Vietnamese Schools Introduce Free Don Ca Tai Tu Classes to Youth

Ho Chi Minh City has launched free 'Don Ca Tai Tu' (Southern Vietnamese folk music) classes for nearly 150 students at Bùi Thị Xuân High School, with one session per week. At the club's inauguration ceremony on September 7, Principal Huỳnh Thanh Phú announced that a group of students, randomly selected from two 11th-grade classes and one 10th-grade class, would pilot the program before it expands to the entire school. Other interested students, teachers, and parents can also join every Saturday afternoon from 3 PM to 5 PM. Over 30 artisans and artists from the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Practice and Transmission of Don Ca Tai Tu, in coordination with the Ho Chi Minh City Theatre Association, will provide direct instruction. According to Mr. Phú, Don Ca Tai Tu is an intangible cultural heritage representative of humanity but is not widely known among the youth. The school club aims to introduce students to a traditional art form of the nation. Master artist Phạm Thị Tuyết (stage name Thanh Tuyết), who has been in the profession for 40 years, expressed her enthusiasm, stating her concern that the art form might fade if not preserved and disseminated. 'Don Ca Tai Tu expresses joy and sorrow, the full spectrum of emotions. We will adapt our teaching methods and melodies to suit different age groups,' the artist added. Phạm Tuấn Minh, an 11th-grade student, watched the artists perform attentively and found it quite interesting. 'I will learn to know more about this art form,' he said. Resolution 71 of the Politburo, issued in August 2025, on the development of education and training, calls for 'ensuring harmony between universality and essence, comprehensiveness and specialization, nationality and globality; developing education on the foundation of the culture and traditional values of the nation.' Subsequently, the Ministry of Education and Training guided provinces and cities to invite experts, artisans, artists, coaches, and athletes to teach in general education schools. Teachers will be responsible for leading and managing classes, while experts and artists will provide specialized knowledge, unique skills, and practical experience. Learning formats can be diverse, including thematic sessions, workshops, training, performances, competitions, and traditional craft exchanges.