Vietnamese folk music: quan họ, ca trù and more

Vietnamese folk music is a family of regional singing traditions, including quan họ love duets from the North, the refined chamber art of ca trù, hát xoan from Phú Thọ, and đờn ca tài tử from the South, along with countless work songs and lullabies. Several of these are recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.

Each style has its own sound, setting and story. Here is a guide to the main ones.

Quan họ: love songs in call and response

Quan họ ("kwahn haw") comes from the Bắc Ninh area in northern Vietnam. It is sung by pairs of men and women from different villages who answer each other in alternating verses, traditionally at festivals in spring.

• What it sounds like: unaccompanied or lightly accompanied voices, with highly ornamented melodies and a gentle, flirtatious back-and-forth.
• What it is about: love, friendship, longing and hospitality.
• What to look for: singers in traditional dress, women in áo mớ ba mớ bảy and wide flat hats called nón quai thao.

Quan họ was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.

Ca trù: poetry sung to a lute

Ca trù ("kah choo") is an old art form from northern Vietnam that combines poetry and music. A female singer performs while tapping a small bamboo clapper box, accompanied by a man playing the đàn đáy, a long-necked lute, and often a drummer who signals approval of the singer's performance.

• What it sounds like: a tight, controlled vocal style with subtle ornaments, often described as intimate and introspective.
• Where it was performed: at communal houses, private gatherings and entertainment venues for scholars and officials.
• Status: UNESCO added ca trù to its list of heritage in need of urgent safeguarding in 2009, reflecting how few masters remained.

Hát xoan: spring singing from Phú Thọ

Hát xoan ("haht swahn") is a ritual singing tradition from Phú Thọ province, the region associated with the Hùng Kings. It was traditionally performed at village communal houses in spring, combining singing, dancing and drumming as offerings and celebration. It is also on UNESCO's lists.

Đờn ca tài tử: music of amateur musicians in the South

Đờn ca tài tử ("dun kah tai tuh") developed in southern Vietnam. The name roughly means "music and songs of amateurs," and it began as musicians gathering informally to play and sing after work, at festivals or family events.

• Instruments: often đàn kìm (moon lute), đàn tranh (zither), đàn cò (two-string fiddle), guitar with scalloped frets and bamboo flute.
• Style: relaxed, improvisatory and social.

Đờn ca tài tử later fed into cải lương, the southern "reformed theater" that combines drama with this kind of music.

Work songs, folk songs and lullabies

Beyond the famous forms, everyday folk singing includes:

• Hò: work songs, such as rowing songs on rivers. Central and southern Vietnam have many styles of hò.
• Lý: short lyrical folk songs, especially in the South and Center.
• Ví and giặm: folk songs from Nghệ An and Hà Tĩnh provinces, also recognized by UNESCO.
• Hát ru: lullabies, sung to babies across the country, often with lyrics drawn from folk poetry. See Vietnamese lullabies and why they matter.

Ritual and spiritual music

Chầu văn (also called hát văn) is ritual singing used in the worship of the Mother Goddesses. It accompanies spirit-possession ceremonies and uses lively rhythms and instruments like the đàn nguyệt. The broader practice of Mother Goddess worship has also been recognized by UNESCO.

How does folk music relate to modern music?

Folk melodies and instruments have never disappeared from Vietnamese pop. Some V-pop artists borrow folk tunes, traditional costumes or instruments like the đàn bầu and sáo trúc. Listening to the originals makes those references easier to hear. For the instruments themselves, see traditional Vietnamese music and instruments, and for the big picture, Vietnamese music: a beginner's guide.

How to start listening

• Search YouTube for "quan họ Bắc Ninh" and listen to a pair of singers answering each other.
• Try "ca trù" and focus on the clapper and lute patterns.
• Search "đờn ca tài tử" for a relaxed Southern ensemble.
• Look for performances by recognized artists or cultural institutions, which tend to be well recorded and labeled.

Pick one style and listen to three performances back to back; hearing the same form sung by different artists is the quickest way to recognize it anywhere.