This information was announced at a press conference in Ho Chi Minh City on March 27.

Jointly organised by the People’s Committee of Binh Duong and the Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism of 21 southeastern and southwestern localities, the festival aims to honour and promote the unique folk music that was recognised by UNESCO as part of the intangible cultural heritage of the humanity in 2013.

Press conference for National Don Ca Tai Tu Festival

The event will feature various attractive programmes and activities, including a gastronomy space, a Don Ca Tai Tu contest, a photo competition and an art exchange. Scientific research at provincial level on the sustainable conservation and promotion of Don Ca Tai Tu will be launched, while tours serving visitors during the festival will be organised, along with an ancient motor parade.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai said that the festival will create a playground for Don Ca Tai Tu artists, while raising public awareness of protecting and developing the art and connecting localities in tourism and trade promotion.

Huynh Vinh Ai (left) offers flower to sponsor representative and guest. 

In 2014, the first national Don Ca Tai Tu festival was organised in the southern province of Bac Lieu.

Known as a musical art that has both scholarly and folk roots, Don Ca Tai Tu was developed in southern Vietnam in the late 19th Century. The impromptu art honours the creativity and artistry of the performers. The art is performed at numerous events, such as festivals, death anniversary rituals and celebratory social events. The audience can join in by practicing, making comments or creating new words for songs.

It has been transmitted from generation to generation through official and unofficial forms of education in all 21 provinces, where the art form is popular. Don Ca Tai Tu has continually been promoted through cultural exchanges among peoples, presenting their mutual harmony and respect.

NDO