The art of Then singing of the Tay ethnic group in Sapa
For a long time, the Then songs of the Tay ethnic
people living in Muong Bo and Ban Ho communes of Sapa
town (Lao Cai) have become the "soul" of life for those
born and raised here. The exploration, creation,
preservation and teaching of the Then dance of the Tay
people have always been given special attention by the
people and authorities at all levels in Sa Pa town in
the journey of preserving and promoting the unique
traditional values of the ethnic groups to develop the
socio-economy and tourism services in Sa Pa town.
The training course on teaching the art of Then Tay singing in Muong Bo and Ban Ho communes is of interest to Sa Pa town and is organized annually with the participation of artisans, students who are Tay ethnic people living in the area and especially teenagers and children who come to learn and be taught Tay ethnic culture.
At the training courses, outstanding artists and many participating students talked together about the meaning of traditional Then songs, and shared about preserving the nation's fine traditions through Then songs.
The family of artisan Lu Van Vien living in Muong Bo 2 village, Muong Bo commune has preserved and passed down to their descendants, along with two art troupes of Muong Bo commune consisting of 30 members, the traditional Then and xoe singing melodies of the Tay ethnic group living in Muong Bo commune, Sapa.
Musical instruments such as drums, Dan Tinh, bells... are preserved, cherished and displayed in the most solemn places by the artisans' families. In the spacious yard, Then singing and Xoe dance are performed, along with the desire to preserve and develop the national cultural values left by our ancestors. Artisan Lu Van Vien, Muong Bo 2 village, Muong Bo commune said: "We have been attached to Then singing since we were very young. Then singing is the life of every Tay ethnic person and I want to teach it to my children so that the good traditions of my people will not be lost."
Then singing and Xoe dancing are indispensable cultural features in the festivals of the Tay ethnic people living in Muong Bo and Ban Ho communes of Sapa. In addition to the spiritual element of praying for good harvests and blessings, Then singing is also for entertainment, expressing feelings, expressing love, praising the homeland and village, and labor production. In the life of the Tay people, Then singing often appears in important events such as: praying for peace, praying for good harvests... Then singers on holidays and Tet represent the community to communicate with the gods, praying for good harvests, a prosperous and happy life.
With the changing life like today, in addition to the spiritual element, Then singing and Xoe dancing are also staged, brought into activities serving political events, tourism, serving the people, becoming a mass art movement of Muong Bo commune, Ban Ho commune. The content of Then songs is given new lyrics by artisans to praise the life of labor and production, building new rural areas, praise the changes of the homeland and the country. Generations of Tay people have been taught Then singing by their grandmothers and mothers, and from there continue to guide and pass it on to their children and grandchildren.
With easy-to-remember and emotional lyrics, the Tay ethnic children have naturally absorbed them, making them more proud and loving of their traditional culture through Then songs imbued with love for their homeland.
Dao Khanh Hung, 10 years old in, Muong Bo 1 village said: “Since I was little, I have heard my grandparents and parents teach me about Then singing of the Tay ethnic group, which is often performed in festivals with very beautiful lyrics. My friends and I also want to learn Then singing, play DanTinh and the teachers at school always teach us to preserve traditional culture”.
In recent times, the training courses on Then Tay singing art in Muong Bo and Ban Ho communes of Sapa have aimed to effectively implement Project 06 "Preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development" under the National Target Program on socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas. The training course aims to foster and provide additional knowledge and skills to preserve cultural heritages, honor and inherit traditional cultural values; preserve and maintain the values of intangible cultural heritages of the nation, linking the task of economic development with the cultural development of the town.
In order to preserve and teach Then Tay singing - an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO in Sapa, Ms. Hoang Thi Vuong, Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Sapa town said: "Through the training course, we have contributed to restoring, preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the Tay ethnic group, in which the art of Then Tay singing plays an extremely important role in the spiritual life of the Tay ethnic group living in Sapa".
Then singing and Xoe dancing are the pride and timeless heritage of the Tay ethnic community in Muong Bo commune. Listening to Then singing and xoe dancing helps us feel the national soul, see the image of our homeland, return to our birthplace and upbringing, and gain more strength to rise up in life.
