The fourth National Then Singing Festival will be held in Lang Son city from November 2 - 6 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as part of the ministry's effort to seek UNESCO recognition for the art form as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The event will bring together hundreds of Then artists from nine northern provinces, including Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Tuyen Quang, Bac Giang, Quang Ninh, Lao Cai and Dien Bien.
"Then" singing is a traditional art form of the Tay ethnic minority people in northwestern Vietnam and is most popular in Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son and Tuyen Quang provinces. It is a unique combination of music and lyrics accompanied by handmade "tinh" guitars, which have only two or three strings.
The festival aims to promote the unique folk art, strongly associated with the life of the Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups, while also honouring Then artists for their contributions to the preservation and promotion of the art form.
Objects and photos featuring outstanding Then artists, musical instruments and costumes related to the art form will be on display at an exhibition between November 3-6 as part of the festival.
A seminar on promoting and preserving the art form will also be organised by the Musicology Institute and the Lang Son provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The opening and closing ceremonies will be broadcast live on VTV Channel 2 and Lang Son TV.