tho City Center for Culture and Arts, said that this year's festival brought together more than 300 actors and musicians from 11 communes and wards, along with 20 independent contestants from agencies, organizations, non-governmental art units, talent clubs, and groups in the city.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phu, Deputy Director of the Can Tho City Center for Culture and Arts, delivered the concluding remarks.

According to the organizers and judges, this year's festival achieved its objectives, contributing to a joyful and vibrant atmosphere for the series of activities celebrating the 51st anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and National Reunification, International Labor Day, and the 136th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth.

Beyond being an artistic platform, the festival also becomes an opportunity for artisans and performers to meet, exchange experiences, and spread traditional cultural values ​​to the public, especially the younger generation.

As part of the event, the organizers also held a photo exhibition with the theme "Ho Chi Minh - The Most Beautiful Name" and a calligraphy writing and gifting activity, creating additional cultural spaces for locals and tourists.

In the singing competition, most participating units presented fairly comprehensive programs covering all genres as stipulated in the regulations, such as solo, duet, trio, group singing, folk song skits, and instrumental ensemble. Many performances were elaborately produced, both in terms of staging and stage presentation, showcasing a diverse range of Southern Vietnamese folk songs such as chants, lullabies, spoken poetry, and rhymes.

The selected performances will be presented at the closing ceremony.

Several performances were highly praised for their good vocals and nuanced renditions of folk songs. The duets, trios, and group performances also showcased investment in harmony, harmonies, costumes, and props. Notable performances included the duet "Ly Ao Va Quang" by Cai Khe ward; the trio "Ly Cay" and group "Ly Thanh Truc, Ly Ngua O" by Dong Hiep commune; and the group performance "Ly Ngua O" by Binh Thuy ward…

In the folk song performance genre, many groups effectively utilize call-and-response singing, rhyming verses, and excerpts from classical plays, creating a vibrant stage atmosphere. A prime example is the trio performance of "Ly Keu Do" by the Binh Thuy ward group.

The musical performance section acknowledged the efforts of the participating units in maintaining and promoting the art of performing traditional Vietnamese musical instruments. The ensemble, trio, and solo performances featured diverse arrangements and included many instruments such as the kìm, cò, tranh, bầu, flute, etc.

The judges highly appreciated the instrumental performance "Southern Melodies" by Phu Loi ward, the instrumental performance "Tua Lau Cau" by Vinh Chau ward, and the zither solo by Cai Khe ward, all of which showcased excellent technique and created a unique impression.

Many programs also invest in visual illustrations on LED screens that match the content of the performance, contributing to improved performance effectiveness and attracting audiences.

Awards were presented to outstanding teams and individuals at the Festival.

Besides the positive results, the Organizing Committee also pointed out some limitations such as the relatively small number of participating units; some performances still used familiar folk melodies and did not deeply explore the folk music of Can Tho and Hau Giang.

Some performances did not conform to the folk song genre as stipulated; the performance techniques of some groups were limited, with overuse of backing tracks or a lack of harmonious instrument coordination.

Nevertheless, according to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phu, this year's festival still demonstrates the vitality of Southern Vietnamese folk art in community life, especially with the participation of many age groups, including children and independent contestants.

"You are the ones who keep the flame alive, bringing the heritage of our ancestors closer to the younger generation," Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phu emphasized.

In the final results, Phu Loi ward won first place overall; second place went to Cai Khe ward and Binh Thuy ward; and third place was awarded to Dong Hiep commune, Vinh Chau ward, and Thoi An Dong ward. The organizing committee also awarded four consolation prizes to participating units.

In the individual award categories, contestant Huynh Trong Phuc from Long Tuyen ward received the award for the youngest contestant; author Tran Hoang Phuc from Phu Loi ward received the award for writing new lyrics; and choreographer Le Hong Phuong from Cai Khe ward received the award for staging.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/lan-toa-tinh-yeu-dan-ca-giua-doi-song-hom-nay-229674.html