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Remembering and Reviving Vietnam's Ca Tru Singing

Categories: East Asia, Vietnam, Arts & Culture, History, Music

Đoan Trang interviews [1] 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 [2] in UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.