Tay women sing Then songs and play Tinh musical instrument.

The lyrics says that Then, Sli, and Luon singing lures people’s hearts. The singing, which blends with the aroma of cinnamon, entertains people all year round as yellow leaves and green leaves success each other.

The folk singing genres of Lang Son province are depicted in the verses of Vi Hong Nhan, the founder of the Association for the Preservation of Folk Singing of ethnic groups in Lang Son province. Since its establishment in 2010, the Association has grown to 1,000 members in 50 district clubs. Eleven-year-old Nguyen Hoang Tuong An is the youngest member of the Cau Pung Then singing Club, in Trang Dinh district.

“I’ve participated in the Club for 4 years. Grannies and aunts teach us to sing Then songs and play a musical instrument called the Tinh, ” An said.

Then singing performance at a "Going to the field" festival.

Singing contests and festivals are held at the communal, district, and provincial level.

Trieu Thuy Tien, Deputy Head of the Association for the Preservation of Folk Singing of ethnic groups in Lang Son province, said: “Good news is that many more young people join in art preservation activities. They attend Then singing and Tinh musical instrument classes. They also have good knowledge of religious rituals relating to Then singing.”

Vi Hong Nhan said cultural preservation and promotion requires combined effort of the practitioners, the authorities, and the whole community: “Besides efforts of the Folk Singing Preservation Association, the singers, the devotees of ethnic culture, we need attention of the authorities. Folk singing should be seen as a previous cultural asset, which will be very difficult to revive once it disappears.”

Over the past decade, the Association for the Preservation of Folk Singing of ethnic groups in Lang Son province has been a venue for folk singing devotees to exchange and and pervade their passion to many others.