"Telling stories" in folk songs and ballads with the colors of youth.
One day in May, in the heart of Hanoi, the melodious folk songs and chants of Nghe Tinh province seemed to draw those far from home closer together. Few knew that behind this program were university students who had retelled the story of these folk songs and chants in a new light, keeping this heritage alive through creative, vibrant, and impactful methods.
In the warm atmosphere of Hanoi University of Culture, on a mid-May day, folk songs and melodies from the countryside resonated in the heart of the capital city at the "Mạch Lam Giang" program. The voices of artists Lê Thanh Phong, Hà Quỳnh Như, Băng Tâm, Đại Hải, Phương Thanh... blended with the audience's interactions and call-and-response singing, making the space feel closer to the Nghệ Tĩnh countryside.
The program not only attracted a large live audience but also spread rapidly on social media with dozens of shares and over 24,000 views. But what surprised many people was the passionate journey of a group of journalism students who wanted to "retell" the folk songs of Ví and Giặm in a way that was more accessible to today's young people.
Nguyen Dinh Sang (born in 2005), a journalism student in the Creative Writing and Journalism Department of Hanoi University of Culture, served as the Head of the Organizing Committee for the program.
Nguyen Dinh Sang (a third-year student), born and raised in Truong Vinh ward (Nghe An province), brought his love for folk songs and traditional melodies from his hometown to Hanoi.
Sang recalled that the idea for the performance originated from lessons about national cultural development in the classroom, along with a desire to do something to bring the heritage of his homeland closer to young people.
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And then, 19 students from Hanoi University of Culture, including 4 from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces, joined forces to carry out the program.
The group chose to tell the story of their heritage in a more accessible way, from a youthful stage and interactive segments during live shows to bringing their wallets and shoes online to connect with today's young audience.
However, the journey of bringing the Ví and Giặm folk songs to the stage in the heart of Hanoi was no easy challenge. To gain a deeper understanding of this heritage, the students sought out folk culture researchers, listening to stories about the origins, formation, and vitality of Ví and Giặm through generations. These meetings went beyond simply documenting information; they gradually transformed into emotionally charged conversations where students listened to the artisans sing, practiced each verse and rhythm right in the heart of the capital city.
Recalling the early days of implementing the program, Dang Hoai Thuong (born in 2005), a native of Tan Ky and Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee, shared that the biggest difficulty was finding people in Hanoi who could sing folk songs like "Vi" and "Giam" to accompany the program. Fortunately, thanks to the connections of researchers, the group received the agreement of dedicated artists such as Le Thanh Phong, Ha Quynh Nhu, Bang Tam, Dai Hai, Phuong Thanh, and especially fellow countrymen who are members of the Nghe An Folk Song Club in Hanoi.
"The artists were all very enthusiastic. Almost everyone readily agreed to participate, because everyone wanted to contribute a small part to help spread the folk songs and melodies of their homeland more widely in the heart of the capital," Dang Hoai Thuong recounted emotionally.
In particular, singer Le Thanh Phong – Head of the UNESCO Heritage Folk Song Art Troupe of Nghe An Province in Hanoi – closely accompanied the student group in guiding the program, from traditional folk songs and chants to modern adaptations and arrangements. Not only did he perform, but he also directly guided the audience in distinguishing between folk songs and chants through clapping, and taught the students to sing traditional Nghe An folk songs right on stage.
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The joy continued when the program received professional sponsorship from the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association. Musician Ho Huu Thoi, a native of Nghe An province, is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association and the head of the Vi and Giam Folk Song Club in Hanoi. With many years of dedication to bringing Vi and Giam folk songs into schools, he offered much encouragement to the young student group. He closely followed their preparation, provided feedback on the script, and instilled confidence in them to boldly bring these folk songs and melodies closer to students and young people in the heart of the capital city.
I was surprised that the students could organize such a spectacular program. It included both traditional and modern adaptations of folk songs, with professional artists and even elderly fellow villagers participating. This shows that the young people of Nghe An today truly understand and love folk songs.
Musician Ho Huu Thoi, Chairman of the Folk Song Club in Hanoi.
In the audience that day, many people brought their whole families to enjoy the show. For those who live far from home, it was not just an art performance, but also an opportunity for children to feel the voice and songs of their homeland, to touch the cultural values that have nurtured generations of people from Nghe An.
For Nguyen Dinh Sang and his friends, the program has ended, but the journey of spreading the heritage continues. The group plans to collaborate with the Nghe An Folk Song Club in Hanoi and the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association to organize more singing lessons and performances in open spaces to bring the Vi and Giam folk songs closer to young people. This is also a way for today's young generation to contribute a small part to preserving the cultural heritage of their homeland...
