Remembering and Reviving Vietnam’s Ca Tru Singing · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Đoan Trang interviews Pho Kim Duc, a famous ca tru (sung poetry) vocalist in Vietnam in the 1940s.
Kim Duc said ca tru is a very noble form of art. “It’s is not just singing but also poetry. Whoever with a taste for poetry will love ca tru to find it highly developed, elegant, and court.” She said only since the colonial administration became lavish in granting licenses, allowing a rash of new inns owned by wealthy people, did dao ruou (wine maidens) appear and tarnish the reputation of ca tru.
Ca tru is listed in UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.