Phu Tho (VNA) – Xoan-singing clubs in the ancestral land of Phu Thohave become busier welcoming both domestic and foreign tourists after the folkgenre of music was added to the UNESCOList of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in late 2017.

After only a 90-minute  drive from Hanoiand tourists will find themselves in the place believed to be the cradle of thewhole Vietnamese nation where, apart from Xoan singing, they can explore local relicsites.

Nguyen Thi Lich from the An Thai Xoan-singing club said her troupe serves from2-3 groups of tourists during weekends.

“We are very glad as many tourists have joined us in singing,” she said.

In the past, very few young people liked traditional Xoan singing. However, theart has now attracted not only youths in Xoan singing villages but also thosefrom across the province, said Nguyen Van Quyet from the Kim Dai Xoan singingclub.

In order to promote values of Xoan singing and attract more visitors, in April2018, Phu Tho launched a tourism product named “Xoan singing in ancientvillage”, which is integrated in daily tours operated by travel companies.

The Xoan-singing venues have, to date, welcomed over 13,000 visitors, mostlyfrom foreign countries like the UK, France, the Netherlands and the US.

According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, travelcompanies have launched from 2 to 3 tours for foreign visitors to Phu Tho eachmonth, which take them to the Xoan-singing sites.

Dong Duc Cuong, Director of Asia Lotus Travel Company, said the product is oneof the spotlights of the tours to Phu Tho, adding that alongside theXoan-singing venues, tourists also have chances to visit many ancient communalhouses, temples and villages.

Phung Thi Hoa Le, Director of the provincial Tourism Promotion Centre, saidartisans and members of the four Xoan-singing clubs perform at Lai Len templeand Hung Lo, An Thai and Kim Dai communal houses in Viet Tri city as part ofthe tours.

Xoan performances are also stagedfrom from 2-4pm at Hung Lo communal house every day, and from 2-4pm at Lai Lentemple every Saturday and Sunday. 

During the Hung Kings Temple Festival - one of the biggest of the year held in thethird lunar month, Xoan performances will take place from 8am – 4pm every dayin the above venues.

Nguyen Dac Thuy, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports andTourism, said the province is paying more attention to preserving and promotingthe heritage values of Xoan singing.

Twenty out of the 30 cultural sites for Xoan singing have been upgraded and thenumber of experienced artisans, from seven to 100, he said.

The province now boasts 34 provincial clubs with more than 1,500 members, alongwith 64 district-level and 42 communal troupes.

The UNESCO Inter-governmentalCommittee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage decided toremove Xoan singing from its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need ofUrgent Safeguarding and added to the Representative List of the IntangibleCultural Heritage of Humanity during its 12th session in December2017.

As a performing art, Xoan performances includesinging, dancing, drumming and clapper beating. Closely linked to the worshipof the Hung Kings, believed to be the founders of the nation, Xoan singingtraditionally performed during the first two months of the lunar calendar atholy places such as temples, sanctuaries and communal houses. Tourists can feelanother magnet finding that the worshiping itself is another UNESCO-recognisedintangible cultural heritage of the humanity.

There are three forms of Xoan singing: worshipsinging for the Hung Kings and village guardian spirits; ritual singing forgood crops, health and luck; and festival singing where villagers alternatemale and female voices in a form of courtship.-VNA