Sapa is a mountainous town in northwestern Vietnam, famous for its stunning terraced rice fields, vibrant ethnic minority cultures, and challenging trekking routes. Booking tours to Sapa and enjoy immersive cultural experience.
The training course on teaching the art of Then Tay singing in Muong Bo and Ban Ho communes is of interest to Sa Pa town and is organized annually with the participation of artisans, students who are Tay ethnic people living in the area and especially teenagers and children who come to learn and be taught Tay ethnic culture.
At the training courses, outstanding artists and many participating students talked together about the meaning of traditional Then songs, and shared about preserving the nation's fine traditions through Then songs.
The family of artisan Lu Van Vien living in Muong Bo 2 village, Muong Bo commune has preserved and passed down to their descendants, along with two art troupes of Muong Bo commune consisting of 30 members, the traditional Then and xoe singing melodies of the Tay ethnic group living in Muong Bo commune, Sapa.
Musical instruments such as drums, Dan Tinh, bells... are preserved, cherished and displayed in the most solemn places by the artisans' families. In the spacious yard, Then singing and Xoe dance are performed, along with the desire to preserve and develop the national cultural values left by our ancestors. Artisan Lu Van Vien, Muong Bo 2 village, Muong Bo commune said: "We have been attached to Then singing since we were very young. Then singing is the life of every Tay ethnic person and I want to teach it to my children so that the good traditions of my people will not be lost."
Then singing and Xoe dancing are indispensable cultural features in the festivals of the Tay ethnic people living in Muong Bo and Ban Ho communes of Sapa. In addition to the spiritual element of praying for good harvests and blessings, Then singing is also for entertainment, expressing feelings, expressing love, praising the homeland and village, and labor production. In the life of the Tay people, Then singing often appears in important events such as: praying for peace, praying for good harvests... Then singers on holidays and Tet represent the community to communicate with the gods, praying for good harvests, a prosperous and happy life.
With the changing life like today, in addition to the spiritual element, Then singing and Xoe dancing are also staged, brought into activities serving political events, tourism, serving the people, becoming a mass art movement of Muong Bo commune, Ban Ho commune. The content of Then songs is given new lyrics by artisans to praise the life of labor and production, building new rural areas, praise the changes of the homeland and the country. Generations of Tay people have been taught Then singing by their grandmothers and mothers, and from there continue to guide and pass it on to their children and grandchildren.
With easy-to-remember and emotional lyrics, the Tay ethnic children have naturally absorbed them, making them more proud and loving of their traditional culture through Then songs imbued with love for their homeland.
Dao Khanh Hung, 10 years old in, Muong Bo 1 village said: “Since I was little, I have heard my grandparents and parents teach me about Then singing of the Tay ethnic group, which is often performed in festivals with very beautiful lyrics. My friends and I also want to learn Then singing, play DanTinh and the teachers at school always teach us to preserve traditional culture”.
In recent times, the training courses on Then Tay singing art in Muong Bo and Ban Ho communes of Sapa have aimed to effectively implement Project 06 "Preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development" under the National Target Program on socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas. The training course aims to foster and provide additional knowledge and skills to preserve cultural heritages, honor and inherit traditional cultural values; preserve and maintain the values of intangible cultural heritages of the nation, linking the task of economic development with the cultural development of the town.
In order to preserve and teach Then Tay singing - an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO in Sapa, Ms. Hoang Thi Vuong, Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Sapa town said: "Through the training course, we have contributed to restoring, preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the Tay ethnic group, in which the art of Then Tay singing plays an extremely important role in the spiritual life of the Tay ethnic group living in Sapa".
Then singing and Xoe dancing are the pride and timeless heritage of the Tay ethnic community in Muong Bo commune. Listening to Then singing and xoe dancing helps us feel the national soul, see the image of our homeland, return to our birthplace and upbringing, and gain more strength to rise up in life.
Sapa is a mountainous town in northwestern Vietnam, famous for its stunning terraced rice fields, vibrant ethnic minority cultures, and challenging trekking routes. Booking tours to Sapa and enjoy immersive cultural experience.
