LookAtVietnam – The Hue city Royal Traditional Theatre, under the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, has performed and popularised nha nhac (royal music) for students and youths in Huong Tho Commune, Huong Tra District, in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

Get royal: Nha nhac (royal music) is performed with royal dance.

Taking nha nhac to remote regions aims to develop and preserve the art, which is approved and sponsored by UNESCO.

Nha nhac

will be introduced and publicised in other suburban regions in the province, following a project building a public support network to preserve Hue heritage, launched by the centre.

Nha nhac

means elegant music, and prior to the recent accolades, knowledge of this art form was limited to a small circle of performers and researchers, mainly in the former imperial capital of Hue, who campaigned long and hard for its recognition.

Regarded as the most sacred form of music, performances of nha nhac took place at grand royal ceremonies and religious events, as well as coronations, funerals and official receptions.

The kings favoured nha nhac to the point of granting it special status as official court music, thereby establishing it as a symbol of power, longevity and prosperity for many dynasties.

The turbulent events that shook Viet Nam in the 20th century, especially the fall of the monarchy and subsequent decades of devastating wars, threatened the survival of nha nhac.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News