Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Contact us now
Don ca tai tu –  The soulful voice floating along rivers

Home Travel Blog Don ca tai tu – The soulful voice floating along rivers

Don ca tai tu – The soulful voice floating along rivers

There is a surprise for anyone who comes to southwestern Vietnam where the tributaries of the hectic Mekong River highway provide a comprehensive network of canals and channels. They are surely more impressed by the fact that there is something truly connecting all those canals’ souls. The myth here is Don ca tai tu (Đờn ca tài tử) folk music in South Vietnam.

Don ca tai tu is a very popular folk music genre among the south people
Don ca tai tu is a very popular folk music genre among the south people

Don ca tai tu, along with Ca trù and Cồng chiêng Tây Nguyên, are three Vietnamese music folk types recognized by UNESCO as The World Intangible Cultural Heritage. Don ca tai tu is one of a few traditional music types which has maintained till today and broaden to a large area. It arose in South Vietnam at the end of the 19th century and now has expanded to all 21 Southern provinces, including 13 provinces of Mekong River Delta region. Read more: tours in Vietnam

Don ca tai tu was a combination of the ritual music nhạc lễ of southern Vietnam and the chamber music nhạc Huế of central Vietnam. Its name means litterally “music and song of the amateurs” and shows that it is a musical entertainment for scholars and music lovers at all levels of society.

The Don ca tai tu is performed by a small instrumental group which includes a đàn kìm, a đàn tranh, a đàn cò and a western guitar.
The Don ca tai tu is performed by a small instrumental group which includes a đàn kìm, a đàn tranh, a đàn cò and a western guitar.

The attractive feature of this music type lies in its bond of rural life and simplicity. It does not require an elaborated stage, or even a formal theatre but anywhere, any conditions and any circumstances. That partly explains why this old music genre can easily win the heart of far-distanced guests.

Singers (locally named ‘ca nương’ or ‘tài tử’) can be anyone, whether he is a white-collar or blue-collar worker, a local official or a farmer, etc. They move audiences with their heartfelt songs about daily life. More interestingly, different singers have different ways to sing one song. They bring their own thoughts, feelings and tone of voice into the original song when performing, which makes each song more looks like a story. It is the way ‘Don ca tai tu’ has developed in history.

A local Don ca tai tu band is performing on boat.
A local Don ca tai tu band is performing on boat.

Tourists can enjoy this music genre when travelling on canals throughout southwestern region. In near future, Don ca tai tu will be formally performed in specific theatres, helping tourists to enjoy it in full senses.

The Indochina Voyages team.

Read more:

Custom your tour image

Enjoy reading our blogs and browsing our tours? Please contact us and leave any questions you may have.

Email us now