Playground for amateur music lovers

Stage of passion and memory

Coming to the 13th Open Competition of “Tai Tu - Cai Luong Voice” of Di An City in 2025 organized by the Center for Culture, Information and Sports of Di An City, we clearly felt the passion and aspiration to preserve this art form of the fans and those who have been involved for a long time. The competition has just ended with an emotional final night.

From 80 contestants of various ages from many provinces and cities in the Southern region, the organizing committee selected 38 contestants for the semi-finals, of which 16 excellent faces entered the final round. At the decisive competition night, the audience had the opportunity to enjoy many classic cai luong excerpts such as "To Anh Nguyet", "Hang Vobiet Ngu Co", "Doi Co Luu", "Tiem Lai Cuoc Doi"... recreated on stage.

Candidates Le Van Dan and Bui Ngoc Quang performed the excerpt of the reformed opera "Finding Life Again" at the 13th "Talented Singer - Reformed Opera" contest in Di An City in 2025 organized by the Center for Culture, Information and Sports of Di An City.

For many participants, this is not simply a contest, but a place to connect souls who love amateur music - reformed opera, regardless of age or profession. Mr. Le Hoang Tuan (officer of the Department of Internal Affairs of Dong Nai province), shared, "Reformed opera has been ingrained in me since I was a child. Wherever there is an organization, I register to compete. This contest has brought me many valuable experiences."

In Binh Duong , Don Ca Tai Tu is not only an echo of the past, but also a living embodiment of the cultural identity of the South. People who love their profession, from artisans to listeners, are the “keepers of the fire”, silently nurturing and passing on that precious spiritual value through each generation.

Ms. Ngoc Tram, a housewife in Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai, recounted her journey to return to her passion for reformed opera after 18 years: “In the past, I used to compete in a club group in Bien Hoa. Now that my children are grown and my job is stable, I have returned to this playground. Thank you to the organizers for creating conditions for people like me to relive a part of the beautiful memories.”

As a judge at the 13th Di An City Open "Talented Singer - Cai Luong" contest in 2025, Meritorious Artist Tam Tam (real name Pham Ta Thanh Tam, Head of Thanh Nga Buddhist Cai Luong Troupe), said: "I was really surprised and touched to see contestants of many ages still have a strong passion for Cai Luong. What I look for is not only the voice, but also the soul of the song - the singer must understand each accent, each release to convey emotion".

“Keeping the fire” of traditional art alive

In addition to the competition stages, in Binh Duong, there are also many regular amateur music exchange programs, bringing the audience many emotions with the wonderful melodies of pentatonic music.

Talking to reporters, amateur Kim Anh (Don ca tai tu Club of Thuan An City, under the Center for Culture, Information and Sports of Thuan An City), said that on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country, the unit organized a Don ca tai tu exchange program in 2025. The program attracted the participation of amateur singers and artisans from the Ho-Xu-Xang Club of the Labor Culture House of Dong Thap Province, Don ca tai tu Club of An Khanh Ward (Can Tho City) and Don ca tai tu Club of Thuan An City. With profound and rustic lyrics, combined with skillful playing techniques, it has brought a Southern-style artistic space, contributing to connecting emotions and cultural exchange between units.

People's Artist Thu Hong said she was very happy to see that Don Ca Tai Tu, an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO, is being maintained by many localities on stages, at competitions in districts, cities, communes, wards and towns. This is a very useful playground, through which new factors are sought and nurtured, contributing to the preservation and development of the unique folk art of the South. The valuable thing is that an art playground like this is not only a place to showcase talents, but also a place to nurture the love of traditional music, building awareness of preserving indigenous culture in the hearts of today's generation. It is the people who work in the profession, love the profession and the loyal audience who have together kept the music and singing from being forgotten in modern life.

Don ca tai tu - cai luong in Binh Duong in particular and the South in general, is not only an echo of the past, but is being awakened and revived day by day in the contemporary flow. When there are still people who love the profession, passionately keep the fire burning, that national art still has enough power to resonate, affirming its own position in the midst of modern life.