Hung King's Commemoration Day 2025: Let the Xoan singing echo at the foot of Hung Mountain

These days, in the original Xoan guilds in Viet Tri city (Phu Tho), many bosses, bosses and Xoan singers are diligently practicing the best Xoan melodies to serve tourists from all over the world on the occasion of Hung Kings' death anniversary - Hung Temple Festival 2025.

For them, Xoan singing is not only about lyrics but also about pride and responsibility in preserving the intangible cultural heritage of humanity in the homeland of King Hung.

Phu Tho Xoan singing originated from the Hung King era, associated with the legend of the Hung Kings, so it has a special attraction for tourists.

The lyrics, lyrics, dances, and performance instruments are extremely rustic and simple, but the rhythm and melody are clear and strong, especially the drum beats at the communal house gate urge, urge, and touch the most respectful consciousness of each person in the space and performance program of "Hat Xoan Lang Co" on the occasion of Hung King's death anniversary - Hung Temple Festival every year.

Present at Phu Duc Xoan ward, Kim Duc commune, under the ancient communal house roof, the sound of drums and clappers in harmony with sweet voices and graceful dance movements makes everyone fascinated and excited.

Each drum beat, each beat, each song is transmitted with all the passion, love and responsibility for the precious heritage of the homeland.

Ms. Bui Thi Hang, a member of Phu Duc Xoan guild, Kim Duc commune, shared that in order to prepare for the ancient village Xoan singing program on the occasion of this year's Ancestor's Anniversary, the sisters in the Xoan guild have been trying to practice even in the evenings and in their free time with the desire to bring many unique and attractive performances, contributing to promoting the image and people of the friendly and hospitable Ancestral Land.

According to the head of Phu Duc Xoan guild, Kim Duc commune, Nguyen Xuan Hoi, for many days now, Phu Duc Xoan village has organized for members to practice all the ancient village Xoan singing melodies to perform on the occasion of the Ancestor's Death Anniversary on March 10.

At this year's Hung Temple Festival, Phu Duc Xoan troupe began serving a large number of visitors from all over the country from the 6th day of the lunar calendar at Lai Len Temple - the birthplace of Xoan singing since the Hung Kings founded the country.

Xoan artists and Xoan sprouts perform Xoan singing for the large number of locals and tourists. (Photo: VNA)

Together with Phu Duc Xoan ward, An Thai Xoan ward, Phuong Lau commune is harmonizing and making efforts to practice ancient Xoan songs to serve the Hung Kings' death anniversary this year.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lich, Head of An Thai Xoan Ward, Phuong Lau Commune, shared that An Thai Xoan Ward is actively practicing even the smallest details to serve tourists about the festival at Hung Lo ancient communal house, Hung Lo Commune.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Lich, a Xoan performance consists of three stages: ritual singing, qua cach singing and giao duyen singing (festival singing).

The content of the songs is to wish, pray, praise the beauty of the homeland, love of labor, love between men and women associated with national cultural traditions.

Xoan singing has a rustic, simple melody, easy to perform. When performing, the hand and foot movements must be in harmony with the lyrics (mouth singing, hands bending, feet on tiptoe), hands bending to form flower buds, when opened they become fresh petals, captivating many people's hearts.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuong Lau Commune, Bui Van Huong, said that Phuong Lau Commune is one of the localities with a tradition of Xoan singing associated with the Hung King era of nation building.

Aware of the responsibility to preserve and promote heritage values, the commune regularly organizes training sessions, especially on the occasion of the Hung Kings' death anniversary - Hung Temple Festival every year.

Xoan troupes in the area are actively practicing to ensure artistic quality and maintain the original style of Xoan singing.

Senior artisans guide the young generation through each beat and melody in a systematic manner, helping them better understand the value and spirit of this heritage.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuong Lau commune added that Xoan singing has a very tight rhythm system, expressed through the sound of the Chau drum and bamboo clappers. The rhythm in Xoan is sometimes leisurely and gentle, but also sometimes bustling and exciting, depending on each stage of the performance.

Therefore, Phuong Lau commune has determined to maintain and expand Xoan singing classes, invite veteran artists to guide the younger generation, and coordinate with the tourism industry to organize Xoan singing performances at historical sites and tourist attractions in the area to introduce to visitors.

On the other hand, the commune builds a community space for Xoan singing, helping people have the opportunity to access and practice the heritage more often.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dac Thuy, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Phu Tho province, Xoan singing, which used to only resound in communal houses during festivals, is now present throughout the homeland, spreading to ethnic minority areas in the province.

The organization of Xoan singing program on the occasion of Hung King's death anniversary - Hung Temple Festival every year aims to preserve, conserve, promote as well as introduce and promote the heritage of Xoan singing and Hung King worship in Phu Tho.

Therefore, Xoan troupes in Phu Tho always try their best to bring the best and most meaningful Xoan melodies to serve tourists from near and far on pilgrimage to the homeland.

Mr. Nguyen Dac Thuy added that since 2013, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Phu Tho province has built the program "Hat Xoan in ancient villages" associated with tours and tourist routes serving groups of visitors attending the Hung Kings' death anniversary - Hung Temple Festival every year.

After more than 10 years of implementation, the program "Hat Xoan Lang Co" has become a unique spiritual dish, attracting domestic and foreign tourists every time they come to Phu Tho.

Xoan singing melodies imbued with love for the land and people of Phu Tho always attract a large number of tourists on the occasion of Hung Kings' death anniversary - Hung Temple Festival.

During the itinerary, visitors will visit the Hung Temple Historical Site, practice the Hung King worship rituals, learn about the process of building and defending the country of our ancestors, visit the Hung King Museum, learn about the exhibition space about nature, cultural history of the land of the ancestors through the periods from prehistoric to modern times, visit the Hung Lo ancient communal house and Hung Lo ancient village with a corner of the countryside market, ancient houses imbued with the tradition of the Northern countryside, experience wrapping traditional banh chung and pounding banh giay; visit Lai Len temple, the birthplace of Phu Tho Xoan singing and enjoy the smooth ancient Xoan melodies performed by the artists of Xoan guilds./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/gio-to-hung-vuong-nam-2025-de-cau-xoan-vang-vong-duoi-chan-nui-hung-post1022588.vnp