Authorities in the northern province of Phu Tho have proposed a project worth VND196 billion (USD9.31 million) to preserve hat Xoan or Xoan singing through 2020.
Xoan singing at Thet Temple in Phu Tho Province’s Kim Duc Commune
The project was discussed at a seminar in Hanoi on July 12.
Statistics from the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism showed that currently 18% of the population in Phu Tho understands the concept of Xoan singing and about half of this, or roughly 9%, can sing these folk songs.
The project aims to increase such rates to 30% and 10% in 2015 and to 40% and 15% by 2020, respectively.
To this end, they proposed creating programmes to teach Xoan sining at all basic education levels.
As a result, preschool students will learn stories, poems, words and phrases related to Xoan singing.
Students of primary and secondary education should learn to sing the songs while high school students should hold a Xoan singing festival or receive extra lessons about these folk songs.
The project, however, has stirred up public controversy. In addition to those who support the project, others are still doubtful.
Associate Prof. Le Hong Ly, Deputy Director of the Institute for Cultural Research said, “We should focus on the effort to preserve a UNESCO-recognised World Intangible Cultural Heritage instead of popularising such folk singing. It seems that this project is attempting to propagandise Xoan singing in Phu Tho.”
As the national targeted programme on culture plans to fund only some hundred million VND for the preservation of Xoan singing, many experts have raised concerns over the feasibility of the project as it requires a major investment.
Prof. To Ngoc Thanh said Xoan singing is an important and inseparable part of Hung King worshiping beliefs. Therefore, local authorities should combine the preservation of these two UNESCO-recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage programmes in one common programme in order to save expenses and increase its feasibility.
