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Almost two years ago, I interviewed one of the famous Mexican singers, Leonardo Prieto, to understand the influence of Mexican folklore in his rock music.
Vietnamese music has many genres. Music in Vietnam has native sounds, traditional instruments, and music from other countries.
Vietnam is one of the few places where Western and Eastern music influences the music. It goes from pop to traditional music in such an exciting way that you will have quite an experience listening to it. There’s a reason for that, as Vietnam has almost 54 minority ethnic groups, so its music has a lot of different styles and sounds.
Although pop music from Vietnam is trendy, just like every country, Vietnamese music may be one of the more diverse. As V-pop music is quite popular, traditional Vietnamese folk music is still relevant to older and new generations. Interestingly, traditional music in Vietnam differs in northern, central, and southern parts.
People often play traditional Vietnamese music at religious events, in everyday life, and in traditional festivals. Also, each of Vietnam’s ethnic groups has various traditional Vietnamese musical instruments that are unique to each group.
So, if you are wondering, what are the most popular genres of Music in Vietnam? Let’s discuss those.
Vietnamese court music (Nhã nhạc) came to life during the Le dynasty (1427–1788). The Nguyen monarchs gave it a lot of structure and rules (1802-1945). As a sign of the power and longevity of the dynasty, Vietnamese court music became an essential part of many ceremonies. But it did more than just play music for court rituals. Vietnamese court music was also used to talk to gods and kings. It was a way to pay them tribute and pass on information about nature and the universe.
This particular type of music in Vietnam was often played at the beginning and end of ceremonies. You can think of anniversaries, religious holidays, coronations, funerals, and official receptions. Vietnam has a lot of different kinds of music. Still, only Royal Vietnamese music is played all over the country. It has strong ties to the traditions of other East Asian countries.
Royal Vietnamese music performances in the past had many singers, dancers, and musicians dressed in beautiful clothes. Large orchestras had a large drum section, percussion instruments, and a wide range of wind and string instruments.
Along with the Royal Vietnamese music, the Vietnamese imperial court in the 19th century had a variety of royal dances. Many are still performed today. Most dances aim to wish the emperor or empress a long life and prosperity for the country.
Historically, Vietnamese people use folk music in rituals, daily life, and celebrations. As a result of Vietnam’s diverse population, the country’s music is also varied. These are the most popular folk music genres.
1. Northern Vietnamese peasants traditionally performed Chèo, a satirical musical theater that typically included dancing. The traditional setting for this type of performance is outdoors, in a town square or the courtyard of a public building, by semi-professional traveling companies; however, indoor venues and professional performers are becoming commonplace in modern times.
2. Xẩm, also known as Hát xẩm (Xẩm singing), is a style of Vietnamese folk music. People performed this style in the country’s northern region but it’s now at the brink of extinction. Throughout the past dynasty period, blind musicians would travel from town to town, performing in public squares and other public venues to make a living.
3. Many Vietnamese practice Quan họ (alternate singing), particularly in the Northern regions of Bắc Ninh and Bắc Giang (formerly Hà Bắc). Quan họ is an impromptu choral singing typically performed during courtship rituals.
4. During rituals, musicians play Hát chầu văn, also known as hát văn. It has a trancelike rhythm and tempo. The Vietnamese government stifled hát chầu văn and other religious practices before 1986.
5. Ca trù stated that ca nương (a female vocalist) was the originator of ca trù (a piece of popular folk music). The most well-known style of ca trù is based on the theory that it was first performed at the royal palace for professors and other members of the aristocracy.
6. Cải lương emerged in the 1930s as a middle-class theatrical form in Southern Vietnam, where it began in the early 20th century during French colonial rule. It is currently the official policy to promote cải lương as a national theatrical art form. Unlike the other folk genres, its popularity among the general public persisted well into the 1970s and 1980s, albeit to a lesser extent.
7. Vietnamese theater music, or Tuồng, is sometimes called hát tuồng and hát bi. Hát tuồng (Tuồng singing) is a form of classical Vietnamese opera that draws inspiration from Chinese opera.
8. The Hò style might be considered the Southern variant of the “Quan họ” style. It is improvised and usually involves a conversation between a man and a woman singing to each other.
Traditional Vietnamese musical instruments are a priceless relic, developed and enriched for centuries.
Traditional Vietnamese musical instruments are quite simple in design, but mastering them takes years of practice and much finesse. If you are curious about Vietnamese music history and culture, let’s take a brief look at traditional Vietnamese musical instruments.
You can also discover other instruments of music in Vietnam here.
Western classical music was/is also a significant influence on Vietnamese composers. For example, Phạm Duy also wrote pieces that were a mix of classical and Vietnamese folk music. When it comes to classical Vietnamese music, they are divided into following categories.
Red music (Nhạc đỏ) is the common name of the revolutionary music (nhạc cách mạng) genre in Vietnam. Soon after the turn of the 20th century, when France was still a colonial power, this style of music started to promote independence, socialism, and opposition to colonialism.
During the Vietnam War, Red Music was heavily promoted in North Vietnam to get people to work for reunification under the Communist Party of Vietnam and fight against South Vietnam, which was called an “American imperialist puppet.”
Other types of non-traditional, non-Revolutionary music and culture in the North, like Vietnamese pop music and Western music and culture, were banned and called “counter-revolutionary,” “bourgeois,” or “capitalist.”
