Sounds of Vietnam: Discovering Traditional Instruments

If you’re a curious traveler, an aspiring musician, or someone looking to deepen your understanding of Vietnamese culture. In this post, we’ll dive into the enchanting universe of traditional Vietnamese musical instruments and help you have a newfound appreciation for the Vietnamese string, wind, and percussion instruments that have shaped the vibrant musical landscape of this beautiful country.

1. Types of Vietnamese Instruments

Key Instruments

Dan Bau

The Dan Bau is a single-stringed, long-necked Vietnamese stringed instrument. Its simplicity begets ethereal, hauntingly beautiful sounds that can be light as a feather or powerfully overwhelming. Traditionally made of bamboo, over time it has been revised, but its core is still the same. You will often hear the Dan Bau in Vietnamese folk, especially in poetic Ca Tru performances, adding mystic touches to melodic storytelling. If you are willing to experience this for yourselves, then you can go find Ca Tru performances in ancient temples in Hanoi and traditional music shows across the country.

Cong Chieng

The Cong Chieng, or gongs, are one of Vietnam's musical instruments that are deeply associated with the culture of the Central Highlands of Vietnam, aside from the musical use-they are considered to be one of the means of communication with the spiritual world. Cong Chieng pieces being bronze casts each in varying sizes produce a different tone. These instruments are hugely important for festivals, weddings, and rituals for ethnic groups like Ede, Bana, and Mnong. A Cong Chieng festival-one good example is the Gong Culture Festival-offers a fascinating glimpse into one of Vietnam's most revered cultural activities. Just be respectful; these instruments hold immense spiritual significance.

T'rung

The wonder of this Vietnamese wind instrument is made out of so many lengths of bamboo pipes that create unique, resonating sounds when struck. It originates from the Central Highlands of Vietnam, and the lively melodies associated with the daily life of festive celebration with the ethnic groups of the region make it special. With cascading tones, T'rung symbolizes the spirit of the highlands, bringing alive the voice of nature. If you ever find yourself in the region, keep an eye open for workshops or performances where you might get to see, and listen to, T'rung in action try playing it yourself!

Khen

The Khen is another captivating wind instrument, which is played by people in northern and central Vietnam. The Khen, which was made out of bamboo, had been used during festivals as it sounded melodious and harmonious. It is sometimes part and more of a big part of traditional dances and community celebrations. Khendoes not stand as a musical instrument but stands to represent the communal unity of the people. Travelers will be taken on cultural immersion tours in Ha Giang and Cao Bang, among other provinces, where locals will be too eager to expose them to opportunities where they can learn and play the Khen.

Other Notable Instruments

The musical landscape of Vietnam is vast, though beyond the following key instruments, there is much more:

• Sao Truc (Bamboo Flute): A Vietnamese wind instrument, well-acquainted for its pure and clear tones that depict rural Vietnam as serene and beautiful. You will often hear the Sao Truc in traditional folk music, from lullabies down to festival tunes.
• Dan Nhi: A two-string fiddle used across Vietnam. Whilst disarmingly simple, Dan Nhi does have an enormous expressiveness and is commonly used in Vietnamese folk and classical performances.
• Dan Tranh: It is the most popular Vietnamese zither with soft, plucked notes for accompaniment in singing or as a solo instrument. The Dan Tranh is one of the staple instruments found in most traditional orchestras of  Vietnam Culture.
• Dan Ty Ba: Is also called the "queen" of all Vietnam traditional instruments, consisting of four strings, and its sound is so rich and resonant.
• Dan Da: It is an ancient instrument called a lithophone, made from stone slabs that give clear and thin sounds, representing the deep connection or relationship between man and nature. In fact, this is one of the oldest percussion instruments in the world, and to be able to see it played is like history unfolding right before your eyes again.
• Trong Com (Rice Drum): This is one of the major percussive  Vietnamese percussion instrument art, and it plays a vital role in traditional performances, especially in festivals and ceremonies. It became known as the "Rice Drum" from the practice of applying sticky rice to the surface for the purpose of altering its sound.

2. Experiencing Vietnamese Instruments

Live Performances

Live performances of traditional Vietnamese music instruments are an experience hard to find anywhere in the world. Performances that enact the beauty of string, wind, and percussion Vietnamese instruments can be found throughout Vietnam.

• Thang Long Water Puppet Theater (Hanoi): This is one of the great places to see the Sao Truc (bamboo flute) and the Dan Bau in harmony with this type of Vietnamese water puppetry. Most of the time, admission is anywhere from $5 to $10 USD and these shows occur several times throughout the day.
• Huế Court Music Ensemble (Huế): Historically the ancient Vietnamese capital, Huế consisted of the original royal court music that and included engraved icons such as Dan Nguyet and Dan Ty Ba. A person who joins a performance of court music is described as entering a time capsule into Vietnamese culture.
• Gong Culture Festival (Central Highlands): This is one of the most colorful Cong Chieng festivals that takes place every two years in the Central Highlands. This is about the rarest possibility of seeing the greatness of those Vietnamese musical instruments in their cultural setting. Normally, entry into the festival is free, but you may want to plan well in advance since it's a popular event.

Workshops and Classes

For those who want more than just to listen, there are workshops in Vietnam where one can learn how to play these amazing Vietnamese instruments. Imagine being able to pluck strings on Dan Tranh or learning the intricate techniques of Dan Bau!

• Vietnamese Traditional Music Center (Hanoi): Taught by instructors of this music genre. You can learn to play the Vietnamese string instruments: Dan Tranh and Dan Nhi. Classes: approximately 20-30 USD per session, sometimes you can even take a small instrument as a souvenir home.
• Central Highlands Ethnic Music Workshop (Dak Lak): Workshops are typically $15-25 USD per person. Participation in the locals' cultural activities in Vietnam is possible in-country, where tourists are taken through how to play the Khen or T'rung, keys to the music of ethnic groups of the region. The workshops usually cost within a range of $15-25 USD per participant.

Instrument Making

If one wants to get closer to the Vietnamese traditional instruments, a visit to some of these workshops that create such lovely instruments would be in order. From the handwork involved in building a Dan Bau to the ancient art of making Cong Chieng gongs, seeing their birth is a lifetime experience.

• Dan Bau Crafting Village (Ha Tay): Located within easy reach of Hanoi, this village is renowned for its craftsmanship of traditional instruments. Travelers can see here craftspeople carve and assemble the Dan Bau with such great care taken. For travelers interested in a crafting demonstration, it is possible to place orders for custom instruments. The price depends on the instrument; however, normally, the tour is free.
• Gong Casting Villages (Central Highlands): Villages in the Central Highlands specialize in casting Cong Chieng. The villages will give insight into the detailed process of creating these sacred Vietnamese instruments. Observe the process of casting and understand what every gong means spiritually.

3. Conclusion

As you have discovered, Vietnamese instruments are not only an important part of  Vietnam Culture, but they also act as a bridge between the past and present, tradition, and modernity. From the soulful sounds of the Dan Bau to the rhythmic heartbeats of the Cong Chieng, these traditional Vietnamese musical instruments strive to provide deep and enriching connections with the nation's heritage for travelers.