The Tho people of Nghe An happily sing the "da oi" melody on Tet holiday

Love singing performance of Tho people in Giai Xuan commune, Tan Ky district. Photo: Dao Tho

Up to now, he has more than 10 grandchildren, but Mr. Nguyen Van Thoai (born in 1963) still remembers clearly the memories of several decades ago when he was young, from Giai Xuan commune to Tan Xuan commune to celebrate Tet. At the party, the Tho man met the girl Truong Thi Thanh (born in 1963), the two sang a song together, love suddenly came like the spring forest changing leaves. Then a few months later they became husband and wife.

That year, amidst the bustling sound of gongs, Nguyen Van Thoai sang: “Hello, Tan Xuan girl, spring is coming, I want to take you to Giai Xuan, build a house to live together”. After a moment of shyness, blushing cheeks, the girl Truong Thi Thanh replied: “Gia Xuan land has beautiful scenery, the people there are friendly, I also want to follow you back, build a happy home with you”. The fun lasted until noon, then the two of them walked to the riverbank to confide. Love originated from there, a few months later the girl Tan Xuan followed her husband to become a daughter-in-law of Giai Xuan land.

The trumpet is a unique musical instrument indispensable in the love songs of the Tho community in Nghe An. Photo: TL - Dao Tho

According to Mr. Thoai, Da oi is a form of antiphonal singing of Tho ethnic boys and girls, which has existed for a long time, accompanied by gongs. In addition to the available songs, singers can improvise by applying them to each specific situation to create lyrics. Da oi singing is often organized during the New Year and Spring Festival, when villages gather, boys and girls from all over come to join in the fun. Boys and girls respond to each other, and if they like each other, they will take each other to a secluded place to confide. From the spring celebrations and Da oi singing, many couples have the opportunity to get to know each other, share their feelings and become husband and wife.

In Nghe An, the Tho ethnic group mainly lives in Tan Ky, Quy Hop, Nghia Dan districts and Thai Hoa town. They are an ethnic community that has preserved many cultural identities, including the traditional New Year celebration with solemn rituals and unique activities. And when it comes to celebrating Tet and enjoying Spring of the Tho people, we are talking about singing Da oi, or in other words, singing Da oi is the "soul" of Spring.

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