HaGiang (VNA) – The sixth national festival of the art of Then singingand Tinh gourd lute of the Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups concluded in thenorthernmost province of Ha Giang on May 14.
Nguyen Thi Hai Nhung, head of the Department ofTraditional Culture under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said thefestival offered chances to promote the cultural heritage of Vietnamese ethnicgroups to international friends and honour an art form of Tay, Nung and Thaigroups.
During the event, Vietnam’s heritage and Thensinging in particular made strong impressions on visitors, she affirmed.
Thefestival gathered more than 500 artisans from the 14 provinces nationwide. Itwas considered a rendezvous of Then melodies, dances and music from differentethnic regions.
Arttroupes staged nearly 60 performances of Then singing accompanied by Tinh lute.These performances were deeply imbued with traditional cultural identities ofTay, Nung and Thai ethnicities.
Atthe closing ceremony, the organisers presented certificates of merit from theMinister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to outstanding organisations andindividuals who took part in the festival.
Accordingto researchers, the word “Then” originates from “Thien”, which means sky orheaven. Then singing is regarded as a tune of the Gods.
Themost important figures in a Then singing performance are “Ong Then” and “BaThen” who can sing, dance and play a musical instrument at the same time duringrituals while presenting offerings to the Gods, helping ask for good health,bumper crops, happiness and longevity.
In2017, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism submitted a dossier to UNESCOto seek the recognition of Then sining as part of world intangible culturalheritage.-VNA