Festival celebrates UNESCO recognition of Bai Choi singing
To celebrate Vietnam’s Bai Choi (folk singing), which has been recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, an art festival is being held in south central Binh Dinh province’s Quy Nhon city.
The Bai Choi singing festival aims to help artisans promote the singing in the province. Each participating locality chose an art troupe to perform Bai Choi for no longer than 40 minutes.
According to the organising board, the festival has received full participation from localities active in promoting Bai Choi, such as Quy Nhon, An Nhon, Tuy Phuoc, Phu Cat and Hoai Nhon.
Bai Choi is a diverse art combining music, poetry, acting, painting and literature. Its practitioners include performers, card-making artists and hut-making artists. Performers and their families play a major role in safeguarding the practice, and dedicated groups continue to celebrate it. Most performers learn within their family but specialist artists also teach in clubs, schools and associations.
Apart from the festival, which lasts from February 7-8, other art programmes will continue to be held locally to praise Bai Choi until April 30 this year.
 |
| Bai choi is often seen at local spring festivals and resembles a game, using playing cards and village huts |
Bai Choi is a diverse art combining music, poetry, acting, painting and literature. Its practitioners include performers, card-making artists and hut-making artists. Performers and their families play a major role in safeguarding the practice, and dedicated groups continue to celebrate it. Most performers learn within their family but specialist artists also teach in clubs, schools and associations.
Apart from the festival, which lasts from February 7-8, other art programmes will continue to be held locally to praise Bai Choi until April 30 this year.
