Preserving traditional art

With hát bội, from the full moon of the second lunar month to the end of the eighth lunar month is the fishing festival season, when coastal communal houses organize singing ceremonies to offer to the gods, thanking heaven and earth for blessing the people in the region with a good fishing season.

Bustling opera

Hat Boi at the fishing festival in Ward 6 (Tuy Hoa City). Photo: MANH HOAI NAM

Every year, at the end of the third lunar month, fishermen in Ward 4 (Tuy Hoa City) join hands to organize a fishing festival at Phu Cau communal house. Mr. Phan Thuan, Head of the festival's organizing committee, said: The fishing festival is an opportunity for fishermen to pray for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, calm seas, clear waterways, safe and smooth sailing; fishermen catch a lot of shrimp and fish on each offshore trip, develop the marine economy , and contribute to preserving the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland. At the same time, it strengthens the friendship between neighbors, giving strength to fishermen who work day and night at sea, raising aquatic products... Therefore, every year, people maintain this beautiful folk culture.

According to many fishermen, the fishing festival consists of a ceremony and a festival. This is an opportunity for fishermen to express their gratitude to the god of the South Sea (whale) for helping fishermen through disasters at sea, as well as to commemorate the tutelary gods and ancestors who have contributed to establishing the village, practicing fishing and preserving the traditional profession.

On the day of the ceremony, many fishermen dressed in traditional costumes carried the sacred edict from Da Dien gate to the communal house to perform the ceremony. During the festival, many fishermen from Le Duan and Bach Dang neighborhoods and tourists from everywhere participated.

The festival includes a performance of hát bội (tuong singing), also known as hát thứ Lễ or hát án. One of the indispensable rituals is hát ba trao, also known as ho dua linh or chèo cầu ngư.

Young artist Vo Thi Minh Thu, a member of the Ho Ba Trao Club in An Chan commune (Tuy An district) said: The content of the Ba Trao singing praises the merit of the Whale saving people, helping to catch a lot of fish and shrimp, or describes the hard work of fishermen in the middle of the ocean, while praising the richness of the sea and above all, the solidarity of the rowers to reach a prosperous and full life.

Mr. Nguyen Phung Ky, former Vice Chairman of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association, said: From the full moon of the second lunar month to the end of the eighth lunar month, the coastal area enters the fishing festival season, and the communal houses are bustling with opera performances. In March, it is held in Ward 4 (Tuy Hoa City); in April and May, it is held in Phu Tho 3 and Phu Tho 4 neighborhoods (Hoa Hiep Trung Ward, Dong Hoa Town); in June, it is held in An Chan Commune (Tuy An District)...

Ms. Huynh Thi Xuan, a fisherman in Phu Tho 4, shared: The fishing festival of fishermen in coastal areas is associated with the worship of Whale. This is the respectful name fishermen give to whales, a species of fish that often helps people overcome dangers when drifting at sea.

Spread the word

Since January, the Bài Chòi Club (Folk Arts and Ethnic Minorities Arts Association of the province) has been operating regularly. Mr. Phung Long An, Chairman of the Club, said: At the beginning of the year, on the shore of O Loan lagoon, the Club organized Bài Chòi singing at two locations: Phú Tân 1 village, An Cư commune and An Ninh Đông commune park (Tuy An district). After that, the Club served the fishing festival in Giai Son village and the festival in Phú Long village, An Mỹ commune (Tuy An district). I noticed that the audience coming to the Bài Chòi festival was larger than in previous years.

Artist Nguyen Thi Hoang Cam (Theatre Association) in Binh Kien Commune, Tuy Hoa City shared: While teaching and participating in activities at the An Chan Commune Club (Tuy An District), I participate in performing this art form in events and festivals. Recently, I and the Club members performed Bai Choi at the Le Thanh Phuong Temple Festival (An Hiep Commune, Tuy An District); at the same time, I brought this art form to serve tourists at Hon Chua (An Phu Commune, Tuy Hoa City). Not only performing, I also participate in composing and staging stage scripts.

Bài chòi is a creative, spontaneous and intellectual performing art form of the people of the Central region. For a long time, Bài chòi has become an attractive spiritual food in the cultural life of all classes of people, especially during Tet and festivals.

In 2023, Ms. Hoang Cam participated in a composition camp at Tam Dao Composer House (Tam Dao district, Vinh Phuc province). During the closing ceremony, this artist sang Bai Choi in English, making the whole hall bustling, thereby spreading the art of singing Bai Choi in community life, inspiring the passion for the younger generation...

Talking about Bai Choi, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Binh Thang, Head of the Bai Choi Folk Song Club of Dong Hoa Town, shared: For a long time, Bai Choi has become an attractive spiritual food in the cultural life of all classes of people, especially during Tet and festivals. The Bai Choi Festival contributes to widely promoting to the public this art form, which is a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. In recent years, Phu Yen artists have brought the art of singing Bai Choi to perform everywhere, inspiring the passion for the younger generation, contributing to preserving the art of Bai Choi in modern life.

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/xa-hoi/202504/giu-gin-nghe-thuat-truyen-thong-fa32599/