Preserving Then singing in Quang Ninh

Then singing is a form of folk performance, closely associated with the lives of the Tay, Nung, and Thai people; it is a ritual practice that reflects the concepts of humans, the natural world, and the universe. Then ceremonies depict the journey of the Then master leading the army of ghosts from Muong Dat to Muong Troi to offer offerings and make requests in the ceremony: Praying for peace, healing, praying for good harvest, and wishing a happy new year. The Then master wears a ceremonial costume and sings in his ethnic language while playing the Tinh Tau, shaking the bamboo flute, and waving the fan.

The Tay ethnic group in Quang Ninh province lives mainly in Binh Lieu, Tien Yen, Ba Che, Ha Long, Dam Ha, Hai Ha, Dong Trieu, with over 31,000 people. Quang Ninh's Then is preserved by the Tay people and divided into two genres, namely Then ritual and Then literature and art.

Preserving Then singing in Quang Ninh is an important task to preserve and promote the unique intangible cultural heritage of the Tay ethnic group, one of the largest ethnic minority communities in the province. Then singing is not only a unique performing art form but also closely associated with spiritual life, beliefs and contains profound cultural and historical values.