Today, anyone who visits Bac Lieu and hears the Kinh, Hoa, and Khmer ethnic groups playing traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music together will truly understand the deep bond and brotherly affection between these ethnic groups that has harmonized in this art form.

Traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music (ĐCTT) is considered one of the most popular yet scholarly art forms, as playing the instrument or singing Tài Tử is not easy. For Khmer or Chinese people, singing Tài Tử is as difficult as for Kinh people singing the Dù Kê of the Khmer people or the Triều Kịch of the Chinese. Yet, overcoming language barriers and cultural differences, the ĐCTT clubs in Bac Lieu City have performers who can sing together the song "Dạ Cổ Hoài Lang" with various sections such as Văn Thiên Tường, Phụng Hoàng, Nam Xuân, Vọng Kim Lang, Điệp Khúc Phi Vân, and Đoạn Khúc Lam Giang... This shows that this unique art form has deeply permeated the spiritual and cultural life and developed into a community culture of the people of Bac Lieu. Therefore, the ĐCTT clubs in the city have opened up a platform attracting more and more participants.

Cultural exchange and performance of traditional folk art by Kinh, Hoa, and Khmer clubs in Vinh Trach Dong commune, Bac Lieu city.

Cultural exchange and performance of traditional folk art by Kinh, Hoa, and Khmer clubs in Vinh Trach Dong commune, Bac Lieu city.

When asked, "Why do you prefer Cai Luong (traditional Vietnamese opera) over Teochew opera or Ho Quang opera?", Ms. Lam Thi Nghil, a Hoa ethnic woman and member of the Cai Luong Club in Vinh Trach Dong commune (Bac Lieu City), answered without hesitation: "Cai Luong songs convey the feelings of working people, helping me to love and feel more connected to the land of Bac Lieu. Before, I loved Cai Luong but didn't know how to sing. Since joining the club, I've been taught a lot, so now I know how to sing Cai Luong and I really enjoy it. I find this a beneficial platform."

Ms. Lam Thuy Hong Thuong, a Khmer ethnic woman residing in Bien Dong B hamlet (Vinh Trach Dong commune), and a member of the Vinh Trach Dong Commune Traditional Music Club, shared: “Traditional music is a unique form of entertainment that helps people relax after long hours of hard work. Participating in the club makes us feel like we are also artists, even if we only play and sing for ourselves”...

Or, according to Ms. Pham Thi Yen from Bien Dong B hamlet, a veteran member of the Cai Luong (traditional Southern Vietnamese opera) Club in Vinh Trach Dong commune: "Cai Luong is not only a form of entertainment but also a beautiful traditional cultural feature passed down through many generations. Playing Cai Luong is also about preserving that beauty of the people of Bac Lieu."

However, it is regrettable that these clubs are gradually disappearing. These clubs not only preserve and promote the value of this unique art form, but also serve as a cultural exchange hub for the Kinh, Hoa, and Khmer ethnic groups. Therefore, developing programs and plans to revive the activities of these clubs in areas with large ethnic minority populations is profoundly meaningful, strengthening and enhancing solidarity through performances, creations, and the preservation of traditional culture. At the same time, it contributes to the teaching and promotion of the role of artisans, effectively utilizing the functions of community cultural centers, enriching local tourism products, and continuously developing the cultural identity of the ethnic groups in the Mekong Delta.

Pham Trung

Source: https://baocamau.vn/to-tham-them-tinh-doan-ket-dan-toc-a38863.html