## The Future of Ca Tru — Standing at the Crossroads of a Thousand-Year Art Amid the relentless pace of the twenty-first century, Ca Tru — Vietnam's thousand-year poetry singing art — stands at a critical crossroads. On one side lies hope: young people are beginning to show interest, technology opens new doors, and UNESCO's recognition has brought global attention. On the other side lies anxiety: senior artisans are departing one by one, funding remains scarce, and audiences continue to shrink. Where will the future of Ca Tru lead? The answer lies not in eloquent speeches or paper resolutions — it lies in the actions of us, today's generation. - Ca Tru was inscribed on UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2009 - The number of original Ca Tru artisans can be counted on one hand, most over 70 years of age - Positive signals: youth involvement, technological support, international research projects - Greatest challenges: generational gap, insufficient funding, fading community awareness On an autumn evening in Hanoi, inside an old house on Mã Mây street, a Ca Tru performance unfolds before more than twenty audience members — mostly foreign tourists. A young đào nương raises her voice, bamboo clappers sound in measured rhythm, the đàn đáy's warm tones glide across each note. A French visitor sits motionless, eyes glistening. After the performance, he speaks with visible emotion: "This is the most beautiful art I have ever heard. You must preserve it." Those words are both praise and warning — for if even an outsider feels anxious about Ca Tru's survival, have we — the insiders — worried enough? ## The Current Landscape — Where Ca Tru Stands in the Twenty-First Century ### Numbers that demand reflection Examining Ca Tru's current picture reveals a painful paradox. On one hand, Ca Tru is a UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage and a source of national pride for Vietnam. On the other, the number of artisans truly proficient in traditional Ca Tru amounts to merely a few dozen across the entire country. Among those, practitioners trained exclusively through traditional guild methods can be counted on one hand, most well past seventy or eighty years of age. Ca Tru clubs operate scattered across Hanoi, Hải Phòng, Hải Dương, Hưng Yên, Thanh Hóa, and Nghệ An — but with small scale, limited budgets, and dwindling active membership. Many clubs function on a volunteer basis, sustained solely by the love and personal sacrifice of a few passionate artisans. When those artisans grow weary or pass away, their clubs gradually dissolve. ### The generational gap — the greatest barrier The most formidable challenge facing Ca Tru is not insufficient money or policy — it is the generational gap. Young Vietnamese grow up immersed in K-pop, electronic music, and TikTok. For them, Ca Tru feels distant, difficult to understand, and "out of fashion." The truth is that Ca Tru is not easily accessible — it demands patience, slow listening, and a certain cultural foundation to appreciate. In a world of instant gratification, Ca Tru resembles a handwritten letter in ink amid an era of instant messaging. But the generational gap is not unbridgeable. In Japan, the arts of Noh and Kabuki faced similar situations, yet through systematic investment and creative promotional strategies, they found their place with new generations. Ca Tru can follow a similar path — if we act correctly and promptly. ## Signs of Hope — Light Amid the Darkness ### Young people are returning to Ca Tru Amid countless anxieties, encouraging signals persist. In recent years, some young Vietnamese have actively sought out Ca Tru with remarkable curiosity and seriousness. They come not out of obligation or trend-following — they come because they are genuinely captivated by this art form's strange beauty. There is Linh, a 22-year-old journalism student who heard Ca Tru on a television program and was struck as if by lightning. She spent two years studying under an elderly artisan in Hanoi, attending three sessions per week, patiently practicing each clapper rhythm and syllable release technique. "At first my friends thought I was crazy," Linh recounts with a smile. "But when I sang for them, many cried. Ca Tru possesses extraordinary power — it touches the deepest parts of the Vietnamese soul." Stories like Linh's remain few, but they are appearing with increasing frequency. Each young person who discovers Ca Tru is a seed planted — and if properly nurtured, those seeds will sprout into a new generation of artisans. ### Technology opens new doors Technology — which many feared would kill traditional arts — is actually opening new possibilities for Ca Tru. YouTube, Spotify, and online platforms allow Ca Tru to reach global audiences without leaving the old house on Bích Câu street. Ca Tru performance videos on YouTube have attracted tens of thousands of views, with comments in English, French, and Japanese — proof that Ca Tru's appeal transcends borders. Modern recording technology also enables preserving the voices and techniques of senior artisans with exceptional quality. These recordings will become invaluable resources for future generations — when the artisans are gone, their voices will still resound, still teach, still inspire. Some projects have begun using 3D technology and virtual reality to recreate the atmosphere of traditional singing houses, allowing viewers to experience Ca Tru in its original setting. ### International attention and UNESCO's role UNESCO's inscription of Ca Tru on its Urgent Safeguarding List in 2009 was a pivotal moment. This recognition brought not only international prestige but also positive pressure on the Vietnamese government to act. Multiple international research projects on Ca Tru have been launched, bringing funding and attention from the global academic community. Music researchers from France, Japan, and South Korea have traveled to Vietnam to study and document Ca Tru. Several foreign universities