The fifth festival featuring Vi and Giam folk singing of Nghe Tinh, named an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, kicked off in the central province of Ha Tinh on August 25.
The four day event, co-organised by the provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, attracted the participation of over 600 artists from 24 folk troupes.
The festival aimed to create an opportunity for the artists and singing troupes to perform and exchange experience, as well as find new talents, and develop the key artists in order to promote folk singing and pass down on the art to younger generations.
Vi and Giam are sung by communities in Nghe An and Ha Tinh. The lyrics use the unique dialect and linguistic idioms of the region and are sung with the particular singing voice of the people there.
The folk music is traditionally sung while people are working in the rice fields, rowing boats, making crafts or lulling children to sleep. Singing is a chance for locals to ease theirs hardship in life as well as express the feelings between men and women.
It was recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2014.