Self-study lion dance from simple things
According to reporters' records, in the last days of the year, on the grounds in front of the Trade Center (located in Khanh Binh commune, An Giang province), drum beats are playing loudly, interspersed with the cheerful laughter of young children. A group of teenagers are engrossed in practicing lion dance movements.
Without gorgeous costumes or skillful acrobatics like professional lion dance troupes, the lion dance team here impresses with its innocence, loveliness and respectable self-learning spirit. Each movement, each drumbeat is the result of tinkering and learning through old videos, times watching lion dances perform at Tet markets or village festivals.
Nguyen Van Trang - a member of the lion and dragon dance team of Dinh Than Khanh Binh - said that the lion and dragon dance is because they gathered together because of passion, so they taught themselves to dance on Youtube. "To serve people celebrating spring and welcoming Binh Ngo Tet 2026, the team prepared and practiced about 1 month ago," Trang said.
Similarly, Pham Thanh Long said that because there are no formal teachers, they share roles: one drums, one holds the lion's head, one holds the tail. Each practice session is a test of mistakes, and then they correct together. Some days they practice until late at night, sweat soaks their clothes, but no one complains of fatigue.
From simple movements, now the lion dance team has learned to coordinate more rhythmically. Basic lion dances such as drum saluting, picking fortune, and bowing to the audience are practiced repeatedly by the children, with the desire to bring the most complete performance to the people during the Binh Ngo Tet 2026," said Long.
Children's Tet joy, beautiful memories of the countryside
In rural areas, lion dance is not only a fun activity but also a cultural feature associated with childhood memories of many generations. Images of young children following the lion dance troupe, the bustling drums in front of the house, the cheerful laughter... have become an indispensable part of Tet.
The appearance of the lion dance team at Dinh Than commune, Khanh Binh, made many elderly people moved. "Looking at the little ones dancing lion dances, I remember when I was young, I also followed the older ones to play drums and run around the neighborhood. Now the little ones still keep this, it's very precious," Mr. Nguyen Phi Long expressed.
According to Mr. Long, in the modern pace of life, when many traditional values are facing the risk of fading, the image of the lion dance team diligently practicing in the border countryside in An Giang has a special meaning. It is not only a story about the lion dance on Tet, but also a testament to the sustainable vitality of folk culture in rural life.
Mr. Nguyen Phi Long said that the lion dance team in Dinh Than commune, Khanh Binh may not be perfect in terms of technique, but it is the innocence, self-study spirit and love for traditional culture that create a unique attraction. From the still uneven drum beats, the still misaligned lion dance steps, the children are contributing to keeping the fire burning for a cultural beauty of Tet. When the sound of the lion drum echoes in the peaceful village space, it is not only a sound that signals the arrival of spring, but also a reminder of the value of community cohesion, of simple joy and of children's dreams growing up with Tet.
