This type of art still attracts a certain audience, including young people.

In order to preserve and promote the traditional art of hat boi, Ho Chi Minh City Hat Boi Art Theater has regularly organized performances at the Mausoleum of General Le Van Duyet on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Before each performance, artists spend two hours in advance to prepare. They have to apply makeup and draw masks for themselves based on the role and each type of character.

The background of the face is red meaning the character is a hero; moldy white means a traitor and a flatterer; black is the color of simple and straightforward people, who are hot-tempered but upright and honest; gray is an old person; and blue refers to cunning people.

Costumes of hat boi characters include: armor, robe, belt. Props are usually swords, knives, spears, flags, fans, horse whips, whisks.

Many people show up early to wait for the performances.

The show lasts one hour. 

Many people, including youth, come here to watch and learn about Vietnam's oldest theater art.

Appearing in the 13th century, after more than 700 years, Vietnamese opera has tried to reach today's audiences, especially young people, with elaborate lyrics and scripts with faster tempos.

After the performance, many people in the audience stay to talk and take photos with the artists.

“Hat boi”, a traditional performance art of Vietnam, has a rich historical foundation, and an influence on the community. Just like any traditional art form, the stage of Hat boi consists of Vietnamese aesthetic values, reflecting the life, stories and aspirations of the common Vietnamese people.

Nguyen Hue