Folk opera

The art of Hat Tuong (Hat Boi) is a precious cultural asset of traditional theater, a precious gem in the folk culture treasure and a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. In the current era of rapid social development, traditional arts in general and Hat Tuong art in particular are always at risk of fading away over time. With the efforts and attention from many sides for the art of Hat Tuong, this type of theater has strongly revived, affirming its position and standing in the hearts of the public. In recent years, thanks to the attention of the Party and the State, as well as the love and passion of artists and artisans, it is hoped that in the near future, Hat Tuong art will be recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Please join Vietnam.vn to learn about the art of Tuong singing through the photo series "Folk Tuong Singing" by author Tran Hung Dao. Through that, you will understand more clearly the ancient Tuong works, the exemplary Tuong excerpts are truly precious cultural assets of Vietnamese folk theater, helping to convey the vitality of ancient Tuong art to every Vietnamese soul. In particular, the art of makeup in Tuong singing requires a lot of effort and meticulousness. Actors must spend time learning to do their own makeup and paint masks for themselves. The photo series was submitted by the author to the Photo and Video Contest "Happy Vietnam - Happy Vietnam", organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications. Tuong, also known as Hat Boi, Hat Bo, is a traditional performing art, formed on the basis of singing, dancing, music and folk performances that have existed for a long time and are very rich in the Vietnamese people. By the end of the 18th century, Tuong had developed completely in all aspects from literary scripts to performing arts. In the 19th century, Tuong had a period of peak development in the history of the formation and development of this art form. Together with the actors, the stage scene gradually appeared, the location and time of the Tuong play were determined. Through the means of singing, dancing and musical accompaniment, the performing art of Tuong actors clarified the meaning of the story, creating aesthetic pleasure for the intellect...

Tuong actors use choreography (dance), a system of speech, a set of songs, and melodies (singing) as two main means to portray the character's personality and mood so that the audience can see and understand... Tuong dance is formed from daily movements and psychological actions in people's social life. Generations of actors have distilled movements in daily life and work, absorbed the quintessence of folk dance forms, dances of beliefs, religions, in ceremonies, festivals, in royal dances and in national martial arts to build Tuong dance according to a system of movements from simple to complex.

Portrait of a warrior: red face, white circles around the eyes, associated with the image of loyal and heroic people.

Tuong singing originated from the rituals and chanting in temples, in storytelling and folk singing; written in the forms of six-eight, four-verse, six-eight-song-eight... Tuong singing has a rhythmic system that changes from regular speech to spoken verse. Hat Tuong, or Hat Boi, is a traditional Vietnamese theater form imbued with national culture. Hat Tuong is notable for its complex acting, splendid costumes, and classical melodies. Tuong plays often recreate historical stories, myths, and legends with dramatic storytelling and unique expressions. This is not only a form of entertainment but also an important part in preserving and promoting Vietnamese cultural heritage. In 2024, the Photo and Video Contest "Happy Vietnam - Happy Vietnam" continues to be organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications in coordination with the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists on the website   https://happy.vietnam.vn is open to all Vietnamese citizens and foreigners aged 15 and over. The contest aims to honor individuals and groups with positive information products, making practical contributions to the propaganda and promotion of a beautiful image of Vietnam to the world. Thereby helping people in the country, compatriots abroad and international friends access authentic images of the country, Vietnamese people, Vietnam's achievements in ensuring human rights, towards a happy Vietnam. Each contest category (photo and video) has the following prizes and prize values: - 01 Gold Medal: 70,000,000 VND - 02 Silver Medals: 20,000,000 VND - 03 Bronze Medals: 10,000,000 VND - 10 Encouragement Prizes: 5,000,000 VND - 01 most voted work: 5,000,000 VND The winning authors will be invited by the Organizing Committee to attend the Announcement Ceremony and Award Ceremony and Certificate on live television of Vietnam Television.

Vietnam.vn