Recently, a seminar on the preservation of “Don ca tai tu” in the industrialisation and integration process was held in Ho Chi Minh City.

Many researchers and authors said that a number of people associate “Don ca tai tu” with “cai luong”, the reformed theatre, and “vong co” singing, popular in the south-western region. Therefore, various restaurants and public bars hang panels to advertise “Don ca tai tu”, but “cai luong” and “vong co” singing are performed there, instead.

Moreover, restaurant owners have made use of “Don ca tai tu” to promote their restaurants while they know only a little about “Don ca tai tu”. These owners are often not natives of the South. Thus, they do not understand that “Don ca tai tu” is often performed outdoors, in the garden or on boat, not in a stuffy and noisy house.

In order to preserve the real “Don ca tai tu”, relevant agencies should keep an eye on such a modified “Don ca tai tu”. In addition, more advertising and promotions are needed to place “Don ca tai tu” in it right place and to bring it into full play.

According to researchers, preservation of the identity of “Don ca tai tu” must start off with a sound concept of it. Mixing other identities will distort the nature of “Don ca tai tu”.  

Another concern for the natural existence of “Don ca tai tu” is its successors. Over the past years, the South has hosted various “Don ca tai tu” festivals of different scales.

In the south-western region, mobile cultural boats have helped popularise and preserve “Don ca tai tu”. Nevertheless, “younger generations’ voices are good, but they sing quite superficially, not from their hearts”, Eminent Artist Truc Linh in Can Tho City sadly confided.

The artist was also worried about the playing of musical instruments. “Only a handful of young musical instrumentalists participated in recent “Don ca tai tu” festivals. To be a talented musical instrumentalist, indulgence is not enough. They must practice tirelessly”, stressed artist Truc Linh.

“It is not easy to have a youth who devotes to “Don ca tai tu” now. We often ask experienced instrumentalists and singers to take part in festivals”, said Trung Tin, a young artisan in Cai Rang Precinct, Can Tho City.

As to the vision of “Don ca tai tu”, Prof. Dr Tran Van Khe stressed that “Don ca tai tu” is the ‘soul of the South’s culture’. It will never be lost into oblivion or disappear. The most important thing is that “Don ca tai tu” must be preserved and developed and prevented from being mutated into new forms. To do that, suitable playgrounds for “Don ca tai tu” must be created, instead of just several festivals or competitions.