Hue traditional singing (Photo: baothuathienhue.vn)

According to the new regulations, each program must be at least one hour long, and have at least three traditional instruments, and seven to eight actors or musicians.

There are 128 boats for tourists on Huong River. The local authorities ban boat owners from overloading their boats or illegally selling music albums on boats, in order to make the folk singing service more professional.

Until now, 457 musicians in Hue City have been granted performance licences that are valid for three years.

Statistics show that over 10,000 shows of Hue singing are held every year to serve 250,000 audience members, in shows both on the Huong River and at other local attractions.

Hue traditional singing genre was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2015. The performing art genre blends literature and music together in perfect harmony to create a poetic beauty. It formed and developed in Thuan Hoa-Phu Xuan (now Thua Thien - Hue) more than three centuries ago. It has attracted increasingly large domestic and foreign audiences.

The singing is performed along the Huong River, in performance spaces and hotels in Hue City, and at important cultural events.