Visiting the mountainous region of Binh Lieu to be enchanted by Tay ethnic Then singing

The Tay people in the highland district of Binh Lieu, Quang Ninh, possess an exceptionally rich cultural identity, notably their Then singing melodies—an art form of profound significance in their community's life.

Visiting the mountainous region of Binh Lieu to be enchanted by Tay ethnic Then singing

The Tay account for up to 55% of the district's total population. Visiting any Tay village or household in Binh Lieu, tourists can enjoy the distinctive melodies of Then singing accompanied by the tinh gourd lute. The performance of Then singing commonly appears in the religious and spiritual rituals of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups.

A Then singing performance. Photo: Binh Lieu District.

Then singing is an art form using melodies to narrate the journey of Then masters carrying offerings to the heavenly realm on behalf of humans to pray for good things in the earthly world. An indispensable musical instrument when performing Then tunes is the tinh tau (gourd lute); Then and tinh tau are inseparable on stage like shadow and form.

Then singing performed for tourists. Photo: Binh Lieu District.

The undulating, graceful melodies together with the Then lyrics depict each stage of the Then spirit army's journey: sometimes urgent and bustling, at times leisurely resting by the wayside, now earnestly petitioning, and then joyfully crossing the sea…

Lau Then, a traditional Then ritual. Photo: Binh Lieu District.

Each chapter and section of the Then song (known as “khong” and “khai”) is rendered by the performers (called “ba then” or “ong then”), guiding listeners into a novel world intertwined with the resonant sound of the tinh tau lute.

Then singing is inseparable from the tinh tau lute. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.

A night of Then singing serves as spiritual therapy for the sick, bringing faith, excitement, optimism, and love of humanity to everyone attending the ritual. That is why the Tay people have a saying: “A night of sickness is long, a night of Then is short,” demonstrating that Then singing helps people forget their worries, troubles, illnesses, and suffering…

Many young people in Binh Lieu are passionate about Then singing. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.

Then melodies are intertwined with each Tay person from the womb until they depart this earthly life, becoming an integral part of their spiritual existence. Nowadays, new Then songs are composed with new lyrics by artisans, incorporating authentic, relatable facets of daily life into each work, making them even more widely embraced by the public.

Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.

Then singing in Binh Lieu, like in many other regions, follows a seven-syllable poetic form, with every verse bearing good meanings and wishing for luck in life. While Lang Son Then singing is gentle and passionate, and Ha Giang Then is deliberate and nuanced, Binh Lieu Then possesses its own unique characteristics, differing in vocal range and melodic inflections due to local pronunciations shaping distinct singing styles.

Then singing has become a tourism offering. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.

Binh Lieu Then is typically simple, confiding intimately with listeners rather than being heavily melodic like in other localities. To the Tay people, Then is poetry itself, a profound form of metaphor. Then singing is indispensable when welcoming guests to the house or upon building a new home. There are many themes in Then, such as praising the homeland, romance, family affection, and singing about President Ho Chi Minh…

Then singing by the stream. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.

Many Then works in Binh Lieu still retain vibrant vitality to this day, including works linked to the resistance war against the US (Ngẩm nghỉ chang vằn tấc Mỷ – Reflections during the days of fighting the US; Then play: Ăn cương téng nả – The mirror…), works reflecting the building of socialism in the North (Cùn khảu – harvesting rice; Éo nọong – lullaby…), and later numerous works praising the homeland of Binh Lieu (Lằm tàng Phiêng Lèo – the road of Binh Lieu; Phiêng Lèo túi mấu – Binh Lieu's renovation…).

A Then singing space. Photo: Phuong Dai.

Then not only helps people express feelings of sadness, joy, anger, and sulking, but also serves to convey love for the homeland and country, becoming a highly effective medium for communicating Party policies as it easily resonates with people's hearts.

Many Then singing clubs for young people. Photo: Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper.

Today, Then singing in Binh Lieu has become a unique tourism product. Visiting Binh Lieu, travelers can learn about topics related to Then singing and the tinh lute, as well as enjoy performances presented by the local Tay people.

Many ancient Then tunes are preserved in Binh Lieu. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.

From a performance primarily rooted in belief and ritual, Then melodies are now being promoted as a strength in cultural and spiritual tourism. This demonstrates the enduring vitality and significance of Then. Consequently, Then singing has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which the Tay people of Binh Lieu continue to preserve and uphold.