have incorporated Ca Tru into their curricula on traditional Asian music. This international interest not only broadens Ca Tru's visibility but creates a transnational support network for its preservation. ## Severe Challenges — Dark Clouds Over Ca Tru's Horizon ### Aging artisans — lamps about to extinguish The most painful and urgent challenge is the passing of senior artisans. Each time a Ca Tru master passes away, it is not merely losing a person — it is losing a living treasury of knowledge, losing a link in a thousand-year chain of transmission. Master Nguyễn Thị Chúc, Master Phó Thị Kim Đức, and many other luminaries have departed in succession, carrying irretrievable secrets with them. The image of an 85-year-old artisan seated on an embroidered mat, hands trembling slightly yet voice still crystalline, patiently teaching each clapper beat to a 20-year-old apprentice — that image is simultaneously beautiful and heartbreaking. Beautiful because the thread of tradition is being continued. Heartbreaking because the remaining time is short, and everything that artisan carries within — the repertoire, the techniques, the stories — can never be fully transmitted. ### Funding and policy — promises yet to materialize Despite numerous policy documents on cultural heritage preservation, implementation remains inadequate. Funding allocated to Ca Tru preservation is extremely limited, often distributed unevenly and lacking continuity. Many artisans live in financial difficulty, supporting themselves while teaching without compensation. Ca Tru clubs must self-fund their activities, leading to minimal or suspended operations. Particularly concerning are the inadequate support policies for artisans. Honorary titles such as "People's Artisan" or "Meritorious Artisan" bring spiritual recognition but come with modest stipends insufficient for artisans to dedicate their full time to teaching. This represents a sad paradox: the nation celebrates Ca Tru as precious heritage but has not invested commensurately in preserving it. ### Shrinking audiences — who will listen to Ca Tru? An art without audience will gradually die, regardless of technical sophistication. Ca Tru faces the reality of a continuously shrinking audience. In Vietnam, the number of people who truly understand and appreciate Ca Tru is remarkably small. Many Ca Tru performances in Hanoi depend on foreign tourists to fill seats — a reality that is both encouraging (demonstrating Ca Tru's international appeal) and disheartening (revealing Vietnamese people's limited interest in their own heritage). The issue extends beyond audience numbers to the quality of appreciation. In traditional Ca Tru, the quan viên (connoisseur-listener) plays an active role: striking the praise drum to express approval or critique, creating a unique interaction between artist and audience. When audiences do not understand these appreciation conventions, that interaction vanishes, and Ca Tru loses a vital element of its identity. ## Scenarios for the Future — Where Will Ca Tru Go? ### Optimistic scenario: Ca Tru reborn in the digital age In the most optimistic scenario, Ca Tru will find firm footing in the twenty-first century through the marriage of tradition and technology. A new generation of artisans will receive thorough training, mastering traditional techniques while knowing how to leverage technology for promotion. Ca Tru will be present on digital platforms, reaching global audiences while maintaining intimate performances in traditional spaces. This scenario requires serious investment from both government and private sector: establishing long-term training programs, providing financial support for artisans, and creating a sustainable ecosystem for Ca Tru. The models of Japan with Noh and Kabuki, or South Korea with pansori, offer valuable reference lessons. ### Middle scenario: Ca Tru survives but contracts In the middle scenario, Ca Tru will continue to exist but at a smaller scale. A handful of artisans and small groups will maintain the tradition, performing for a narrow audience of traditional art enthusiasts and international tourists. Ca Tru will become a "museum art" — preserved and displayed but no longer a living component of cultural life. This scenario, while not the most pessimistic, still represents significant loss. Ca Tru was born to live, to breathe, to interact — not to reside behind glass cases. A "museum Ca Tru" would lose its soul: the interaction between đào nương and quan viên, the intimate atmosphere of the singing house, and the living emotion of a performance evening. ### Pessimistic scenario: Ca Tru disappears The most heartbreaking scenario is Ca Tru's gradual disappearance — not suddenly but slowly, silently, like a candle burning to its last drop of wax. Senior artisans pass away before transmitting enough knowledge. No young people pursue the art. Funding dries up. Audiences vanish. And one day, the sound of bamboo clappers will be heard no more. This scenario is not fantasy — it has already happened to numerous traditional art forms worldwide. Ca Tru currently exists in the danger zone, and without decisive action, this pessimistic scenario could well become reality within the coming decades. ## What Each Person Can Do for Ca Tru's Future ### Individual action — you need not be an artisan Many assume that preserving Ca Tru is the responsibility of government, cultural organizations, or artisans alone. In reality, every individual can contribute to Ca Tru's future in their own way: - **Learn and listen:** Dedicate an evening to attending a Ca Tru performance in Hanoi, or simply listen to a Ca Tru recording on YouTube. Your listening is the greatest encouragement an artisan can receive. - **Share and spread:** Share videos and articles about Ca Tru on social media. Every share creates an opportunity for Ca Tru to reach one more new listener. - **Financial support:** If you have the means, support Ca Tru clubs, purchase performance