 Members of the Southern Melodies Club gather at the campus of the Students Cultural House in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: VOV
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Every weekend, in a dormitory at Vietnam National University or at Ho Chi Minh City's Student Cultural House, the young enthusiasts of the Southern Melodies Club perform Don Ca Tai Tu (amateur singing), Cai Luong (reformed opera) and other traditional folk music of southern Vietnam. In its 6 years of operation the club has attracted more than 60 members, who share a passion for traditional music.
Minh Tuan joined the Club in its earliest days. He said: “Since I was in high school, I've been in love with the genres of cai luong and don ca tai tu. By chance, through a friend, I found out about the club and after a few sessions, I really liked it and signed up in 2016. I’ve been a member for 6 years now.”
The club's members come from all over the country and some of them have graduated from university. Most members are still students. Most are not well-off and work part-time to afford to buy musical instruments like the đờn tranh (zither), đờn kìm (two-stringed instrument), and guitar.
Thanh Trinh, leader of the Southern Melodies Club, told us: “When I stand on stage and sing folk songs, bolero or dan ca tai tu, for me, there is only one emotion, which is pride. I really like the saying, ‘A nation exists when its art exists’.”
 Pham Van Minh, leader of the musical instrument team, Folk Song Club, University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City plays the bamboo flute. Photo: VOV
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Another Folk Song Club at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics is known by many young people. It is quite surprising that economics majors deeply love the tunes of their homeland and are active members of a club that has been around for more than 26 years. To survive, the club has held contests, organized exchanges with other clubs, and invited guest artists to teach.
 Members of the Folk Song Club, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, pose for a photo after their performance. Photo: VOV
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Pham Van Minh, leader of the musical instrument team, said: “The club organizes a calligraphy program at the New Year and other holidays that always receives a strong response from the students. In addition to a calligraphy show, there are performances of the bamboo flute ensemble, the folk instrument ensemble, and folk singing.”
The student clubs have been invited to perform at university events, at Youth Union events, and by radio and TV stations. Members have won prizes at competitions like the Festival of Don Ca Tai Tu and the Golden Bell of the Ancient Melody.
Dinh Thi Kim Ngan of the Folk Song Club says the club wants to spread love and knowledge of traditional music to everyone.
“Our performances are geared toward the national spirit. We do our best to spread love and help people understand national folk music,” she said.