The network of practices is expanded, research and teaching are promoted
Before the merger, Ho Chi Minh City (old) witnessed the strong development of football clubs: From 97 clubs with 1,133 members in 2011 to 292 clubs and more than 3,000 participants in 2020. The COVID-19 epidemic caused disruption, the number of practitioners decreased to more than 1,100 in 2022, but the movement recovered rapidly in the period of 2023-2024.
After the merger, the network continues to be strengthened with 282 clubs and 3,190 participants, including 5 People's Artists and 26 Meritorious Artists - the core force to preserve traditional cultural spaces.
Along with maintaining the movement, the city has stepped up research and document collection. The Department of Culture and Sports coordinated with musician Kieu Tan to publish a seminar "Learning about the music of the actor and the cai luong, the ancient bridge - the keyboard", the history of formation system, performance techniques and musical instruments of the actor's music.
Many rare artifacts have been donated to the City Museum, such as the documentary collection of the late People's Artist Nguyen Tan Nhi in 2023 or the horn of People's Artist Pham Cong Ty - the musical instrument he used in Baku when Vietnam submitted his coronation file to UNESCO. Some artisans such as Le Hoang Tan also opened private exhibition spaces, helping the community access original documents closely.
The Department of Education and Training has organized training on talented singing skills for music teachers, and at the same time encouraged schools to include traditional art content in class hours through listening - watching activities, practicing playing musical instruments and singing improvised folk songs.
From the 2025 - 2026 school year, the content of actresses and actresses will be integrated into the local education program, to help students have basic knowledge and gradually form practical skills.
Vocational training classes for artisans such as Ut Ty, Truong Giang, Hoang Tan, Minh Duc, Thanh Tuyet or the Nhat Dung - Kim Loan couple of artisans are still maintained regularly.
Southern actor's art of Song of the Year continues in the context of modernization
Music programs on television and radio continue to play an important role in bringing talented singers to the public. Ho Chi Minh City Television maintains programs such as "Vang Trang Truyen Thuc", "Ao Dai Phuong Sa", "Tay Tu Bao Thuong", "Nghe Mai Trong Vang", creating a playground for artisans and talented artists. Ho Chi Minh City Radio still organizes the "Golden Rice" contest - a playground over 30 years old, contributing to nurturing many Cai Luong faces and spreading the love of music to a large audience.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the awarded Song of the Year recognized by UNESCO, many communication activities were launched such as documentaries about Meritorious Artist Huynh Khai, topics on HTV and reporting systems on social platforms, helping to raise public awareness of heritage values.
In tourism exploitation, some localities have formed performance locations associated with cultural and commercial spaces such as the talent show at Binh Tay market, Ho Chi Minh City or the exchange space at Nha Co - Dang Xua coffee shop.
The Department of Culture and Sports is studying and building fixed performance locations at the City Cultural - Exhibition Center and some districts, aiming to form a cultural tourism product with the identity of the South. However, to become a stable "destination", more resources, planning and inter-sectoral coordination are needed.
In the context of rapid urbanization, the young actor faces both opportunities and challenges. Ho Chi Minh City aims to limit conservation to maintaining form by 2030, but focus on quality, depth and influence, so that this type of more than 100-year-old can continue to maintain its position in the Southern cultural value system during the integration period.
