Preserving and promoting 'Then' heritage value of Tày and Nùng People

Artists perform 'Then' singing at the workshop. — VNA/VNS Photos

BẮC GIANG — A scientific workshop titled 'Preserving and Promoting the Value of Then Heritage of the Tày and Nùng People in the Three Provinces of Bắc Giang, Lạng Sơn, and Thái Nguyên' has been held in Bắc Giang Province.

The event was organised by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bắc Giang Province in co-ordination with the Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lạng Sơn and Thái Nguyên provinces. The initiative is part of the National Action Programme to protect and promote the intangible cultural heritage, known as the 'Then practice of the Tày, Nùng, and Thái people in Việt Nam' overseen by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Then is an essential ritual practice in the spiritual life of the Tày, Nùng and Thái ethnic minority groups in northern Việt Nam.

Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bắc Giang Province, Nguyễn Sĩ Cầm, stated that the three mountainous provinces of Bắc Giang, Lạng Sơn, and Thái Nguyên, along with several other localities, are the primary living areas of the Tày and Nùng ethnic groups.

For many years, especially after UNESCO recognised the Then practice of the Tày, Nùng and Thái people in Việt Nam as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, preserving and promoting the value of Then heritage, it has garnered significant attention from authorities and the local community.

The workshop provided a platform to assess the current status of conservation and promotion of Then heritage values in the three provinces, allowing participants to exchange information and experiences in this area.

During the workshop, a representative from Bắc Giang Province noted that there are still difficulties and limitations in conserving and promoting the Then heritage of the Tày and Nùng people. The Department of Culture has not yet fully researched or compiled statistics on the melodies within the Then singing genre and the documentation of Then rituals is limited.

Most of the younger generation does not know how to sing Then, particularly the ancient melodies. Additionally, the teaching of Then singing by artists is primarily based on instinct and experience, lacking a systematic curriculum and lesson plan, which limits the quality of instruction.

Overview of the workshop titled "Preserving and Promoting the Value of Then Heritage of the Tày and Nùng People in the Three Provinces of Bắc Giang, Lạng Sơn, and Thái Nguyên".

According to Master Nguyễn Thủy Tiên from the Institute of Music, sharing information and short videos about Then heritage on TikTok could significantly enhance its visibility, reaching a global audience and promoting Then heritage more widely, attracting both domestic and international attention.

Lạng Sơn Province currently has about 95 folk singing and instrumental clubs, as well as interest groups focused on Then singing and the Tính lute.

Hoàng Việt Bình from the Lạng Sơn Province Cultural and Artistic Centre said that one successful strategy for maintaining the activities of Then singing and Tính lute clubs in the province, has been to create spaces for members and to promote exchanges through folk song interactions at traditional festivals and market days, as well as incorporating folk songs into community tourism.

To further preserve and promote the Then heritage of the Tày and Nùng people, many delegates proposed increasing efforts to raise public awareness about heritage practices both domestically and internationally. Cultural researchers and experts should actively study and gain a deeper understanding of Then melodies and the living practices associated with Then heritage, which will enable accurate assessments and appropriate strategies for preservation and promotion in the future.

The Department of Culture needs to collaborate with the Department of Education to introduce Then singing programmes in schools, particularly in areas with significant Tày and Nùng populations. There should also be an emphasis on socialisation efforts, alongside state funding, to ensure the maintenance and development of Then heritage performance activities in local areas. Regular festivals for Then singing and Tính lute should be organised at the provincial, district and communal levels to provide opportunities for artisans and community performers to exchange and learn.

Additionally, provinces can promote Then heritage as a tourism product at community sites, catering to the needs of both domestic and foreign visitors. VNS