Thirteen Xoan singing clubs and 15 other art troupes from every corner of northern midland Phu Tho province are performing at a festival that opened Viet Tri city on April 14.
As part of the Hung Kings Temple Festival 2013, the 3 rd Xoan Singing and Phu Tho Folk Songs Festival has also drawn the participation of three musical experts from Finland.
The six-day event aims to promote and honour Xoan singing, a world intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding. It also offers a chance for Phu Tho province to review its efforts to preserve the traditional music as well as for local artists to meet and share experience.
In recent years, Phu Tho province has made great efforts to conserve and develop the traditional Xoan singing with the establishment of 13 Xoan singing clubs and the restoration of the Lai Len Temple , a relic that is attached to the origin of Xoan singing.
The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has coordinated with musical experts and researchers in publishing over 4,000 CDs and 3,000 books on the traditional signing. Many classes have been organised to teach Xoan singing for local residents, especially young people.
On the occasion, a cultural camp was also held to introduce the province's typical cultural features to visitors to the Hung King Temple Festival this year.