Artists perform Hue folk singing on a tourist boat on Huong River in Hue City. — Photo webdulichmientrung.com

After the session, the department will examine the practice of singing Hue folk songs on tourism boats in the city to turn the art into a local tourism product, he said.

In 2015, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism listed Hue folk singing as a national intangible cultural heritage.

The art includes singing, instruments of traditional melodies ranging from royal performance to daily life.

There are 60 folk melodies for singing and instruments in northern and southern styles.

Hue folk songs have strict structures, which have developed into professional classic styles in lyrics, melodies and performances.

Various traditional instruments accompany the singer including the 16-string zither, two-string zither, monochord, flute and drum.

Delicate skills in singing and playing instruments in the art of Hue folk singing bear significant local features with the accent of Hue people. The art has been considered a bridge between royal and folk music genres. VNS

Hue folk singing to be taught at school

The Culture and Sports Department in Hue has signed an agreement to co-ordinate with the local Education and Training Department to add folk singing to the academic curriculum in schools.

New experimental play combining four traditional vocal arts staged

A play has just been staged with the unique combination of four traditional vocal arts, including cải lương (renovated opera), chèo (traditional opera), xẩm (singing by blind busker) and Hue’s hát văn (folk ceremonial singing of Hue).