Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee has approved the funding of over VND6.7 billion to preserve and promote the values Bài Chòi from present to 2023. The provincial departments, sectors and localities will carry out seven tasks in order to bring positive changes to the practice of this traditional cultural art form in Khanh Hoa.
Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee has approved the funding of over VND6.7 billion to preserve and promote the values Bài Chòi from present to 2023. The provincial departments, sectors and localities will carry out seven tasks in order to bring positive changes to the practice of this traditional cultural art form in Khanh Hoa.
Bài Chòi is a folk game which is specific to the central coastal region in Vietnam. The value of this folk game is enhanced by folk songs and the lyrics with unique contents to describe 27 cards used to play Bài Chòi. The practice of Bài Chòi in Central Vietnam, including Khanh Hoa Province, was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Bài Chòi is often played on the occasions of Lunar New Year and festivals. Some Bài Chòi artists have tried to teach this art form to young people. “The three generations in my family know how to sing Bài Chòi songs. I am very happy that my children and grandchildren have grown fond of Bài Chòi and followed family tradition. Although the income from Bài Chòi performance is not much, we are happy to sing Bài Chòi and bring happiness to people,” said Bài Chòi artist Le Thi Yen (aged 71, Vinh Luong Commune, Nha Trang City).
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In recent ten years, Khanh Hoa Province’s cultural sector has carried out many activities to preserve Bài Chòi, such as opening classes teaching Bài Chòi to hundreds of people in many localities over the province. Many artists and people working in cultural field have been equipped with basic knowledge about the process of establishment and development of Bài Chòi. Additionally, Bài Chòi has been introduced to schools’ teachers and pupils. The province also often holds Bài Chòi festival at 2-4 Square on lunar New Year and festival occasions.
However, the preservation of Bài Chòi has not been implemented synchronously and comprehensively; Bài Chòi has not been practiced widely. Artist Nguyen Thi Kim Chi (Phu Loc Dong 3 residential group, Dien Khanh District) hopes that there will be more Bài Chòi shows to be organized in the future.
Under the project for preserving and promoting the values of Bài Chòi approved by Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, relevant sectors and localities will be responsible for carrying out many specific tasks to promote this folk art form. The province will compile and issue publications and documents about Bài Chòi; restore places to perform Bài Chòi; create conditions for organizations and artists to practice, create new works, and teach Bài Chòi; introduce art values of Bài Chòi of Khanh Hoa Province in schools and through tourism activities.
In around three years, the province’s sectors and localities have to finish seven main tasks, which are introducing Bài Chòi on the mass media with content and forms suitable to local conditions; restoring all songs and relevant features of Bài Chòi; arrange place to play Bài Chòi game in Ninh Hoa Town and maintain this activity; collect and document information and objects relating to Bài Chòi. In addition, the province will hold Bài Chòi shows at schools in Van Ninh District, Dien Khanh District, Cam Lam District, Ninh Hoa Town, Nha Trang City, and Cam Ranh City; conduct researches to improve quality and effectiveness of preservation of and upholding Bài Chòi; boosting the introduction and promotion of Bài Chòi to tourism agencies, domestic and foreign tourists
The project aims to mobilize all resources of the whole society to protect, preserve and promote the values of Bài Chòi, according to Le Van Hoa, deputy director of Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Culture and Sports. The department will be responsible and cooperate with other departments, sectors, and localities to implement the project.
Giang Đinh
Translated by H.N