tickets, or sponsor preservation projects. Every contribution matters. - **Educate the next generation:** Introduce your children to Ca Tru, take them to performances, tell them about the art of poetry singing. Love for traditional culture begins with understanding. - **Learn to sing Ca Tru:** If you are truly passionate, seek out artisans and clubs to study with. You need not become a professional artisan — understanding and appreciation are enough. ### Community and government responsibility At the community and government levels, more decisive and systematic action is needed. First, long-term Ca Tru training programs must be established — not short courses of a few months but multi-year programs with adequate compensation for both teachers and students. Senior artisans need sufficient financial support to dedicate their full time and energy to transmission. Ca Tru should be integrated into general education — not as a mandatory subject but as a cultural experience. Let students hear, see, and feel Ca Tru from a young age. A child who has once heard bamboo clappers sounding in a school library will carry that sound for life — and perhaps, one day, will become a guardian of Ca Tru for the next generation. ## A Call to Action — Ca Tru Needs You, Today ### Time waits for no one If you have read this far, please remember one thing: Ca Tru does not have much time. Each passing day, a bit of knowledge, a bit of technique, a bit of Ca Tru's soul is lost along with the aging of its artisans. We cannot wait until tomorrow to act — because tomorrow may already be too late. Imagine a day when our grandchildren can only know Ca Tru through scratchy old recordings and faded book pages. They will ask: "Why didn't our elders save this art while there was still time?" That question will be the heaviest accusation against our generation — the generation that clearly knew Ca Tru was endangered but did not do enough to save it. > "Ca Tru is the voice of the Vietnamese soul, the whisper of a thousand years of history. If we let Ca Tru die, we lose not just an art form — we lose a part of ourselves." — The final words of a 90-year-old Ca Tru artisan during her last teaching session. ### Ca Tru will live if we choose life for it The future of Ca Tru is not destiny — it is choice. If enough people care, enough people act, enough people listen — Ca Tru will live. Not merely survive but flourish, finding a new place in the twenty-first century while preserving its thousand-year essence. The bamboo clappers will continue to sound — not in museums but in intimate singing evenings, in old houses, in hearts that treasure beauty that time cannot erase. Let the future of Ca Tru be a story of hope — not anxiety. And that story begins with you, starting today. ## Frequently Asked Questions About the Future of Ca Tru ### Is Ca Tru truly at risk of complete disappearance? Yes, the risk of complete disappearance is real. UNESCO placed Ca Tru on its Urgent Safeguarding List in 2009, indicating the severity of danger. The number of original artisans can be counted on one hand, most over 70 years of age. However, with correct and timely efforts, Ca Tru can still be saved and developed for the new century. ### Are young people interested in Ca Tru? A small but growing segment shows interest. In recent years, some young Vietnamese have sought out Ca Tru with genuine passion, participating in singing lessons and promoting the art on social media. However, their numbers remain far too few relative to need. A systematic strategy is required to attract more young people to Ca Tru. ### How can technology help preserve Ca Tru? Technology plays a vital role: recording and digitizing artisans' voices, developing online databases, using YouTube and social media for promotion, and applying virtual reality technology to recreate traditional performance spaces. Technology cannot replace direct transmission, but it serves as a powerful supporting tool. ### Why hasn't the government done enough to preserve Ca Tru? The issue stems from multiple causes: limited budgets, diffuse policy priorities, shortage of specialists, and ineffective implementation mechanisms. Despite existing policy documents, practical execution remains inadequate. Closer coordination is needed between government, international organizations, the private sector, and communities. ### What can foreigners do to help Ca Tru? Foreigners can contribute in many ways: attending performances when visiting Vietnam, sharing information about Ca Tru with international friends, sponsoring preservation projects, participating in academic research, or simply listening and sharing their emotional response. International interest creates additional momentum for domestic preservation efforts. ### Which global preservation models could be applied to Ca Tru? Several models offer valuable references: Japan's "Living National Treasure" system providing generous support to artisans; South Korea's program integrating traditional arts education into schools; India's state-supported guru-shishya (master-apprentice) networks. Each model has strengths and limitations requiring adaptation to the Vietnamese context. ### Can Ca Tru develop without losing its original identity? Absolutely, if the principle of "preserving the roots, developing the branches" is followed. This means keeping traditional techniques, repertoire, and spirit as the foundation while finding new ways to promote and reach audiences. Traditional Ca Tru and modern creations inspired by Ca Tru can coexist — provided the boundary between the two is clearly recognized. ### If you could do only one thing for Ca Tru, what should it be? Go hear Ca Tru performed live, just once. Visit the Quan Đế Temple on Hàng Buồm street on a Saturday evening, or find a performance at 87 Mã Mây. Sit quietly, listen, and let the bamboo clappers touch your soul. If you feel moved — even for a fleeting moment — then Ca Tru has won. And you will know instinctively what to do next.