Building on the success of the Hanoi Young Ca Tru Talent Festivals held in 2016, 2019, and 2022, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports opened the 4th Hanoi Ca Tru Festival 2025 on the morning of September 27 at the Hanoi Museum.
In her opening remarks, Le Thi Anh Mai, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, noted that this year marks 16 years since Ca Tru was inscribed by UNESCO on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Since that recognition, public awareness and appreciation of Ca Tru have grown significantly, affirming its rare artistic value while also underscoring the urgency of preservation.
In recent years, Hanoi has actively implemented measures to safeguard and promote the value of Ca Tru. Notably, in 2022, the Hanoi People’s Council issued Resolution No. 23/2022/NQ-HDND (December 8, 2022), introducing policies on support and recognition for “People’s Artists,” “Meritorious Artists,” master artisans, and exemplary clubs engaged in the city’s intangible cultural heritage.
Hanoi currently has the highest number of artisans nationwide honored with the titles “People’s Artisan” and “Meritorious Artisan” in intangible cultural heritage, including Ca Tru performance arts. Across the three rounds of national recognition in 2015, 2019, and 2022, 32 Ca Tru artisans (8 People’s Artisans and 24 Meritorious Artisans) were awarded these distinctions.
This year’s festival brings together 21 groups and clubs with more than 100 performers of varying ages, presenting outstanding performances that continue the vibrant legacy of this representative heritage of humanity.
Contestants range from 8 to 86 years old, coming from Ca Tru clubs across Hanoi or practicing independently. Including assistants and accompanists, the festival involves over 200 participants.
In addition to general judging criteria such as attire, performance space, and ensemble harmony, each competition category has specific standards. Above all, adherence to proper styles, forms, and traditional structures remains the core criterion across all categories.
With careful preparation and a broader scale, the 2025 Hanoi Ca Tru Festival is expected to discover new talented dao nuong (female vocalists), kep dan (instrumentalists), and trong chau performers, furthering the legacy of preservation and revitalization passed down by previous generations.
The festival takes place on September 27 and 28, with competition sessions scheduled at 8:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The closing ceremony and awards presentation will be held tomorrow afternoon (September 28).
This event serves as an important platform for exchange and learning, helping nurture young talent while reaffirming the enduring vitality of Ca Tru in contemporary cultural life.
Thu Trang