This year's competition took place over three days, from March 20th to 22nd, at the Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Song Theater (Kinh Bac Ward, Bac Ninh Province), bringing together nearly 800 artisans, male and female singers, actors, and musicians from Quan Ho villages and clubs in the province.

The two main events, traditional Quan Ho folk singing in call-and-response style and Quan Ho musical performances on stage, both attracted a large number of participants. In the call-and-response competition, over 300 pairs registered from the preliminary round, with 85 pairs selected for the final round. The competition was conducted by lottery and elimination, requiring not only technical skill but also a rich repertoire and subtlety in their delivery.

In the stage performance section, nearly 20 amateur art troupes presented more than 60 elaborately staged performances, combining traditional and modern lyrics. Despite the creativity, the competition still placed high demands on preserving the traditional Quan Ho folk singing style, from costumes to performance style, in order to recreate the distinctive cultural atmosphere of the Kinh Bac region.

Male and female singers at the 2026 Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Song Contest.

From early morning, groups of men in turbans and silk robes, and women in traditional four-panel dresses and headscarves, gathered, their greetings beginning with familiar melodies. The singing, sometimes gentle, sometimes soaring, blended together like a unique love potion of the Kinh Bac region, easily captivating listeners and leaving them mesmerized without them even realizing it.

For the people of Bac Ninh, Quan Ho folk songs are not just songs sung at the beginning of spring, but are an integral part of their spiritual life, ingrained in their way of thinking and behaving. People come to Quan Ho not only to listen to beautiful voices and skillful exchanges, but also to feel the affection, the sense of duty, and the refined manners that have become part of their character. That's why, as the saying goes, "As long as there is sky, water, and mountains, as long as there are Quan Ho songs, I will remain captivated," and this "captivation" lies not only in the lyrics but also in the way people cherish and preserve each song and each performance.

Meeting us as they stepped off the stage after winning first prize in the 150-verse call-and-response singing competition, sisters Bui Thi Hien and Nguyen Thi Ninh (from Hoa Dinh village, Vo Cuong ward, Bac Ninh province) still radiated joy and pride. Nguyen Thi Ninh couldn't hide her emotion, saying it was one of the most unforgettable memories of her life and a well-deserved reward for a year of diligent practice.

Recalling the preparation period, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ninh shared: “Since childhood, we followed our mothers to learn to sing, listening so much that we became familiar with it and fell in love with it without even remembering when. When we stood on the stage to compete today, we brought not only preparation but also a whole journey of connection with the songs of our homeland. We didn't have fixed practice sessions; we took advantage of every moment, everywhere. While going to the market, working in the fields, or during our free afternoons, we would call each other to practice each phrase and melody. Learning Quan Ho is not just about vocal training; it's about gradually absorbing and accumulating knowledge little by little.”

According to the assessment of Meritorious Artist Le Ngai, a judge of the competition, the quality of contestants this year has shown a clear improvement, demonstrating the effectiveness of the work of preserving and teaching Quan Ho folk songs in the community. Mr. Trinh Huu Hung, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province, said that in recent years, the movement to practice Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs in the province has developed extensively, with many clubs maintaining effective operations. The dedicated artisans and singers are actively passing on ancient Quan Ho melodies to the younger generation, contributing to preserving and spreading the heritage values ​​of their homeland.

The sisters Bui Thi Hien and Nguyen Thi Ninh competed on the stage in a call-and-response singing contest.

Each male and female singer participating in the competition is not only a contestant, but also a "messenger" carrying the songs of their homeland to spread more widely in today's life. For singer Duong Duc Thang, Deputy Chairman of the Hoai Trung Quan Ho Club, the Quan Ho Folk Song Competition evokes many unforgettable memories.

He vividly remembers the spring singing competitions in the 1990s when he was a young Quan Ho singer from his village, accompanying the Tien Du district delegation to the festival. The night before the competition, instead of studying, he stayed out late, only to be scolded by his grandparents for "not preparing for the competition the next day." The next morning, the whole delegation was present to participate in the competition. The three days of the competition passed quickly, but left a deep impression as he won three prizes, including the call-and-response singing prize and the youngest contestant prize. But what he remembers most is not the prizes, but the atmosphere of the competition. The call-and-response singing had no set theme; it relied entirely on repertoire and improvisation. Not many people dared to participate, because if you didn't have enough "resources," it was easy to get flustered by the challenging songs.

He recounted an incident where he competed against a young man from Bo Son. After the competition, the elders outside commented with amusement and admiration: "That young boy from Biu, despite his young age, has such challenging verses." Compared to the past, Thang said that Quan Ho singing competitions have changed significantly. Having specific questions allows participants to be more proactive, and the movement has spread more widely. However, to truly sing in a call-and-response style, a long process of accumulation is still needed. In the past, it was rare for anyone under 20 to participate in call-and-response singing; even those nearing 40 needed to be mature enough in terms of knowledge and experience. This, he believes, remains a challenge but is also a unique characteristic that gives Quan Ho its depth.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/van-hoc-nghe-thuat/say-sua-hoi-thi-quan-ho-1031511