"The country's melody" and the hearts of soldiers and artists

One early autumn day in August, in a small room on the second floor of the lecture hall of the Military University of Culture and Arts, General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, we were fortunate to listen to Lieutenant Colonel, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Thuy play the monochord. Without any elaborate preparation, she just tilted her head slightly, placed her hand lightly on the instrument and then the melody of the piece "The Country's Melody" (Xuan Khai) began to resonate. Sometimes gentle, sometimes shrill, sometimes surging fiercely, the sound of the instrument took the listener along the endless flow of the nation's history.

Lieutenant Colonel, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Thuy guides students in practicing the monochord. Photo: Provided by the character

A slender, seemingly simple string, through the talented hands of the female artist, suddenly transforms into a thousand levels of emotion. The listener is not only convinced by the skillful technique, the fingers vibrating, pressing, and stroking with unbelievable precision, but also by the soul she puts into each note. The sound of the monochord under her hands both retains the traditional spirit and breathes a modern breath, so that the listener feels both familiar and new, as if encountering something familiar, but shining with new vitality.

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Thuy, Faculty of Ethnic and Mountainous Arts, University of Military Culture and Arts, performs a solo performance of the monochord. Photo: NVCC

She said that many times when performing abroad, international friends were extremely surprised when they first heard about the monochord, a musical instrument with only one string that tells a long story about Vietnamese culture. The applause and emotional eyes became the motivation for her to believe that: If traditional music is delivered with all the heart, it will never be lost among the myriad of sounds of the world. For her, each international tour is a milestone, a time when she not only performs for herself but also carries national pride. "Traditional music is the language for international friends to better understand Vietnamese identity," Ms. Thuy confided.

The journey to keep the passion

Nguyen Thi Thuy's artistic path began very early. When she was not yet 6 years old, while her friends were still babbling, little Thuy was taught the notes of the monochord by her father, her first teacher, orally. The father sang, the child searched for the strings, and tapped along to each verse. Those innocent lessons were often associated with melodies about Uncle Ho: "Who loves Uncle Ho Chi Minh more than children", "Like having Uncle Ho in the great victory day"... The image of her father patiently teaching, along with her uncle who was studying monochord at the Hue Music School and practicing the instrument every time he returned home, planted a special passion in the little girl's soul.

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Thuy (5th from left, front row) participated in the 2017 Traditional Instrument Solo and Ensemble Festival. Photo: Provided by the character

At the age of 6, little Thuy was taken by her father to take the entrance exam to the Hanoi Conservatory of Music (now the Vietnam National Academy of Music). The journey of more than 500km from Quang Binh to Hanoi was arduous, requiring many days of driving, lacking everything, but her love for the monochord helped her overcome everything. Back then, Thuy practiced the instrument 6-7 hours a day, to the point that her fingers were swollen and bleeding, but she was never discouraged. In her memory, the image of her mother riding her bicycle to school, then patiently waiting in the sun and wind, has always been the motivation for Thuy to persistently pursue the monochord for 16 consecutive years, from elementary school to university.

Later, when she became a professional artist, Thuy sometimes felt wavering when she saw her friends choosing more “trendy” paths with higher incomes. But every time she stood on stage and saw the tearful eyes of her compatriots in remote areas when they first heard the monochord, she believed her choice was the right one. For her, the monochord had become a part of her flesh and blood, and she could not leave it.

The one who sows the seeds and keeps the fire burning for the sound of the monochord

With over 20 years of experience in the military arts environment, Lieutenant Colonel, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Thuy is both a performing artist and a dedicated lecturer. For her, “every piece played on the monochord is a story. To be able to tell it, the player must love what they are telling.” That is the philosophy she always conveys to her students. Thanks to that, many generations of students have found their love for traditional music and chosen to stick with the profession.

Outside of class, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Thuy spends a lot of time preparing lesson plans and doing scientific research. Photo taken at the end of August 2025.

Not only teaching, she also diligently researches, writes textbooks, papers, books and newspapers to preserve and spread the value of this unique musical instrument. Her students affectionately call her “Miss Thuy Xiu”, who not only teaches the instrument but also instills in them pride in the national cultural heritage. “Miss Xiu teaches us to love and cherish what seems to be old”, said Nguyen Hoang Yen, a student of the K1 University Class, Faculty of Ethnic and Mountainous Arts, Military University of Culture and Arts.

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Thuy always puts all her heart into her classes. Photo: Provided by the character

Interestingly, her class now includes not only professional art students, but also students from the Political Officer School. At first, they came to the monochord out of curiosity, then gradually fell in love with its sound, considering it a way to foster their love for their homeland. Many students also participate in performances in the band of the school where they study, contributing to bringing the monochord closer to life.

Ms. Thuy believes that the good news is that the Dan Bau is also being "renewed" by the younger generation today when combined with Western musical instruments, pop music, and electronic music. This East-West fusion shows that traditional musical instruments can completely integrate while still maintaining their identity. In the classroom, she both teaches theory and "holds hands to show how", so that students can feel the simplicity and depth of the one-stringed instrument. For her, the Dan Bau is not a museum display. It lives thanks to those who dare to love, dare to commit, and dare to pass on the fire. And she is one of the artists who has spent her youth quietly keeping the fire burning for the Dan Bau sound.

The long sound of the zither with Vietnamese identity

Artist Nguyen Thi Thuy believes: "If you love your job, it will not fail you." The path of traditional music is full of hardships, long training, few people accept it, low income... but she still steadfastly goes to the end. That dedication is recognized by many awards: Certificate of Merit from the Director of the General Department of Politics (2017), the title of Meritorious Artist conferred by the President (2019), many years as an excellent teacher, Emulation Fighter at the grassroots level...

Lieutenant Colonel, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Thuy with a concerto of the monochord and piano.

However, for her, the greatest happiness lies not in the title, but in the times when she sees her students shine on stage. Each time like that, she believes that the monochord will never lose its vitality. Especially in the age of technology, when modern musical instruments cover all stages, at some moment, the monochord still becomes a spiritual support, bringing people back to their national roots.

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Thuy (yellow shirt) with her monochord, regularly participates in folk music concerts.

Artists and soldiers like Lieutenant Colonel, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Thuy, through their tireless teaching and performing, have become a bridge between the past and the present. Her monochord is not only music, but also the identity and soul of Vietnam. Like a bee diligently contributing honey, female artist Nguyen Thi Thuy has devoted her youth and passion to the one-stringed instrument, a special instrument, one of a kind in the world. And from those silent vibrations, the monochord still resonates, continuing the story of national culture with fragile yet resilient sounds.

Article and photos: NGUYEN HONG SANG

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/ky-su/trung-ta-nghe-si-uu-tu-nguyen-thi-thuy-truong-dai-hoc-van-hoa-nghe-thuat-quan-doi-gui-tieng-long-qua-cay-dan-bau-845065