Ancient Quan ho, consequently handed down within only 49 Quan ho villages of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces, is primarily a type of singing to express affections between singers to make friends. (Photo: Nhật Anh/VNA)
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It has different forms of singing such as singing for congratulations (hat chuc hat mung), singing at festivals (hat hoi), ritual singing (hat tho), singing at a host’s house (hat canh), etc., with each form having its own regulations on ways of singing, on space and time for organizing singing occasions. (Photo: Nhật Anh/VNA)
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Singing at a host's house is organized in the house at night as a game between two groups of male and female singers through the match of lyrics and melodies.(Photo: Nhật Anh/VNA)
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The antiphonal performance comprises several sections lasting from 7-8 p.m to 2-3 a.m. The duration of a section can be long or short, depending on the singers' repertoire of Quan ho songs. (Photo: Nhật Anh/VNA)
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Nguyen Huu Bien, who hosts the Quan Ho performance at his home, introduces the performing artists of the night. (Photo: Nhat Anh/VNA)
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Mr. Bien's family in Trung hamlet, Lung Giang village (Tien Du, Bac Ninh) has been hosting Canh singing sessions for nearly 20 years. (Photo: Nhat Anh/VNA)
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The singers know by heart hundreds of Quan ho songs. (Photo: Nhat Anh/VNA)
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Meritorious artisan Nguyen Thi Ly (middle) and her fellow Quan Ho singers demonstrate their beautiful call-and-response singing in their performance. (Photo: Nhat Anh/VNA)
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Canh singing means singing from the heart. It means "opening up" your heart to express all your longing to friends you have not met for a long time. (Photo: Nhat Anh/VNA)
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Quan Ho folk singing is an integral part of Vietnamese culture and was recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2009. (Photo: Nhat Anh/VNA)
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Canh singing sessions attract a lot of folk art lovers. (Photo: Nhat Anh/VNA)
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