Teenage voices give new life to Vietnam's traditional Xoan singing heritage

The traditional music style is on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage values in need of urgent safeguarding. 

According to UNESCO, Xoan singing is practiced in the northern province of Phu Tho during the first two months of the lunar year.

A group of young performers in the northern province of Phu Tho present Xoan worship singing for the Hung kings.

Traditionally, singers from Xoan guilds perform songs in sacred spaces such as temples, shrines, and communal houses for the spring festivals. 

There are three forms of Xoan singing: worship singing for the Hung kings, believed to be the nation's founders, and village guardian spirits; ritual singing for good crops, health, and luck; and festival singing where villagers alternate male and female voices in the form of courtship.

Performers present a song named ‘fishing’ which honors the beauty of group working in folk activities.

During the past few years, numerous young members 10 to 15 years old have been training at four Xoan singing guilds in the province, including Phu Duc, Thet, Kim Dai and An Thai. 

The new members have renewed the hope that the traditional genre of music will be persevered by younger generations.

Each guild currently has between 20 and 30 members.

Nguyen Van Hoi from the Phu Duc guild said he is training 10 young singers including seven girls and three boys aged 10 to 15.

“I teach them singing and dancing, as well as the meanings behind each song and dance,” Hoi said. “They are young and have learned so fast.”