Folk art in Vietnamese life

Folk art is an indispensable part of the cultural life of Vietnamese people, where precious spiritual values ​​of the community have been preserved for centuries. From folk songs and folk songs to traditional art forms such as cheo singing, tuong, and water puppetry, all have their own beauty, reflecting the lives, thoughts, and emotions of Vietnamese people. . Folk art is not only a means of entertainment but also a bridge between the past and present, helping to preserve and promote national cultural values.

1. Folk Songs – The Soul of the Vietnamese People

Folk songs and folk songs are songs and sayings with a strong folk character, passed down orally from generation to generation, truly reflecting the lives and emotions of the people. In particular, folk songs are often expressed through diverse art forms such as singing, repartee singing, vi singing, or lullabies. These are rustic, simple but emotional lyrics, expressing thoughts and love for homeland, country, love between couples, and family affection.

Vietnamese folk songs and folk songs such as “The stork flies away,” “Crossing the bridge, the wind flies,” or the lullabies of mothers have become familiar melodies, deeply ingrained in every person's subconscious. Vietnamese since childhood. Not only having literary value, folk songs and songs are also a means to educate children and grandchildren about moral lessons, ways of living and how to treat people.

2. Cheo Singing – Unique Folk Theater Art

Cheo singing is a typical folk theater art form of Northern Vietnam, with a history of hundreds of years of development. Cheo singing is a combination of music, lyrics, dance and acting, often performed during village festivals or special occasions. Famous Cheo plays such as “Avalokitesvara Thi Kinh,” “Luu Binh – Duong Le” have become classic works, closely associated with the cultural life of the people.

The special thing about Cheo singing is that the content often reflects daily life, stories about love, family, morality and society. Cheo plays not only entertain but also educate viewers about kindness, perseverance, and patriotism. With a humorous and easy-to-understand performance, Cheo singing always creates closeness and accessibility to people of all walks of life.

3. Water Puppet Show – Unique Cultural Heritage

Water puppetry is a unique form of Vietnamese folk art, dating back to the Ly Dynasty (11th century). Water puppetry is often performed on water, with puppets controlled through a system of strings and special control techniques. Water puppetry is often performed in village festivals and major holidays, with content reflecting the working life, culture and beliefs of Vietnamese people.

Famous water puppet shows such as “Uncle Teu,” “Going to the Pagoda” or performances related to agricultural production such as rice planting and buffalo herding have captured vivid images of Vietnamese rural life. The art of water puppetry is not only a form of entertainment but also a way for people to express gratitude to nature and the protecting gods.

4. Tuong – Rich Traditional Theater

Tuong, also known as hat boi, is a traditional theater art form popular in Central and Southern Vietnam. Unlike Cheo, Tuong often has grandiose content, praising loyalty, patriotism and heroic examples. Classic operas such as “Son Hau” and “Dao Tan” are often performed with a combination of music, dance and colorful costumes.

Tuong art requires actors not only to have singing skills but also to be good at physical performance, martial arts and express emotions strongly. Roles in opera are often clearly divided between good and evil roles, with typical costumes and makeup, creating drama and attracting viewers.

5. Hat Xam – The Art of Street Singing

Xam singing is a traditional folk music form originating from the Northern provinces of Vietnam. This is a form of busking, often performed at markets, docks, and bus stations for entertainment and to make a living. Xam singers often use simple musical instruments such as erhu, monochord, and trumpet to accompany the simple, authentic lyrics.

The content of Xam songs often reflects the lives of poor people, stories about love, family and society. Xam singing is not only a form of entertainment art but also a means of expressing the thoughts and feelings of working people in ancient society.

Folk art

Folk art has been closely associated with Vietnamese life for many generations, not only as a form of entertainment but also as a means of conveying the cultural and spiritual values ​​of the nation. From folk songs, folk songs, to traditional theater forms such as cheo, tuong, water puppetry, folk arts have always been a source of inspiration and pride for Vietnamese people.

In the modern context, preserving and promoting folk art has become more urgent than ever, so that these precious cultural values ​​are not lost and continue to be passed on to future generations.