Preserving and spreading - a creative mark of young artists
The workshop "Vietnamese folk culture and arts after the country's reunification day (1975 - 2025)" recently organized by the Vietnam folk arts Association showed a vivid picture of the 50-year journey of preserving and promoting folk cultural heritage.
According to Prof. Dr. Le Hong Ly - Chairman of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association, in addition to promoting research, collection and restoration, one of the most positive signals today is the appearance of a young artist class that knows how to renew traditional materials, turning folk sounds into a source of creative inspiration in music, stage, fashion and visual arts.
In recent years, the public has witnessed the strong rise of artistic products with a folk feel but expressed in contemporary language. A typical example is Hoa Minzy with the MV Thi Mau, inspired by ancient cheo but told through modern, colorful acting, music and images. The product quickly created a "fever" on social networks, attracting tens of millions of views, bringing the image of the Cheo character closer to young audiences.
With that trend, many young artists such as Hoang Thuy Linh, Bich Phuong, Truc Nhan or Duc Phuc... are also looking to incorporate Vietnamese folk culture into their music products. The MVs "De Mi Di Da Da Da" , "Tu Bo" , "See Tinh" by Hoang Thuy Linh are typical examples of the smooth combination of modern music and traditional materials.
Recently, the MV Bac Bling by a group of young artists (Hoa Minzy, Tuan Cry...) combined folk songs of the family in a modern EDM mix, creating an interesting intersection between tradition and new sound technology.
These creations not only arouse the love of heritage but also help folk culture "live" in the digital rhythm.
On platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Spotify... many folk melodies are remixed, covered, and spread at a dizzying speed. The ancient songs that seemed strange are now being hummed and recreated by the younger generation in their own way.
Expectations and challenges in the journey to preserve the soul of the nation
According to cultural experts, young artists' proactive search for their roots and incorporating folk materials into contemporary creations is a manifestation of maturity in artistic awareness and social responsibility.
The strong development of digital technology is both an opportunity and a test for cultural heritage. Folk melodies and ancient melodies need to be "digitized" systematically to survive long-term, while becoming an open source of documents for creators.
However, according to Professor - Dr. Le Hong Ly, the development of technology is also a big challenge for folk culture, because the space and living environment of folk culture are in rural villages. Due to the influence of strong international integration, rural areas are gradually urbanized, cultural and folk art spaces are gradually narrowing.
Therefore, in the coming years, there are many expectations that cooperation programs between young artists and the Vietnam Folk Arts Association will be implemented more strongly. Thereby, creating a "generational bridge" - a place where experience and folk knowledge are passed on to young creative classes, helping folk culture continue to be lively and flexibly adapt to modern life.
Sharing with Lao Dong Newspaper, Dr., cultural researcher Tung Hieu said: We should not consider folk culture as something old, but as a source that always flows in the souls of Vietnamese people. If told in a new language, it will continue to spread, inspire and become a source of pride in each artistic creation.
