Vi and Giam folk songs of Nghe Tinh occupy an important position in the cultural and spiritual life of people of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. This is a type of art that has long lasting life, imbued character and manner of Nghe Tinh people and is the precious heritage in Vietnamese cultural treasure.

Originated from two Nghe Tinh folk forms of Vi singing and Giam singing, Vi and Giam folk songs are practiced in almost daily activities of local people such as lulling children to sleep, cultivating rice in the fields, rowing boats, making conical hats… Vi songs are named according to different performing contexts, such as “rice-seedling transplanting Vi”, “conical-hat making Vi”, or “weaving Vi”. Vi is performed in three styles: non-alternating, alternating and “organized group” singing. Giam is performed in two styles: recitative and alternating boy and girl call-and-response songs. There are various types of Giam songs known as “lullaby Giam”, “narrative Giam”, “advice Giam”.

Vi and Giam lyrics use the specific dialect and linguistic idioms of the Nghe Tinh region and practitioners sing with the particular singing voice of Nghe Tinh people.