The enthusiasm for Cheo singing (traditional Vietnamese opera) among the people has garnered significant support in Van Ha commune.
Situated in Dong Anh district, Van Ha is a locality with a vibrant cultural scene, prominently featuring Cheo singing.
Even amidst the busy lives of Van Ha’s residents, primarily engaged in agricultural work and carpentry, local artists, who are also farmers, eagerly devote their leisure time or summer holidays to rehearsing and embodying characters from Cheo tales. Onstage, they exude confidence, passionately singing the melodies of Cheo, bringing joy to the audience.
The captivating tunes and traditional Cheo excerpts, such as Tam Cam, Thach Sanh, Xuy Van, and Quan Am Thi Kinh, alongside performances depicting traditional festivals, and compositions aligned with the rhythmic patterns of the lunar calendar, evoke a profound connection with the spectators.
The people of Van Ha have also composed numerous new Cheo songs, including “Echoes of Van Ha’s Heart,” “Joyful Return to Cheo Singing,” and “Sending Sunshine to Ba Dinh.”
The community’s passion for Cheo has received substantial local support. The area has demonstrated a keen interest, emphasizing the preservation and promotion of the artistic value of Cheo as part of the local cultural heritage.
Initiatives like Resolution No. 41/NQ-HDND on December 19, 2018, from the 20th People’s Council of Van Ha Commune at its 9th meeting, and Scheme No. 03DA-UBND on December 10, 2018, from the People’s Committee of Van Ha Commune, focusing on the restoration, preservation, and promotion of the traditional folk performance art of Cheo in the period 2019-2025, have been actively implemented over the years. These efforts affirm the local commitment and support for the Cheo discipline.
Moreover, Van Ha commune collaborates annually with the Office of Culture and Sports in Dong Anh district to organize training courses for Cheo. In 2023, the Traditional Cheo Training Class in Van Ha commenced on September 15 and concluded on November 6, 2023. The class comprised 15 students, divided into two groups: the Basic Cheo Training Group and the Advanced Cheo Training Group.
The Van Ha Cheo Club’s reestablishment underscores the enduring love for Cheo among the commune’s officials and residents. As a result, the melodic tunes of Cheo performed by these farmer-artists in Van Ha resound during commemorations, anniversaries, and traditional local festivals.