Neko Le sings Xam, reveals that she was taught the craft by the daughter of the late artisan Ha Thi Cau

The emotional stories about director Neko Le's first foray into the art of Xam singing ended with a mini concert filled with laughter in the middle of the ancient village communal house yard.

Episode 9 of Dad, Where Are We Going? 2025 (broadcast on VTV3 on the evening of July 14) took place at Co Vien Lau - a destination located in the buffer zone of the Trang An World Heritage Complex (Ninh Binh) when the show's artists Neko Le, Trung Ruoi, Thai Hoa, and Duy Hung had a special cultural experience.

The artists visited Kha Luong Temple and Pagoda - where Ho Sinh Dai Vuong, a sacred god associated with many legends of saving people and helping the world, was worshiped. And in that space, imbued with the colors of time, families were exposed to the art of Xam singing - a unique folk performing art form - for the first time.

Artists rehearsing before the performance

Photo: TV Hub

"Screen martial artist" Duy Hung emotionally said: "This is a subject that needs to be preserved. I never thought I would have the opportunity to learn from someone who is continuing the precious flow of this traditional art form."

Southern father Neko Le said: "Singing Xam is like reading poetry on a melody that goes up and down continuously, but also has to be clear and round, emphasize the right places, have rhythmic ups and downs, and also have to sing in a Northern accent, which is a big challenge for me."

Neko Le and artists spread traditional cultural values

The lesson did not stop at "experiencing for knowledge", when the artists were assigned to perform Xam singing for the villagers.

Fortunately, the person who directly passed on the profession to director Neko Le was Ms. Nguyen Thi Man - daughter of the late artist Ha Thi Cau, who was once known as a "national human treasure" in the art of Xam, so everything was somewhat... easier.

Artists ride bicycles and "use loudspeakers" to invite people to watch Xam singing.

Photo: TV Hub

While Trung Ruoi, Duy Hung and Thai Hoa were quickly "preliminarily approved", Neko Le was kept by the artist to sing over and over again to get it right. Despite his determination, the Southern accent mixed with the Xam melody made him struggle to find the right "Xam quality".

The image of artists cycling "advertising": "There is free music by famous artists Trung Ruoi, Duy Hung, Neko Le..." echoes in the ancient village, mixed with children's laughter... creating a vivid picture of the countryside, full of family love. A scene that is not only beautiful but also a vivid proof of the spread of traditional cultural values ​​in modern life.

The show was a success beyond expectations.

Photo: TV Hub

Understanding that the fathers' singing ability is only at the beginner level, director Neko Le cleverly "set up the strategy": "Let the artists open first, they will sing 4 sentences, then each of us will step out to contribute our voices gently. When four people step out, half of the song is over, we just need to end it with a few simple dance moves and it's done."

Although the performance only lasted a few hours, it still attracted a large crowd. The enthusiastic performance of artists Neko Le, Trung Ruoi, Thai Hoa, and Duy Hung at the communal house yard not only received love from the audience but also left a cultural echo, as a proof that traditional culture and national art, if passed down with all the heart, will live forever.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/neko-le-hat-xam-tiet-lo-duoc-con-gai-co-nghe-nhan-ha-thi-cau-truyen-nghe-185250714204911358.htm