Heritage Discovery Activities: Văn – Trù – Xẩm
The Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities of the Temple of Literature – Imperial Academy, in collaboration with the Hanoi Grapevine arts platform, is organizing the “Growing Up with Tradition” festival on May 31st and June 1st. The event, taking place at the Hồ Văn cultural space, has attracted the attention of numerous media outlets and the general public, especially families with young children. The festival is expected to become a meaningful cultural experience space, contributing to orienting and nurturing a love for heritage in the younger generation.
Who loves Hát Văn? Come play at Hồ Văn!
Who is passionate about Ca Trù? Head over to Hồ Văn!
Who likes Hát Xẩm ? Hồ Văn welcomes you immediately!
The event is organized to realize the goal of connecting heritage with contemporary life through interactive and creative activities. The “Growing Up with Tradition” festival is the opening act for the “Weaving Heritage – Knitting Creativity” series of activities planned for 2025 in the Hồ Văn area. This activity is part of the efforts by functional units to exploit and promote the value of the special national relic site, transforming it into a vibrant cultural destination that is closer to the public.
The festival gathers nearly 30 units operating in the fields of traditional crafts, visual arts, creative design, and cultural education. The event offers visitors the opportunity to admire and experience many types of crafts deeply imbued with Vietnamese identity. Traditional products such as La Khê ancient silk, Dó paper paintings, Đông Hồ folk paintings, artistic paper lanterns, mosaic ceramics, and lacquerware are vividly displayed and introduced. Additionally, the festival features many products where artisans have “breathed life” into them with modern creative thinking, demonstrating the continuation and development of traditional values.
One of the festival’s highlights is the series of rich workshops, designed to be suitable for all ages. These experiential activities allow participants to personally create personalized products. Typical workshops include: decorating bamboo dragonflies and giấy bồi (papier-mâché) masks; drawing folk paintings and making products from Dó paper; creative experience with lacquer; and monotype printing with woodcut plates. Another activity that attracts a lot of attention is the “Vành khăn nếp tóc” (Turban and Hair Bun) workshop, which allows participants to experience traditional hair-pinning and try on Việt phục (Vietnamese historical clothing). These activities not only help participants better understand the product creation process but also encourage them to explore and appreciate the value of manual labor.
Besides the experiential activities, the festival space also features traditional music performances, creating a multi-colored artistic atmosphere. Art forms such as Hát Xẩm, Ca trù, and the Hmong people’s sáo khèn (flute and panpipe) are performed live, bringing explosive moments and a fusion of heritage and tradition. These performances not only enrich the visitors’ experience but also help preserve and promote traditional art forms.
According to the organizers, the main goal of the event is to create a friendly environment that encourages interaction between the public and heritage. The event contributes to educating the younger generation about the importance of preserving and promoting cultural values, while demonstrating the organizing units’ commitment to the preservation and development of Vietnam’s cultural heritage. The festival is a journey of cultural connection and creativity, spreading the spirit of appreciating vibrant Vietnamese values in contemporary life.
Come to Hồ Văn this weekend to enjoy the emotional melodies of Hát Văn, Hát Xẩm, and Ca Trù!
Event Information:
Time: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM, Saturday, July 12, 2025
Location: Hồ Văn – Temple of Literature – Imperial Academy (opposite the main gate of the Temple of Literature)
Admission: Free