Preserving ancient melodies

Lang Son boasts a diverse range of folk songs and dances from various ethnic groups, which have been preserved to this day. In recent times, authorities, sectors, and localities within the province have been actively conserving, preserving, and promoting these values, allowing folk songs and dances to increasingly assert their vitality in modern society.

Folk songs and folk dances are both traditional art forms deeply imbued with the cultural identity of a community, yet they differ in their forms of expression. Folk songs are traditional songs and melodies, while folk dances are dances and movements passed down among the people. These are considered precious cultural heritages, creating the value and identity of each ethnic group in Lang Son. They reflect the creative power of the community in building life and cultivating spiritual values across many generations.

A unique flow of traditional culture

In Lang Son, a land where many ethnic groups and long-standing cultural identities converge, folk songs and folk dances have deeply permeated daily life, becoming a unique "spiritual food" in rituals and everyday activities. Typical examples include Then singing with the Tinh lute and Cat Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups; Pao Dung singing of the Dao ethnic group, and so on. Through ups and downs, these songs and dances not only reflect people's thoughts and feelings but also serve as a mirror reflecting the history of Lang Son, a land rich in identity.

The "Then practice" heritage of the Tay and Nung people in Lang Son is a comprehensive folk performance art that serves both spiritual life and the artistic needs of the local people. Currently, the entire province has more than 600 Then practitioners, including 34 artisans honored as People's Artisans and Meritorious Artisans in two categories: social customs and beliefs; and traditional performing arts. With its unique artistic values, Then has contributed to nurturing the souls, emotions, will, and aspirations to strive for a prosperous and happy life for the Tay and Nung ethnic groups, passed down from generation to generation.

Meritorious Artisan Be Thi Van from Na Van hamlet, Tri Phuong commune, Trang Dinh district, who has practiced ancient Then for over 70 years, shared: "One of the unique features of Then is its language, which embodies deep cultural insights. The content of Then songs all exudes profound humanistic thought, containing love for nature, romantic love, marital affection, teachings on human morality, praises for villages and hometowns..."

Unlike Then singing, Sli singing is associated with the daily joys and production labor of the Nung ethnic group. "Sli" in Nung means "poetry," and Sli singing is a form of courtship singing expressed through poetic verses, performed in call-and-response form between male and female pairs. Typically, Sli has 3 basic singing styles: spoken singing (reciting poetry); XUong Sli (chanting poetry); and Dam Sli or Nham Sli (raising the singing voice). In Lang Son, popular Sli melodies include Sli Slinh Lang of the Nung Chao, Sli Sloong Hao of the Nung Phan Slinh, Sli Inh of the Nung Inh, and Hat Heo Phun of the Nung An. In 2019, Sli singing of the Nung people in Lang Son province was included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List according to Decision No. 2966/QD-BVHTTDL by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST). Currently, at Ky Lua markets and on every festive occasion, Sli verses still echo among folk song lovers amidst the bustling urban pace in the center of Lang Son city.

Continuing amidst modern life

Facing the risk of erosion from rapid urbanization and the dominance of modern audio-visual culture, to preserve and promote the value of traditional folk songs and dances, the provincial MoCST has implemented many positive solutions in recent times.

Mr. Luu Ba Mac, Deputy Director of the MoCST, stated: "Based on closely following directive documents from central and provincial authorities, we have been actively implementing various measures such as: strengthening propaganda and training; reviewing, inventorying, and listing types of folk songs, folk dances, and folk music of ethnic minorities; researching and building a database on intangible cultural heritage of ethnic minorities...; using the cultural heritage of ethnic groups, especially folk songs and dances, as a foundation and driving force for tourism development; increasing the organization of cultural and tourism programs and events on major provincial and national holidays, prioritizing performances of Sli and Then songs and showcasing the heritage of ethnic minorities in the province..."

Accordingly, from 2016 until now, the MoCST has chaired and coordinated with the People's Committees of districts and cities to organize training courses on propaganda, dissemination, and implementation of the Cultural Heritage Law and related documents in all 11 districts and cities for thousands of participants. Besides, implementing Project 6 under the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2021-2030 period, from 2022 until now, the MoCST has coordinated with relevant agencies and district/city authorities to actively implement some component sub-projects. Additionally, over 12 mass cultural clubs have been established in the province following ethnic folk cultural activity models, teaching knowledge and performing some types of folk cultural activities... contributing to enriching mass cultural and artistic activities in districts and cities across the province.

Furthermore, in recent years, folk songs, folk dances, and folk games have been used as material to choreograph and compose professional artistic performances. Accordingly, the team of directors and choreographers from the Provincial Ethnic Art Troupe has spent much time conducting field research in ethnic minority villages to study and collect unique traditional folk songs, folk music, and folk dances, as well as characteristic festivals, creating fundamental material for the creation of professional artistic performance works.

A typical example is the "Lay Co" dance performance featuring graceful young Nung men and women from Lang Son in a traditional folk game, which was well-received by the audience at the Hang Po Festival in Thien Thuat commune, Binh Gia district, in May 2024. The performance expresses the affection between a Nung couple, reflecting the daily life of working people, helping locals, especially the younger generation, understand more about the culture of the Nung Phan Slinh people.

Ms. Hoang Thi Ha, Head of the Provincial Ethnic Art Troupe, stated: "We have been focusing on fostering and enhancing the professional capacity of our artists and performers; concentrating on researching and collecting materials of traditional folk art forms of ethnic groups in the province to incorporate into composing and choreographing art works deeply imbued with ethnic identity. At the same time, we continuously innovate and create new art works, harmoniously combining tradition and modernity, meeting the increasingly high demands of the audience."

The journey of preserving Lang Son's cultural heritage, including folk songs and dances, is not just about conserving an art form, but more profoundly, it is about preserving community memory, ethnic identity, and the cultural pride of a land. In the ever-changing flow of time, the revival and strong dissemination of these folk values are vivid evidence of the vigorous vitality of cultural heritage, because "as long as culture exists, the nation exists."