Preserving Dao Folk Songs: Preserving Cultural Sounds Amid the Flow of Time

In the diverse cultural picture of Vietnam, Dao folk songs appear as a distinctive mark, reflecting a rich spiritual life and closely connected with traditional cultural features. Although rustic and simple, these melodies contain lasting strength, connecting generations and contributing to the identity of a community rich in tradition. Dao folk songs have two main genres, one for daily life and one associated with religious rituals. Among them, melodies such as Pao Dung or Cong Dung are a means of expressing feelings, at the same time carrying a philosophy of life and aspirations for a brighter future. Pao Dung, a love song of Dao boys and girls, often appears in festivals or weddings, where the lyrics become subtle confessions of love and a bridge connecting generations and communities. Meanwhile, Cong dung is full of contemplation, expressing contemplation of life, respect for ancestors and deep love for the homeland. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="800"] Not only limited to festivals, Dao folk songs are also present in daily life through gentle lullabies, innocent children's nursery rhymes, or labor songs with lively melodies, arousing the spirit of solidarity. All create a colorful picture of sound, vividly reflecting the soul of the community. However, in the midst of the modern vortex, those melodies are gradually being forgotten. Today's young generation has little contact with traditional melodies, partly because they are not fluent in their mother tongue, and partly because they lack an environment to practice and preserve them. Faced with this situation, artisans like Ms. Trieu Thi Binh, known as the "living folk song treasure", have made constant efforts to teach and preserve folk melodies. From noting and recording songs to organizing performances, Ms. Binh has contributed to maintaining the flow of traditional culture. Along with individual efforts, localities have also implemented many measures such as establishing Dao ethnic cultural clubs, organizing competitions and folk song festivals to spread heritage values. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="800"] Ms. Trieu Thi Binh talks about Dao ethnic folk songs. Photo: Collected[/caption] However, the preservation of folk songs does not stop at recording, noting or teaching, but needs to be closely linked with cultural and tourism activities to recreate the unique cultural space of the Dao people. Cultural tourism village models, where visitors can directly experience rituals, participate in folk song performances or learn how to make traditional costumes, will be a bridge to help the heritage get closer to the public. At the same time, schools need to actively integrate folk song education into extracurricular programs, creating conditions for the younger generation to understand, love and be proud of their ethnic culture. In the constant flow of time, Dao folk songs are like a precious gem, needing to be carefully preserved and protected. That is not only the responsibility of the Dao community, but also the common task of those who love and appreciate Vietnamese cultural identity. Those melodies, though simple, still carry within them a strong vitality, a reminder of the eternal value of culture in the heart of modernity.