When the Ví and Giặm folk music heritage "blossoms" in the hearts of the younger generation.
After one month of registration opening, the 2026 Nghe Tinh Folk Song Talent Search Contest has received enthusiastic participation from numerous contestants and groups of contestants of various ages and professions, especially students. The contestants not only bring with them a passion for singing but also a desire to contribute to preserving and continuing this heritage in contemporary life.
Female student born in the 2000s chooses Ví and Giặm folk songs to take off in her career.
"Ví and Giặm folk songs are not ancient, distant music, but rather the profound emotions hidden deep within every person from Nghe An province." This is the proud affirmation of Thanh Binh, a contestant in the 2026 Nghe Tinh Ví and Giặm Folk Song Talent Search Competition.
Amidst the fast-paced life of youth and modern musical trends, Thanh Binh, a student at Huynh Thuc Khang High School (Nghe An), chose a quiet but courageous path: pursuing traditional Vietnamese folk music. Having grown up in the Blue Bird Art Troupe (Viet Duc Children's Cultural Center), this young girl quickly showed her talent and found a connection with the simple, sweet melodies of the Ví and Giặm folk songs.
Coming to the 2026 Nghe Tinh Folk Song and Ví, Giặm Talent Search competition, Thanh Binh didn't feel much pressure. For this young woman born in the 2000s, the stage is a place to "define" herself: "I'm participating to experience, to know where I stand and what I need to improve to become the best version of myself. Recognition from the judges and audience is the greatest gift, but beyond that, I dream of becoming a singer who embodies the image of a girl from Nghe An, using folk songs to touch the hearts of listeners."
My passion was "ignited" by People's Artist Hong Luu.
Growing up in Thuong Duc commune (Ha Tinh province), Ngoc Thu's connection with the Vi and Giam folk songs began in her elementary school years, when her talent was discovered early on by her teachers during school art activities. But the person who most profoundly influenced Ngoc Thu over the years was People's Artist Hong Luu. Through Ms. Luu's teachings, Ngoc Thu understood that folk songs are not just art, but a mirror reflecting the soul and character of the people of Nghe An. For this young woman, Vi and Giam are no longer just old melodies, but have become her breath, her flesh and blood, and an indispensable part of her journey to adulthood. It is this "flame" from her great teacher that has forged Ngoc Thu's confidence and fueled her aspiration to take her homeland's heritage further.
Having participated in various art events such as the Nghe Tinh Folk Song Club Festival and the Nghe Tinh Folk Song Festival for teachers and students, Ngoc Thu shared: “I not only learned performance skills and stage presence but also gained a deeper understanding of the value of my homeland's heritage preserved through generations. That motivates me to constantly improve and strive to put my love and respect into every lyric.”
For this female student born in 2008, each Ví and Giặm folk song carries within it humanistic values, love for her homeland, family affection, and human kindness. As a young person passionate about folk music, Ngoc Thu hopes to harmoniously combine modern musical elements with Ví and Giặm folk songs so that this heritage continues to "live" and develop in the new era.
Leveraging the power of the digital age to spread heritage values.
As a young woman who loves her homeland's culture, Xuan Quynh always makes a habit of following cultural and artistic activities in her hometown through social media and newspapers. When she accidentally came across information about the "Searching for Nghe Tinh Folk Song Talent" competition in 2026, the young woman was excited and boldly registered to participate.
For Quynh, this competition is not simply a singing contest, but also a strategic "bridge" for young people with the same passion to find each other. "This is an opportunity for me to fully live my passion, while also connecting more deeply with like-minded souls in the journey of preserving our cultural roots," Xuan Quynh shared.
For Xuan Quynh, preserving heritage in the digital age is not just about inheritance, but about development and dissemination. The young woman believes that technology is the most effective "extended arm" to bring the melodies of Ví and Giặm folk songs beyond the traditional stage, closer to young people and international friends. Every share, every interaction by young people on social media is a brick contributing to keeping the stream of folk music flowing and giving it a worthy place in today's era.
From Thanh Binh and Ngoc Thu to Xuan Quynh and countless other young hearts, they not only came to Vi and Giam folk songs as a musical choice, but have stayed with this heritage with all their hearts. Let's follow and cheer on the contestants at the 2026 Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam Folk Song Talent Search Competition.
Thirty finalists are expected to compete live from August 8-10, 2026 at the Nghe An Traditional Arts Center. From there, 12 outstanding talents will be selected to participate in the Grand Finale and Award Ceremony, tentatively scheduled for August 14 or 15, 2026 at Studio S1, Nghe An Newspaper, Radio and Television; broadcast live on digital platforms.