Policy push to unlock Hai Phong’s traditional music potential
o ensure the sustainable development of traditional music and realise its ambition of becoming a “City of Music,” Hai Phong needs a strong incentive mechanism - a new cultural lever to unlock its vast musical heritage.
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A vast treasury of traditional music
Following athe merger, Hai Phong now has a population of nearly 4.7 million across more than 3,000 sq km, spanning coastal, mountainous and delta regions. The city is known as a land of imperial origins and the birthplace of many distinguished historical figures, scholars and cultural icons.
Hai Phong is home to numerous cultural heritages of international significance and nationally recognized special relics, along with a rich and diverse treasury of folk culture and traditional music. The city’s water puppetry has built a strong reputation and has been honored at national and international arts festivals.
Traditional cheo has deep roots in Hai Phong. Despite historical changes, cheo singing and folk music clubs remain active across communes, wards and special administrative areas. The city currently has around 200 cheo clubs, 12 ca tru clubs with nearly 200 members, and nearly 10 hat dum clubs.
These clubs operate regularly and contribute to a vibrant grassroots cultural life. In annual amateur performing arts festivals at various levels, cheo and folk music performances account for around 80–85% of entries.
In schools, many institutions have introduced “school theatre” programs, opened classes in singing and performing cheo.
Traditional music in Hai Phong remains vibrant and widely embraced. From village festivals to major city events, traditional music is regularly staged. Large-scale cultural programs, including street festivals and themed events, feature elaborate performances combining music and dance.
Alongside modern music, traditional music continues to play a significant role in the cultural and spiritual life of local communities, contributing to national development and protection.
Calls for a “music incentive” mechanism
The question remains how to preserve, sustain and further develop traditional music, as Hai Phong advances its plan to become a “City of Music.”
Long known as the “Flamboyant City,” Hai Phong has left a lasting impression on both domestic and international visitors. With its rich cultural heritage, including internationally recognized sites and national treasures, the ambition to become a “City of Music” is expected to contribute to cultural and human development.
Training in the arts, particularly traditional forms, requires significant investment in time and funding. Musical training for cheo, tuong, ca tru, hat van and water puppetry is highly specialized and resource-intensive.
While initiatives such as agricultural and educational promotion have long been implemented, there are growing calls for a similar “music incentive” mechanism in Hai Phong, with clear policies on training, funding, human resources and cultural infrastructure.
Such a mechanism is expected to provide momentum toward achieving the city’s “City of Music” goal.
Alongside establishing a music competency framework, the development of a music industry in Hai Phong is expected to be closely linked with tourism, sports and cultural destinations.
Tourism products could incorporate traditional music experiences, offering visitors opportunities to enjoy traditional music performances on rivers, as well at cultural venues.
Hai Phong’s musical landscape is both diverse and distinctive, reflecting a convergence of the open, dynamic spirit of a port city with the depth and refinement of the traditional culture of the eastern region.
Hai Phong News