Fearing separation from her heritage, a female student from Lang Son transforms into a 'Then Maiden' to spread the melodies of her homeland.

I fell in love with the Then folk song.

Born into the Nung ethnic group in Lang Son – a land rich in diverse ethnic cultural forms – Lang Thuy Linh was exposed to Then melodies from a young age. Although no one in her family practiced Then, the sounds of the ethnic group, heard only through tapes and CDs, gradually seeped into her subconscious and became a part of her spiritual world .

At the age of 11, Linh began learning Then singing at the Ethnic Boarding School. She was one of 30 students in the Then singing class taught directly by Meritorious Artist Hoang Thuy. For her, this was a stroke of luck and a fortunate opportunity that led her to study and dedicate herself to professional Then singing until today.

“When I was little, I was exposed to Then melodies, so those tunes have become deeply ingrained in my subconscious. Therefore, when I had the opportunity to learn, I grasped it immediately. Initially, I liked it because of the beautiful melodies, but when I delved deeper, I realized that Then also contains many core values and characteristics of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups,” Linh shared.

Student Lang Thuy Linh. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Besides learning to sing, she also learned to play the zither, an instrument closely associated with Then music. This requires meticulousness and patience: "With Then melodies, memorizing the notes and how to play the instrument requires a great deal of perseverance ," Linh said.

Then singing comprises two main types: religious Then and artistic Then. Religious Then is an indispensable ritual in the spiritual and cultural life of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups in the northern mountainous provinces, performed to pray for peace, good fortune, and happiness. Meanwhile, artistic Then often appears in community activities and daily life, bringing cheerful melodies that help people feel more optimistic and enthusiastic.

For Linh herself, she shared: "Then singing not only makes me love the culture of my people even more, but it also serves as a spiritual anchor that I turn to whenever I feel tired or stuck." It is these meanings that have motivated her to persevere and dedicate herself to Then singing for 9 years.

Bringing the Then melody "away from the village"

When Thùy Linh moved to Hanoi to study at university, she carried with her a deep pride in her hometown's culture. Her choice of majoring in Cultural Development at the Academy of Journalism and Communication stemmed from her desire to preserve and spread the heritage she had pursued for many years. Linh said: “When I applied, I chose this major because I wanted to study culture in more depth, so I could have the opportunity to spread the Then singing tradition of my hometown to more people.”

In her early days living in Hanoi, Linh clearly felt the change. The modern, bustling city environment made it difficult for her to perform or connect with familiar melodies like she did back in her hometown. She confided, "During my first year, I was no longer close to my 'heritage' culture. I was afraid that I would have fewer opportunities to sing and spread my music as before."

That worry became the motivation for Linh to find a new way to connect with traditional art. Starting at the end of her first year, she created a TikTok channel called "Nàng Then Thùy Linh" and posted videos of herself singing Then songs and playing the zither.

Thùy Linh is spreading the Then folk singing style on her personal TikTok channel.

"I started my TikTok channel at the end of my first year of university and was lucky to receive a lot of attention and support from everyone. Not only older people, but also young people follow me and express their desire to learn. That makes me happy, because social media has truly become a bridge bringing Then singing closer to young people," Linh excitedly shared.

Thanks to this widespread influence, Linh has had more opportunities to perform at her school, faculty, and cultural events in Hanoi. From worrying about being "distant" from the heritage, she has become someone who brings Then melodies to many people - especially young people who have never known much about this art form.

Lang Thuy Linh participated in the "Student Talent Search" competition in 2025. Photo: Provided by the contestant.

Throughout her nine years of studying and dedicating herself to the Then folk music, Linh has brought her singing to many stages and won awards in competitions. These achievements not only affirm her talent but also contribute to spreading the melodies of Then widely, making this traditional art form known and loved by many.

To preserve and spread Then singing in contemporary life, for Linh, the most important thing is enthusiasm, and to reach more people, one cannot simply follow the beaten path. From ancient Then melodies, Linh adapts them to create more beautiful and fresh lyrics. The creative process must also be adaptable to different times to reach a wider audience. Especially with the influx of various cultures, it is necessary to be selective and adapt while still preserving the identity of one's own ethnic group.

Source: https://congluan.vn/so-xa-di-san-nu-sinh-xu-lang-hoa-nang-then-lan-toa-lan-dieu-que-huong-10322299.html