Don Ca Tai Tu (Vietnamese Opera) - The Beauty And The Vitality In The Community

“Don ca tai tu” is a traditional music of Vietnamese people. The South is the "cradle" that produces this type of music. According to the references, “don ca tai tu” appeared in the late 19th century, originating from the festival and royal music of Hue citadel and folk literature. This is a typical folk music of the South. In the past, because of the reclamation of wasteland in the South as well as the working life here, after hours of hard works, people often sing to relax, entertain. Therefore, “don ca tai tu” of the South was also considered the music of the popular people at that time.

Nowadays, people in South of Vietnam also proud of the common spiritual property – “don ca tai tu”. Coming the West today, going out on the street, sometimes we can hear some sentences of “Vietnamese opera” echoing somewhere, or sitting on the river, we can also hear some of them. On the moon night, in the garden, or on the pier, we still encounter some “don ca tai tu” shows of the Western people. It can be said, for the Western people, the love for “don ca tai tu” has absorbed into the blood. People consider “don ca tai tu” as a spiritual, cultural, and indispensable activities in meetings, weddings, New Year, festivals...

“Don ca tai tu” is the only music that has the luxury and sophistication of the chamber music, and has the widest range; even in modern life, it is still the favorite kind of music that loved by the masses. For many years now, visitors coming the West still have regarded “don ca tai tu” as an indispensable specialty for the visiting to this land. In particular, some foreign young people and cultural researchers have been impressed with the community and the spread of “don ca tai tu” after approaching it.

“Don ca tai tu” was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as the National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2012 and was honored by UNESCO as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2013.

“Don ca tai tu” has truly become the common property of the residents in 21 Southern provinces, especially in the Mekong Delta today. The spread and potential development of “don ca tai tu” are still intense in the modern life and it has become a typical tourist product of that land.