After 10 years of development, the "Ancient Village Xoan Singing" program has become an unmissable spiritual experience for domestic and international tourists visiting Phu Tho . The melodies of Xoan singing, imbued with the love of the land and people of Phu Tho in particular, and Vietnam in general, always delight a large number of visitors during the annual Hung Kings' Commemoration Day and Hung Temple Festival. According to researchers, the Phu Tho Xoan singing heritage and the Hung Kings' worship belief are two but one, closely linked. The Hung Kings' worship belief exists and thrives thanks to the inclusion of Xoan singing in its rituals. Historical records show that Xoan singing has existed for over 2,000 years. Since the time of the Hung Kings' founding of the nation, Xoan singing has been performed in the spring to welcome the new year, not only for singing but also to pray for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, prosperity for all, well-being for the people and livestock, national peace and security, and to praise the Hung Kings. For a long time, Xoan singing has been associated with festivals and the spiritual needs of the people. The name and origin of Xoan singing are both linked to legendary stories about the time of the Hung Kings' founding of the nation.
Xoan singing is a performing art form encompassing singing, dancing, drumming, and percussion, associated with the worship of Hung Kings, a belief rooted in the Vietnamese practice of ancestor worship, recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Originating from the Hung Kings era and closely associated with legends about the Hung Kings, Phu Tho Xoan singing holds a special appeal for tourists. The lyrics, dances, and performance instruments are incredibly simple and rustic, yet the rhythm and melody are clear, strong, and powerful. The sound of the drums at the temple gate, in particular, seems to urge and inspire, touching the most devout hearts of everyone in the space and program of "Ancient Village Xoan Singing." In 2013, the Phu Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism developed a program called "Ancient Village Xoan Singing" to be integrated into tours and routes serving groups attending the annual Hung Kings Commemoration Day and Hung Temple Festival. This also serves as the foundation for developing the "Ancient Village Xoan Singing" tourism product within the community.
The ancient communal house of Hung Lo village (Phu Tho province) is located along the Lo River, about 10 km east of Hung Temple.
In April 2018, the Phu Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with Viet Tri City, announced the tourism product "Xoan Singing in Ancient Villages". This is the first tourism product and tour developed by Phu Tho province and implemented in collaboration with travel companies. Accordingly, in one day, tourists will visit the Hung Kings Historical Relic Site, participate in religious rituals and worship the Hung Kings, learn about the nation-building and defense process of our ancestors; visit the Hung Kings Museum, explore the exhibition space about the nature, history and culture of the ancestral land through various periods from prehistoric times to the modern era; Visitors will tour the ancient Hung Lo communal house (a 300-year-old communal house located on the banks of the Lo River) and the ancient Hung Lo village, featuring a traditional rural market, old houses, and the experience of making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) and pounding banh day (traditional Vietnamese sticky rice cakes)... Finally, visitors will tour the Lai Len temple, the birthplace of Phu Tho Xoan singing, and enjoy the smooth, ancient Xoan melodies performed by artisans from the Xoan singing troupes. The "Xoan Singing in Ancient Villages" program is closely linked to historical and cultural relics, the birthplace of Xoan singing, and ancient communal houses – the areas where Xoan singing performances spread – such as the Lai Len temple, Thet communal house, An Thai communal house, and Hung Lo communal house… The performers are artisans from the four original Xoan singing troupes: Phu Duc, Kim Doi, Thet, and An Thai.
International tourists, along with artisans and locals, participate in Xoan singing at Hung Lo ancient communal house (Hung Lo commune, Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province).
The ancient and sacred atmosphere of the communal houses, combined with the skillful and graceful performances of the Xoan artists and performers—from the drumming and percussion to the singing, hand movements, and footwork—exudes a beauty of solemnity, reverence, and heartfelt simplicity that visitors will never forget. People's Artist Nguyen Thi Lich (Xoan An Thai ward, Phuong Lau ward) stated that the "Xoan Singing in Ancient Villages" program, held annually during the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day and Hung Temple Festival, aims to preserve, conserve, promote, and introduce the Xoan singing heritage and the Hung Kings' worshiping belief in Phu Tho. Therefore, the entire Phuong Lau Xoan ward strives to do its best, bringing the most beautiful and meaningful Xoan melodies to serve visitors from near and far who come to the ancestral land.
With its outstanding global values, on November 24, 2011, at the 6th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO held in Bali, Indonesia, Phu Tho Xoan singing of Vietnam was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of urgent safeguarding. On December 8, 2017, at the 12th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, Phu Tho Xoan singing was officially removed from the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of urgent safeguarding and became a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. To preserve and promote the value of Xoan singing, Phu Tho province has been implementing many practical and effective solutions to preserve and promote the heritage, making Phu Tho Xoan singing an invaluable asset.
A performance of three generations of Xoan singing takes place at the Van Lang Park stage in Viet Tri City (Phu Tho province).
Mr. Nguyen Dac Thuy, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Phu Tho province, said that the province has implemented comprehensive and systematic programs and projects to preserve Xoan singing. In particular, the province has clearly identified the promotion and development of the value of Xoan singing heritage as a central and continuous task. Through this, the Xoan singing heritage is preserved and its value is promoted in the era of innovation and international integration. Phu Tho recognizes that Xoan singing artisans are "living human treasures," the core force in protecting the Xoan singing heritage. Therefore, the province has proactively implemented activities to exploit and protect artisans. Currently, the entire province has hundreds of artisans capable of teaching, many of whom have been awarded the titles of People's Artisan and Distinguished Artisan.
Xoan singing has long been a unique cultural feature deeply rooted in the traditions of the people of the ancestral land, contributing to the traditional beauty and essential values of the nation.
In addition to providing daily training and funding for artisans and students participating in teaching and training classes, the province has supported Xoan singing groups in fundraising for activities, organizing events, teaching, and purchasing equipment. 100% of schools in the province have incorporated Xoan singing into their educational programs through music and extracurricular activities; approximately 50% of educational institutions have established Xoan singing clubs at the school level. Furthermore, over 100 Xoan and folk song clubs at the provincial, district, and commune levels have been established and maintained, meeting the needs of those who love Xoan singing and contributing to its strong spread in community life.
The "Mó Cá" song is one of the most anticipated songs by young men and women.
Phu Tho province has always prioritized the preservation of Xoan singing heritage in conjunction with tourism development, sustainably exploiting the value of this heritage based on community participation. This activity contributes to making Xoan singing a unique and attractive tourism resource and product, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists. The "Xoan Singing in Ancient Villages" program has contributed to widely promoting this representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity to a large number of domestic and international tourists. The program encourages people and artisans in Xoan singing villages to preserve, conserve, and pass on these songs, so that they may endure through time and continue to develop their noble values in the era of innovation and international integration.
Article: Toan Duc Photos and graphics: VNA Edited by: Ky Thu Layout: Nguyen Ha
Tùng Anh•21/04/2023
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