“A Dao” singing

A Dao singing (Also called ca tru) is a form of declaiming poems and singing while speaking. A Dao singing was originally a folk singing type, and appreciated by feudal Kings and mandarins. Moreover, it was related to royal music performance. The interests of A Dao lie in the art of words in the songs and the attractive performance by singeress with the sound of clicks and clacks.

In the historical book of Hung Yen, there was a story about Ms. Dao Thi Hue, who utilized her beauty and singing talent to seduce and kill the Ming enemies. People later built a temple called Dao Nuong for worshipping her.

In the feudal time and the French colonization period, ca tru singing flourished. Poet and Doctor Chu Manh Trinh, a native of Phu Thi village, Me So commune, Van Giang district was a very talented man who loved ca tru and composed many famous songs.

Currently some areas in the province still maintain A Dao singing, such as Me So commune, Vinh Khuc commune of Van Giang district, Binh Minh commune and Da Trach commune of Khoai Chau district, Trinh My hamlet of Ngo Quyen commune and Dao Dang hamlet of Trung Nghia commune in Tien Lu district.