The guardian of traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music in Long Thanh.

Artist Thai Hung (second from the right) receives a commemorative flag representing the Long Thanh Traditional Music Club participating in the traditional music and cải lương (Vietnamese opera) exchange. Photo: CTV

Most recently, artist Thai Hung was honored to be nominated for the title of Meritorious Artisan - a well-deserved recognition for his persistent journey in preserving the traditional art of the nation.

I fell in love with traditional Vietnamese folk music.

Artist Thai Hung was born and raised in Long Thanh, in a family with no one pursuing art. Early on, he showed talent and passion for the traditional Vietnamese folk music and cải lương (reformed opera), choosing to dedicate himself to the music and singing of his ancestors. In 2007, he joined the Long Thanh Town Traditional Music Club in Long Thanh District as a folk singer, practicing alongside other folk artists in the town, and participating in competitions, performances, and exchanges of traditional music to entertain the local community.

“In 2014, I officially joined the Long Thanh Traditional Music Club – under the Long Thanh District Cultural, Information and Sports Center. I was fortunate to be trusted by the artists and performers, and given the position of Vice Chairman of the Club. From there, I had the opportunity to perform on large stages inside and outside the province, contributing to spreading the art of traditional music in Long Thanh to friends near and far,” shared artist Thai Hung.

With his powerful voice, artist Thai Hung has gradually established his name with a simple yet deeply emotional performance style. Besides practicing traditional folk songs to improve his singing and acting skills, he also actively learns many traditional musical instruments to support his training and performances, serving all segments of the population. He and the members of the Long Thanh Traditional Music Club have won numerous certificates of merit and medals in competitions and performances.

These include awards such as: the A prize at the An Giang Traditional Music Festival in 2013; a gold medal for the 16-beat Vọng Cổ performance "Hãy hát đi em" (Sing, My Dear) at the National Traditional Music Festival in 2014; a gold medal at the Southern Traditional Music Festival in 2016 with the work "Anh ở đâu" (Where Are You?), in the "Phượng Hoàng Lai Nghi" (Phoenix Coming) genre; a gold medal in the "Đông Nai Ngày Mới" (New Day in Đồng Nai) genre at the National Traditional Music Festival in 2017; first and second prizes at the Đồng Nai Provincial Traditional Music Festival in 2021 and 2022…

For artist Thai Hung, achieving these accomplishments was the result of continuous effort and dedication. Besides self-study through books and the internet, he also received guidance and instruction from experienced artists such as Meritorious Artist Huynh Khai, former lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music, and artisan Linh Phung, head of the Long Thanh Traditional Music Club. This dedicated guidance has become a solid foundation for his development, creating his own unique performance style – simple yet profound and expressive.

Artist THAI HUNG shared: “One of the goals of my activities and the Long Thanh Traditional Music Club is to continue practicing, performing, and expanding the classes to teach traditional music to the community.”

The "silent" teacher of those who love traditional Vietnamese opera and theater.

Not only does artist Thai Hung coordinate the artistic activities of the Long Thanh Traditional Music Club, but he also directly guides and imparts techniques to the younger members of the club. He is considered the main vocalist, always appearing in heritage teaching classes, training sessions, and performance exchanges.

With the belief that "to preserve Southern Vietnamese traditional opera, there must be a successor generation," for many years, artist Thai Hung has quietly trained dozens of students. Many of them have won high awards at provincial and regional Southern Vietnamese traditional opera festivals, demonstrating solid singing and acting techniques – a clear mark of their dedicated teacher. Some have become the core of local amateur and cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) troupes, continuing the journey of spreading Southern Vietnamese traditional opera to the community.

Artist Thai Hung performs traditional Vietnamese folk music at Duong Tu Giang Park, entertaining residents of Bien Hoa city.

Most recently, artist Thai Hung was nominated by the cultural sector for the title of Outstanding Artisan in 2024. He couldn't hide his emotion as he shared: “I am very happy and grateful that my efforts in Southern Vietnamese traditional music have been recognized and that I have been considered for this title. For me, traditional music is not only a passion but also a responsibility. A responsibility to keep the flame alive and ignite it in the hearts of present and future generations.”

Speaking about artist Thai Hung, Mr. Pham Van Duc, an official at the Long Thanh District Cultural, Information and Sports Center, said that Thai Hung is one of the outstanding artists in the field of Southern Vietnamese traditional opera (Don Ca Tai Tu) in Long Thanh district. He is always dedicated to preserving and promoting Southern Vietnamese traditional opera. With nearly 20 years of involvement, he not only participates in performances but also actively teaches the younger generation, contributing to maintaining and developing this traditional art form in the locality.

In an era where many modern forms of entertainment captivate young people, the perseverance and dedication of artist Thai Hung serve as a testament to the fact that Southern Vietnamese traditional opera (ĐCTT) is thriving and has its place to perform and thrive. And thanks to artists like Thai Hung, ĐCTT Long Thanh continues to preserve the echoes of traditional folk songs and the melodious sounds of the instruments in the heart of its homeland.

Ly Na

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202504/nguoi-giu-lua-don-ca-tai-tu-o-long-thanh-db9063c/