Preserving the Countryside’s Soul Through the Duc Bac Trong Quan Melodies

“Từ sớm a đến giờ đào đi đâu?/Từ sớm a đến giờ/Để cho mà anh đợi, anh chờ, anh mong/Kia hỡi í a trống quân...”

These rustic lyrics have for generations echoed across the peaceful lands along the Lo River, becoming a familiar melody in the spiritual life of the people in Duc Bac, Song Lo District. Far beyond a unique form of folk performance, Trong Quan singing of Duc Bac is a cultural “specialty,” crystallizing the soul and identity of the communities in the Northern Midland region. Through the shifting tides of time, these melodies are still fiercely preserved by the locals as a vital part of their homeland’s flesh and blood, extending the historical currents of national culture.

In 2019, Duc Bac Trong Quan singing was formally inscribed on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. This was not only a grand recognition of its unique folk art value but also a source of immense pride for the local community.

A stage performance showcasing the National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Duc Bac Trong Quan Singing at the 2026 Street Folk Culture Festival.

According to ancient lore passed down through generations, there was once a little girl born to her mother following a divine dream. As she grew up, she joined Ba Trung to fight foreign invaders, proclaiming herself Princess Nuong. Returning victorious from the battlefield, she suddenly ascended to the heavens on the lands of Ke Lep by the banks of the Lo River. Witnessing this, the people of Ke Lep crossed over to Phu Ninh to ask for her name to build a sacred shrine. Since then, the two riverfront villages of Phu Ninh and Duc Bac forged a sacred bond of sworn brotherhood. Every year, the people of Duc Bac welcome residents from Phu Ninh across the river to perform rituals worshipping the Four Maidens, praying for supreme happiness and peace. The Trong Quan melodies were born from this very bond.

Duc Bac Trong Quan singing is a folk cultural performance that seamlessly blends singing with dancing, carrying the distinct and standalone colors of the Northern Midland region. It possesses a clear, coherent, and rhythmic tempo strictly tied to the beats of festive drums. Popular melodies within the Duc Bac Trong Quan repertoire include hat trong quan - don dao (welcoming the female singers), hat mo ca (mimicking fish catching), hat dum (love duets), and xin hoa do chu (asking for flowers and guessing characters).

Free from elaborate musical instruments or theatrical staging, Trong Quan charms audiences through its sheer rusticity and closeness. Performers utilize lyrics to engage in a battle of wits and duets, conveying their innermost thoughts, affection, and quick-witted responses. Each verse vividly reflects the laborers' daily lives, their love for the homeland, village solidarity, and their shared yearning for a prosperous and happy life.

The most fascinating highlight remains the courtship duets that unfold during the Spring, intimately tied to the fertility-praying festival at Duc Bac Communal House. The festival opens up on the spacious riverbanks of Duc Bac Village. Female singers from Phu Ninh cross the Lo River to engage in witty singing duets with the young men of Duc Bac. Upon stepping ashore, they stand shoulder to shoulder, marching forward while singing in a joyful and bustling atmosphere. The female singers wear a small drum across their chests, crafted meticulously by the young men’s own hands. Face to face, the couples move in harmony—the women stepping backward while the men advance; their voices blend perfectly with the rhythmic drumbeats all the way to the doors of the communal house.

The true magic of Duc Bac Trong Quan lies in this sharp, humorous, yet profoundly humane impromptu dueling. Singers must not only master the traditional tunes but also possess a quick mind to improvise lyrics on the spot, creating a natural and graceful conversation. After each verse delivered by the female (dao) or male (kep) singers, the familiar refrain echoes: “Oh, listen to the echo of the trong quan...”, weaving a seamless, fluid rhythm deep with folk spirit.

Musically, Duc Bac Trong Quan features short, fast, and powerful melodies that align closely with the daily speech patterns of local laborers. The tunes are typically written in 2/4 time with a signature syncopated rhythm, evoking a robust, healthy, yet deeply tender and soulful feel. These melodies carry strong accents of fertility rituals and a profound desire for proliferation and prosperity among agricultural residents along the Lo River banks.

To safeguard and promote the value of this national intangible cultural heritage, armed with love and responsibility toward ancestral legacies, numerous artisans and local residents persistently keep these homeland melodies alive. From communal house yards and cultural centers to school classrooms, the sounds of Trong Quan resonate during festivals, the Great Solidarity Day, and cultural exchange programs. Many senior artisans proactively open classes to pass down the techniques to the commune’s teenagers, with a passionate wish to transmit this heritage to future generations, ensuring that the echoes of Trong Quan in the rural lands of Duc Bac will sing out for eternity.

Phuong Thanh