Vietnamese chau van ritual singing.— Photo dulichnamdinh

NAM DINH (VNS) — Audiences from the northern province of Nam Dinh were treated to a performance of Vietnamese chau van ritual singing and Korean saenam gut at the Van Cat Temple last night.

Originating from the Song Hong (Red River) Delta region and Nam Dinh Province, chau van, also known as hat van and hat bong, is a ritual form of art that combines singing and dancing. It is often performed in ritual ceremonies to honour the Mother Goddess and Saint Tran [Tran Hung Dao].

Meanwhile, saenam gut is heard in God worshipping rites in Korea.

Dozens of Vietnamese and Korean artists have performed at the event, which has been held annually by the Viet Nam's Research and Preservation Centre of Belief Culture and the Seoul Association of Saenam Gut Preservation.

The annual performance seeks to encourage interest in Vietnamese and Korean cultures in both countries.

Nam Dinh will soon submit chau van for UNESCO recognition in March as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. – VNS