Vietnamese music and its varied forms
Vietnam shares its borders with various countries which leaves a mark on its
music too. The musical traditions of China, Japan and Mongolia have impacted
Vietnamese music a lot.
There are various forms of Vietnamese music, and the major ones include:
Imperial court music
Modern pop music
Ritual music
Folk music
Imperial court music
One such form that remained very much popular in Vietnam is nha nhac which
originated in the dynasty of Tran and continued till the very last dynasty of
Nguyen. It is influenced by the Ming dynasty of China. The theme of these songs
was to wish the kings longevity and the country’s wealth.
Modern Pop music
The popularity of modern pop music has increased as the new generation flows in
and has vast choices and likings. The westernized music has also influenced the
modern pop Vietnamese music. If you are a music lover and love to tune into
Vietnamese songs, there are various sites offering free modern pop music
downloads.
Ritual music
Multiple threads are existent within the areas of religious and ceremonial music
like the Buddhist musical tradition which is often based on the musical
recitation of sutras or kinh. It is generally for Buddhist ceremonies as well as
shamanistic rituals.
• Nhạc đám ma - funeral music
• Nhạc lễ - ritual music
