Families keep Vietnamese bai choi tradition alive across generations

Follow Gia Lai Newspaper on Google News

(GLO) – In Gia Lai province, families are preserving the centuries-old folk art of bài chòi, turning it into a living cultural legacy.

From island communities to mainland towns, generations are nurturing the melodies, ensuring the tradition continues to resonate with future audiences.

gia-dinh-bai-choi-di-san.jpg
Meritorious Artist Trần Hữu Phước and artist Lê Thị Hoa performing bài chòi for tourists at Nguyễn Tất Thành Square (Quy Nhơn Ward). Photo: Nguyễn Dũng

On Cù Lao Xanh island, artists Trần Hữu Phước and Lê Thị Hoa (both born 1968) exemplify this devotion.

Raised on the island, they grew up with bài chòi melodies and met through the commune’s cultural performance team.

The family of Meritorious Artist Trần Hữu Phước often sings and practices bài chòi together. Video: Dũng Nhân

Their shared passion for the rustic verses not only forged a lasting marriage but also fueled their mission to sustain the heritage.

gia-dinh-bai-choi-2.jpg
Meritorious Artist Phạm Thị Phương Nga and Nguyễn Đình Đa are a well-matched performing duo. Photo: Provided by subject

Their eldest son, Trần Huệ Thiện, now performs alongside them, while the family has founded a children’s bài chòi club, nurturing dozens of young island performers.

“We hope our children and grandchildren not only listen but also perform bài chòi, so its melodies will continue to resonate in our homeland for generations to come,” Phước said.

Hoa added that passion drives their dedication, noting that distance and travel are never obstacles: “If there’s no bus, we’ll take a boat.”

gia-dinh-bai-choi-4.jpg
According to Mrs. Hoa, the greatest joy for an artist is to perform and serve the audience. Photo: Nguyễn Dũng

On the mainland, families in An Nhơn Nam and Tuy Phước communes are similarly sustaining the tradition.

Artists Phạm Thị Phương Nga (born 1972) and Nguyễn Đình Đa (born 1971) are a celebrated performing duo and teachers of local youth.

gia-dinh-bai-choi-3.jpg
Families devoted to bài chòi often gather to share their passion and serve fellow enthusiasts. Photo: Provided by subject

In Tuy Phước, Huỳnh Thị Điệp (born 1972) and Trần Đình Dư (born 1973) began performing together after a district revival program in 2016.

Their daughter, Trần Thị Như Long (13), has already won the promising actor award at the 2024 district folk Bài Chòi festival, inspired by her parents’ dedication.

gia-dinh-bai-choi-7-761.jpg
The family of Điệp and Dư also frequently participates in community programs. Photo: Nguyễn Dũng

Across these family “bài chòi homes,” traditional verses have become more than performance art, they are a bond connecting generations.

Families rehearse, perform, and teach, ensuring that the melodies of Bình Định remain vibrant, educational, and entertaining.

You may be interested

Class Without Walls: A Fun-Filled Camping Experience

Class without walls: A fun-filled camping trip!

This week's "Class Without Walls" program will join the children of Son Ca Kindergarten (Quy Nhon North Ward) for a camping experience designed to help them develop essential life skills. Through lively outdoor activities, the children will naturally learn teamwork and environmental awareness.

Ia Pết Wind Power

Captivated by the Ia Pết Wind Farm

(GLO) – The Ia Pet wind farm in Ia Bang commune, Gia Lai province, with its towering wind turbines standing majestically against the sky, creates a landscape that is both grand and poetic. This impressive scene captivates visitors and awakens the spirit of exploration in anyone who sets foot here.

Amateur swimmer: The pride of Gia Lai school sports

Amateur swimmer: The pride of Gia Lai school sports

Although not a professional athlete, student Nguyễn Hoàng Khôi Nguyên has made a name for himself at numerous swimming competitions. His achievements mark a proud milestone for school sports in Gia Lai, especially in a discipline that has yet to become a regional strength in the Central Highlands.

Eo Gió-Quy Nhon East

Eo Gió—A majestic natural landscape

(GLO) – Eo Gió (Quy Nhơn East Ward) is an ideal tourist destination for watching the sunrise and sunset, strolling along the mountain-side paths, and capturing “Instagram-worthy” photos with the vast sea and sky as your backdrop.

An Tuong launches the "Digital Family" movement

An Tuong launches the "digital family" movement

The first “Digital family” model in Gia Lai province has just been launched in An Tuong commune. This initiative is identified as a foundational solution to realize the goal of building a digital government, digital citizens, and a digital society at the grassroots level.

Spreading community responsibility for education in Gia Lai

Spreading community responsibility for education in Gia Lai

(GLO) – In Gia Lai, many students still face significant challenges on their journey to school. The support of businesses and the community has become an invaluable resource, helping schools in disadvantaged areas remain steadfast in their mission to nurture and educate future generations.

The heritage banyan tree in Ghe Village

The heritage banyan tree in Ghe Village

(GLO) – For more than two centuries, an ancient banyan tree has spread its wide canopy, providing shade for generations of residents in Ghe village (Ia Dơk commune). More than just a tree, it stands as a sacred symbol, intertwined with the village’s memories, customs, and folk tales.

"Autumn" on Ngo Son paddy field

"Autumn" on Ngo Son paddy field

In the Central Highlands, the Ngô Sơn rice fields (Biển Hồ commune) are bustling with harvest season activity. The scent of ripe rice drifts on the breeze, while the hum of harvesters blends with farmers’ laughter, creating a vibrant and lively scene of labor on the fertile basalt soil.

null