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Heritage within the historical site.
For over five years, with the support of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, the Ho Chi Minh City Traditional Opera Theatre has organized hundreds of free traditional opera performances at historical sites within the city. When art is "wrapped" in its proper cultural context, the spirit of history blends into contemporary life.
Historical stories were told one after another in front of the Hung King Temple.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Head of the Performance Organization Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Traditional Opera Theatre, said that in recent years, performances have mainly been held at the Le Van Duyet Mausoleum and the Hung King Temple (located in the Saigon Zoo). These two historical sites offer spacious and ideal locations for people to both visit and enjoy traditional opera. A special feature is that the performances incorporate knowledge about this art form through activities such as viewing the performance, coloring masks, and interacting with the artists.
With each performance, people gain more knowledge, such as the fact that traditional Vietnamese opera (Hát Bội) originated around the 10th-14th centuries, during the Dinh, Ly, and Tran dynasties. Initially, Hát Bội was just a rudimentary folk performance. By the 17th-18th centuries, it developed strongly, gradually perfecting its form and performance techniques. Beyond being a theatrical art form, it is also closely linked to the religious beliefs and traditional festivals of the Vietnamese people.
This excerpt depicts the talented general Do Thanh Nhan, who was unjustly killed due to false accusations during the Nguyen dynasty. Through these anecdotes, traditional Vietnamese opera (hat boi) educates people about good qualities, emphasizing humanity, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness.
The movements of traditional Vietnamese opera performers often seamlessly combine martial arts and folk dance.
Traditional Vietnamese opera (Hát bội) is distinguished by its meticulously applied, colorful facial makeup. Each color symbolizes the character's personality and destiny. The performance combines martial arts and folk dance, reflecting the yin-yang and strength-softness philosophies of Eastern culture.
With the growing popularity of experiential tourism, these performances have opened up an opportunity for tourists to have a deeper experience, contributing to the spread of the beauty of a local art form.
Hundreds of enthusiastic fans flock to historical sites to watch traditional Vietnamese opera every weekend.
Preserving the "soul" of heritage through enduring presence.
According to Mr. Binh, at the Saigon Zoo alone, free traditional opera performances are almost always sold out. The consistent presence of these performances at these historical sites over the past five years has created a habit of enjoying traditional art every weekend for the people. Many even don't mind sitting on the floor or enduring the heat to fully enjoy the performance.
Besides enjoying the performance, the audience also gets to practice some basic traditional opera techniques under the guidance of the artists.
When traditional art reaches the audience, it is also when cultural heritage is preserved and promoted.
Among the crowds in the stands, there were elderly people who came to enjoy traditional opera because it evoked memories of the past. But there were also many young people who came out of curiosity, wanting to seriously learn about one of the art forms that embodies the soul of the nation. They listened attentively and boldly stepped onto the stage to learn how to perform traditional opera.
Many young people "learn" about traditional Vietnamese opera by coloring opera masks.
Nguyen Thanh Tot (24 years old) shared: “When I had the opportunity to go on stage and experience the movements of horseback riding, rowing boats… in the mannerisms of traditional Vietnamese opera, I felt very proud. That was a moment when I felt that traditional opera was very close and touched me deeply. That motivates young people like me to preserve and promote this art form.”
Costumes and photographs of characters from traditional Vietnamese opera are also on display, helping audiences to better understand this art form.
Bringing traditional Vietnamese opera closer to the audience is not only a reminder of a centuries-old traditional art form, but also an opportunity to evoke love for the enduring values that have shaped the Vietnamese people for thousands of years. It is also a way to ensure that this heritage does not lie dormant in memory, but continues to take root and flourish in contemporary life.
