Held for the second time in Kinh Bac - the cradle of folk songs and traditional arts, the National Cheo Festival has become a grand celebration for those who share a deep devotion to this time-honoured art form.

Hai Phong’s Xu Dong Cheo Theatre performs “The Love Story by the River.”

Twelve professional art troupes from across the country have brought to the festival 21 carefully produced performances covering a wide range of themes, from historical and revolutionary stories to contemporary life, featuring nearly 1,000 professional artists and actors.

Artists of traditional arts are constantly striving to innovate, to ensure that every performance resonates with today’s audiences through the power of authenticity and profound humanity.

As Dr. People’s Artist Le Tuan Cuong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Traditional Theatre, affirmed: “True art comes from life and must return to serve life. Think of cheo as something simple yet great like a mother’s lullaby that no one teaches, yet everyone knows. Respecting the audience, reaching the audience, and touching their emotions are what we, as artists of traditional theatre, hold closest to our hearts.”

More than a professional reunion, the festival honours the spirit of dedication and the creative aspirations of those who preserve the soul of Vietnam’s traditional arts in an era of integration.

If the artists are the ones who burn with passion on stage, then the audience are those who keep that flame alive. For the people of Bac Ninh in particular, and cheo lovers everywhere, the festival is a chance to feel, to see, and to immerse themselves in the vibrant rhythms of drums, strings, and heartfelt singing.

On the opening night, the provincial Culture and Exhibition Centre was packed with spectators.

Nguyen Thi Minh Du, 70, from Phu My 2 residential area, Bac Giang ward, shared: “I don’t know how to sing cheo, but I’ve loved it since I was a child. It is deeply moved when watching professional artists perform here in my hometown. When the artists laugh, I laugh; when they cry, I cry with them.”

In the crisp autumn air of Kinh Bac, the sounds of cheo drums and tender melodies warm the hearts of all who listen. There are no longer boundaries between artist and audience but only moments of emotional harmony, of shared love and faith in the enduring vitality of traditional art.

The festival may soon come to a close, but the flame of passion will continue to burn in the hearts of artists, and the echoes of cheo will linger on this beloved Kinh Bac land where kindred souls meet in a gathering overflowing with humanity and love for the art.

Cheo Festival 2025 opens in Bac Ninh province, honoring quintessence of traditional art

BAC NINH – The 2025 National Cheo Festival officially opened on October 20 at the Bac Ninh provincial Cultural and Exhibition Center in Bac Giang ward. The event is jointly organized by the Department of Performing Arts under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Bac Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnam Stage Artists Association.

Cheo Festival 2025 to bring traditional theatre to life in Bac Ninh

This year’s festival, from October 20 to November 2, will bring together nearly 900 artists, actors and musicians from 11 professional cheo troupes representing provinces and cities across the country.

 

Nearly 1,000 artists and musicians to join national Cheo festival in Bac Ninh

BAC NINH - The 2025 National Cheo (Traditional operetta) Festival will take place from October 20 to November 5 at the Bac Ninh provincial Cultural and Exhibition Center in Bac Giang ward.

Teaching Quan Ho singing and Cheo performance to Bac Ninh students

BAC NINH - Bac Ninh Cheo Theater on August 25 organized an event to summarize the Quan Ho singing and Cheo performance class for students of Ngo Si Lien Secondary School (Bac Giang ward).

Soong co and Cheo recognised national intangible cultural heritages

BAC NINH- The 2 folk art performances of Bac Ninh province including soong co of San Diu ethnic people and cheo singing have been recognised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as national intangible cultural heritages. This is a big pride for Bac Ninh people, which affirms values of the special folk arts in the northern province of Bac Ninh.