Hát Then, Tinh – The Sound Of The Northern Mountains Of Bắc Kạn

There are art forms that only need a few lines of song to be instantly recognized as originating from their homeland. For Bắc Kạn, it is the sound of the Tính lute echoing beside the mountains, the smooth Then melodies flowing along the Năng River, weaving through the villages of the Tày people and resonating in the deep green space of Ba Bể Lake. It is not just music; it is a part of the soul of Vietnamese Bắc culture.

The song of the fairies

According to the beliefs of the Tày, Nùng, and Thái people, the word "Then" originates from "Thiên," meaning Heaven. Therefore, Then singing has long been regarded as the "song of the fairies," a bridge connecting humans to the spiritual world.

In traditional life, Then masters perform rituals for peace, good harvests, warding off misfortune, blessings, or healing for the community. Through their singing and playing, they send prayers to the Jade Emperor, hoping to bring peace, health, and happiness to everyone.

After hundreds of years of existence, Then singing not only carries the colors of belief but has also become a treasure trove of culture containing history, folk knowledge, moral values, and even love stories of the highland people.

The soul of Then singing is the Tính lute

If Then singing is the voice of the soul, then the Tính lute is the soul of those melodies.

The Tính lute is usually made from a dried gourd and forest wood. Its simple shape produces a sound that is incredibly unique. The sound is clear and deep, sometimes ringing like the water of a mountain stream, and at other times, it is as fluctuating as the wind blowing through ancient forests.

In each Then performance, the artist sings while playing the lute, combining dance movements and rhythmic sounds to create an engaging artistic space.

Perhaps that is why the sound of the Tính lute has become a familiar sound associated with the spiritual life of the Tày people in Bắc Kạn for generations.

When Then singing rises over Ba Bể Lake

If the stage is where art shines, then Ba Bể Lake is where Then singing returns to its most pristine nature. Nowadays, many artists in Ba Bể have taken the Tính lute onto boats to perform for tourists right on the lake's surface. The boat drifts gently on the emerald waters, surrounded by majestic limestone mountains covered in forest. There are no stage lights, no modern sound systems.

Only the sound of the Tính lute resonates in the tranquil space. That sound echoes against the cliffs, blending with the wind and the sound of the waves, creating a very different emotion that no stage can replicate.

Artist Hoàng Thị Thảo, who has performed Then on Ba Bể Lake for many years, says that what makes her happiest is seeing the emotional reactions of tourists. Once, a group of young friends from Europe, after hearing Then singing, eagerly asked to learn a few lines and try playing the Tính lute. Although they were not in rhythm and did not perform a complete piece, the passion in their eyes moved the local tourism workers deeply. When parting, they said they would return to Ba Bể just to hear Then once more. Perhaps that is the power of music that transcends all language barriers.

Keeping the flame for a heritage of humanity

In 2019, the Then practice of the Tày, Nùng, and Thái people in Vietnam was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This is a great pride for the communities of the northern mountainous ethnic groups in general and the Tày people of Bắc Kạn in particular. However, ensuring that a heritage continues to thrive in modern life has never been easy. Today, young people have many new entertainment options. Learning to sing Then or play the Tính lute requires perseverance, passion, and a true love for traditional culture. For this reason, artists like Hoàng Thị Thảo and many young people in Ba Bể are quietly spreading that love to tourists and local students. They believe that without singers and players, the valuable legacies left by their ancestors will gradually fade away over time.

The sound of Bắc Kạn pride

Today, Then singing and the Tính lute are not only present in traditional festivals or spiritual rituals. Then melodies have accompanied tourists on boats on Ba Bể Lake, to homestays, cultural exchange programs, and have become an indispensable part of the Bắc Kạn travel experience. It is not just a performance. It is a story about origins. It is the heartfelt voice of the Tày people conveyed through each line of song. It is the pride of a land where every river and mountain holds ancient cultural stories.

And perhaps anyone who has once sat on a small boat in the middle of Ba Bể Lake, listening to the sound of the Tính lute echoing along with Then singing amidst the vast wilderness, will understand why this art form has lived alongside the people of Bắc Kạn for hundreds of years. Because it is not just music. It is the soul of the mountains and forests of Việt Bắc.