Some of the famous composers and singers in Vietnamese revolutionary songs include Lưu Hữu Phước, Văn Cao, Hoàng Vân, and Nguyễn Xuân Khoát.
Yellow music (Nhạc vàng) in Vietnam has two meanings:
The first meaning is the romantic and lyrical music popular in Southern Vietnam before and after the war, from 1954 to 1975, and then after both overseas and in the country. The theme of South Vietnam influenced this music in 1975.
The second meaning is the name of a style of music that became popular in South Vietnam in the late 1950s. It combines many styles, such as Bolero, enka, rumba, tango, ballade, mambo, and chachacha.
One of the most popular types of slow-tempo Vietnamese music is still ballad and bolero music, especially for karaoke sessions or just to listen to.
Some of the famous singers of Yellow music in Vietnam include Chế Linh, Hoàng Oanh, Hương Lan, and Thanh Tuyền.
By the 1960s, Bolero had made its way to Vietnam, which had become an integral part of the country’s culture, especially in the South. It is influenced by the Latin American genre but adapted to local tastes, features slow, sentimental melodies that evoke deep emotional responses. With its soothing rhythms and poetic lyrics, Bolero music Vietnamese continues to be a beloved genre to convey profound feelings in a melodious style.
The gentle and romantic melodies of Vietnamese Bolero music accompany easy-to-listen lyrics to give deep meanings– a unique aspect of the Bolero music Vietnamese genre, beloved by many social classes and seniors.
The most famous songwriter & composer of Bolero music is Vietnamese with best-selling albums Trịnh Công Sơn. And some famous singers of Vietnamese Bolero music include Giao Linh, Như Quỳnh, Mạnh Quỳnh, and Cẩm Ly.
Overseas music, also called “Vietnamese diaspora music,” is the Vietnamese music that Vietnamese artists brought to other countries, especially the U.S. and France, after the Fall of Saigon in 1975.
Some of the most famous singers of Overseas music in Vietnam include Thúy Nga Productions and Tâm Đoan.
Vietnamese rap music, a vibrant and rapidly evolving genre, blends traditional Vietnamese cultural elements with global hip-hop influences to create a unique sound. Vietnamese rap emerged in the late 1990s and gained momentum in the 2000s. Just like rap music from any other country, Vietnamese rap addresses social issues, personal struggles, patriotism and daily life.
With artists like Suboi, Wowy, and Binz, among others, leading the way, the genre has carved out a significant space in Vietnam’s contemporary music scene, resonating deeply with young audiences through its raw energy and expressive lyrics. In fact, Suboi’s rap in Vietnamese is so popular that she was included in the 30 under 30 list by Forbes in 2017.
Rock music has been in Vietnam since the 1960s, with bands performing covers of popular Western rock bands. However, the genre took off in the 1990s and 2000s with the emergence of native Vietnamese rock bands like Bức Tường and Black Infinity.
Bức Tường, formed in 1995, is often credited with popularizing rock music in Vietnam. Their music combines rock, punk, and metal elements, and their lyrics often address social and political issues. Their popularity increased, becoming one of Vietnam’s most influential and successful rock bands.
Black Infinity, formed in 1993, is another influential Vietnamese rock band. They were one of the first Vietnamese bands to perform original rock music, and their music combines elements of rock, metal, and electronic music. They have released several albums and have won numerous awards, including the Vietnam Music Award for Best Rock Band in 2002 and 2003.
The genre continues to evolve and grow in Vietnam, with new bands emerging and incorporating different styles and influences into their music.
Rock and roll is the forefather of today’s popular music. The term “pop music” encompasses a wide variety of styles that evolved at different times and in different places. Still, all share widespread acclaim in the realm of mainstream musical culture. Simple melodies and recurring themes of love and other feelings characterize many of these songs.
Modern V-pop draws from various sources, including C-pop, K-pop, and Euro-American styles. Addition of new hues to traditional Vietnamese music.
Vietnam Idol, The Voice, Vietnamese Star, Star Academy, and many more have all contributed to a tidal wave of musical innovation in the music of Vietnam.
The best known Vietnamese pop stars include Soobin Hoàng Son, Sơn Tùng M-TP, Uyên Linh, Hương Tràm, Văn Mai Hương, Trúc Nhân, Hoàng Thuỳ Linh and many more.
The gentle, relaxing melodies typical of ballads can be traced back to the country and folk music of its roots. The music’s lyrics are sophisticated and lavish, putting listeners at ease.
There are various variations on the modern ballad, including rock, opera, and folk ballads. Still, the pop ballad remains the most popular. Singers like Vũ Cát Tường, Bích Phương, Trung Quân idol, Thuỳ Chi have made names for themselves in Vietnam with this style of music.
Once you familiarize yourself with classical and contemporary Vietnamese music, it’s time to dive into the exciting world of Music in Vietnam!
Although modern Vietnamese music has significantly impacted the country’s youth, the country’s traditional music still holds a special place in the hearts of the country’s seasoned listeners. It is no surprise that the Vietnamese music industry in the last few decades has seen a lot of experimentation and evolution.
What’s more interesting is that Vietnamese music has grown more devoted to folk music traditions, which remain a crucial draw for visitors. If you have any Vietnamese music recommendations, do share!
Almost two years ago, I interviewed one of the famous Mexican singers, Leonardo Prieto, to understand the influence of Mexican folklore in his rock music.
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