A multi-talented artist from the fishing village.

ABUNDANT SONGS OF THE SEASIDE VILLAGE

In mid-July 2024, at the ceremony commemorating the 195th anniversary of the death of the renowned figure Thoại Ngọc Hầu - Nguyễn Văn Thoại (1829 - 2024), organized by the People's Committee of Sơn Trà District (Da Nang City), the esteemed artist Thanh Châu captivated hundreds of audience members with his heartfelt performance of the folk song "Sơn Trà, My Beloved." "The old stilt houses were scattered about/Now they have been transformed into modern houses/Many bridges have been built here/Making it even more attractive, with construction projects… Oh Sơn Trà! Sơn Trà, a place of captivating beauty/Like a poem written by someone, a song of affection…" , artist Thanh Châu's voice resonated. Many audience members wondered about the author of the lyrics, which were both concise and vivid, and they appreciated it even more when they learned that the "father" was a seasoned fisherman. He is Cao Văn Minh (59 years old).

Mr. Minh was born and raised in Nai Hien Dong fishing village (Son Tra District), the locality with the largest offshore fishing fleet in Da Nang . From a young age, he spent his time on the sea, sailing with fishing boats across the fishing grounds, clinging to the East Sea. After long hours of hard work, fishermen would find joy in singing and chanting. The familiar melodies of folk songs from Military Region 5 naturally seeped into him. He considers himself "not very literate" but has a good memory, a love for traditional music, and a love for the sea. In his fifties, when he no longer had the health to continue working at sea, he retired to shore to write plays and folk songs…

Cao Van Minh's creative diary records the distinctive folk songs and scripts of the mountainous region.

"Beloved Son Tra" is just one of many folk songs he wrote about the land that nurtured him. He also has works that have not only been performed at local community festivals but have also reached the city and national levels, such as: "My Hometown Nai Hien Dong," "New Day in Van Duong," "Da Nang in Our Hearts," "The Scent of Love in Da Nang," etc. Among them, "Da Nang in Our Hearts " was performed at a grand art program celebrating the 25th anniversary of Da Nang becoming a centrally governed city in 2022. In particular, "The Scent of Love in Da Nang," with its rich imagery and familiar folk melody, was warmly received by the public.

Composed in August 2021, this song by Cao Van Minh won a silver medal at the National Folk Song and Music Festival of the Three Regions, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Lam Dong in December of the same year. "Our homeland is like a folk song/Sometimes low, sometimes high, the singing voice resonates/I follow you to Son Tra beach/Silently listening to the distant waves of the sea echoing…" , artist Huyen Tan recited the ancient melody in " Fragrance of Da Nang Love" and commented: "Although not a professional, Cao Van Minh is a fisherman with a deep love for the sea. Therefore, when writing folk songs, his songs are always simple, full of experience, and the lyrics carry more characteristics of the coastal region than other authors. Even more admirable, he is a non-professional in music, but through his talent and diligent learning, he has written accurate melodies."

"THE GENERAL DIRECTOR" OF THE FISHING PRAYER CEREMONY

Artists Huyen Tan and Thanh Chau were also invited by Mr. Cao Van Minh to perform folk songs and traditional theater during the local fishing festival. Mr. Huynh Van Hung, Vice Chairman of the Son Tra District People's Committee, expressed his admiration for Mr. Minh's contributions to each festival. "Although Mr. Minh is not yet an elder, he is a courageous fisherman, a person who understands and is passionate about the identity of the fishing village. During the fishing festivals, with his prestige, he has actively contributed to preserving and promoting the distinctive values ​​of this national intangible cultural heritage," Mr. Hung said.

The largest fishing festival in Da Nang City bears the strong personal imprint of Mr. Cao Van Minh.

The larger the scale of the festival, the more important it is for the overall organizer to have the vision to rally people to participate and to understand the coastal culture in order to perform the spiritual rituals properly. In Da Nang, many places organize fishing prayer festivals at the beginning of the year, but many rituals are merely reenactments. In the Nai Hien Dong area, the festival, under the overall direction of Mr. Cao Van Minh, is arguably the largest in Da Nang, featuring a series of activities that practice the heritage rather than just performances. "Over time, fishing prayer festivals in coastal areas have become diluted. For the fishermen's prayers to be answered, the festival must be accurate and well-structured," Mr. Minh said.

It was with this mindset that Mr. Cao Van Minh meticulously researched and refined the fishing festival, "eliminating the wrong and emphasizing the right." Three months before the festival, day and night, Mr. Minh and the fishermen prepared the rituals, cultural performances, and sporting events. He also wrote the ceremonial texts, composed couplets, and staged traditional opera plays, folk songs, and coastal folk songs. Over three nights and four days, the fishermen performed numerous rituals, such as invoking the river god, raising the banner, opening the Buddhist scriptures, praying for peace and a good harvest, sending off the dragon boat, and thanking the four guardian spirits of the land.

The Nai Hien Dong traditional boat race is the biggest race in Da Nang City.

"Most importantly, the rituals in the ceremony to invoke the sacred spirit of the Nam Hai clan, Ngoc Lan, are crucial. All steps must be correct and authentic to receive divine assistance. This ceremony also initiates many intangible cultural activities deeply rooted in the coastal region. In particular, this ceremony gave rise to the traditional boat racing festival – the king of water sports. A fishing festival without boat racing is incomplete," Mr. Minh shared. Thanks to making the traditional boat race a brand for the district and the city, in early November 2024, Mr. Cao Van Minh was appointed Chairman of the Boat Racing Club to prepare the team for the race in March 2025, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Da Nang City.

Speaking with us, Mr. Minh looked quite tired, having just been discharged from the hospital after heart surgery. Nevertheless, he said that as long as he had the strength, he would continue to contribute to preserving the identity of his fishing village. "I'm willing to contribute, even if it's for free, as a scriptwriter if the city leaders want to elevate the fishing festival into a large-scale tourism product. After the success of the folk song script ' Soul of the Sea ,' I'm planning to write 'Memories of Nai Hien Fishing Village' and a book about the cultural essence of Nai Hien Fishing Village to pass on the finest aspects of the fishing village's culture to future generations," Mr. Minh shared.

Amazed by the script of "Sea Soul"

At the 2024 fishing festival, many fishermen were moved to see themselves and the lives of fishermen reflected in the folk drama " The Soul of the Sea ." Author Cao Van Minh took viewers through a range of emotions as they listened to folk songs and watched climactic scenes. "The Soul of the Sea" features a full cast of characters, including boat owners, seafarers, fisheries officials, and the God of the South Sea. The work evokes in viewers a love for the sea and islands, and deeply conveys the story of fishermen who depend on the sea for their livelihood – that if they love and protect the sea, they will be rewarded by it. A self-taught playwright like Mr. Cao Van Minh astonished viewers with his two-hour folk drama script, divided into three parts and thirteen scenes...

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nghe-si-da-tai-cua-lang-ca-185250123183150384.htm