Dong Nai strives to introduce cai luong in schools

In celebration of the 1st Dong Nai Provincial Party Congress for the 2025-2030 tenure, the Dong Nai Arts Theatre has been staging numerous cai luong (reformed opera) performances to entertain the public, creating a vibrant atmosphere in the local cultural scene.

Artists of Dong Nai Arts Theatre perform the cai luong play Cai quoc chan hung to welcome the 1st Congress of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee, 2025-2030 tenure. Photo: My Ny

Beyond that, the theatre has joined hands with schools across the province to integrate cai luong into arts education, offering students opportunities to access traditional cultural values while nurturing their love for national performing arts.

Cai luong comes closer to students

In mid-September 2025, the stage lights of the Dong Nai Arts Theatre remained constantly on. A series of cai luong plays and excerpts such as Cai quoc chan hung, Khoi nguon, Hao khi Hoan Chau, and Oai hung su ca were staged, entertaining large audiences, particularly school students.

Notably, the students were not merely spectators. They were able to interact directly with artists, learning about scripts, performing techniques, and the historical values embedded in each play. This closeness inspired excitement and surprise, especially among those who experienced cai luong for the first time, as they were impressed by the expressive melodies, instrumental accompaniment, and emotional acting.

Nguyen Hoang Nam, a student from Tan Buu Secondary School in Tran Bien ward, shared: “Before visiting the Dong Nai Arts Theatre, my mother told me stories about cai luong. But watching it live was truly captivating. The way the artists sing and act helped me better understand the art form, its history, and the spirit of patriotism. The artists’ singing and acting helped me visualise history, patriotism, and art more vividly. I hope the theatre will organise more performances like this so we can experience them more often.”

According to Nguyen Thi Anh Thu, Vice Principal of Song Ngu A Chau Primary-Secondary-High School in Tran Bien ward, 2025 marks the second year the school has arranged extracurricular activities featuring cai luong. The students were eager, not only because they could watch performances but also because they could listen to artists sharing about their profession and discover behind-the-scenes aspects of theatre. After each session, many shared their feelings and wrote creative reflections, expressing their emotions. This experiential form of learning connects students with culture and the arts naturally.

Alongside hosting stage performances at its theater, the Dong Nai Arts Theatre has proactively worked with schools to organise cai luong performance tours as part of annual extracurricular activities. For instance, Le Van Tam Primary School (Tran Bien ward) launched the programme Spreading intangible cultural heritage of the Southern Region into primary schools, while Nghe Ngo Kindergarten (Trang Dai ward) combined puppet shows with cai luong. These activities created opportunities for students to experience traditional arts right within their familiar school environment, turning schoolyards into “miniature stages”.

To celebrate the 1st Dong Nai Provincial Party Congress for the 2025-2030 tenure, the theatre continues to stage performances across the province. A highlight is the play "Cai quoc chan hung," which conveys messages about administrative reforms, personnel work, and mergers to contribute to the nation's development.

Linking culture – Nurturing a new generation of audiences

Recently, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has partnered with the Department of Education and Training and the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association to hold extracurricular programmes on traditional music and arts for schools across the province. These are not only performances but also part of a comprehensive educational strategy that equips students with knowledge of the arts while promoting the nation's traditional cultural values.

Nguyen Viet Bac, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Art Theatre, affirmed: Students are always considered a special audience group. They are not only today's spectators but also the future companions of the stage. Planting the seeds of love for traditional performing arts in school-age children is the best way to preserve and sustainably develop cai luong. In the coming time, the theatre will continue to collaborate with schools and units to expand performances for this audience.

For artists in Dong Nai, performing and interacting with students is not only about serving the community but also a chance to renew themselves.

Students in Tran Bien ward watch a cai luong performance at the Dong Nai Art Theatre in September 2025.

Artist Thanh Vinh shared: “Initially, we worried that students would not be interested in cai luong. But seeing them follow attentively and cheer enthusiastically truly moved us and gave us more motivation to pursue the profession.”

According to Dr. Nguyen Van Quyet, Chairman of the Vietnam–Japan Friendship Association of Dong Nai province: "Bringing cai luong into schools is not simply an extracurricular activity. It is a way to educate younger generations about humanistic values, patriotism, and love for their homeland. Dong Nai is on the right track in considering students as an important force to preserve and promote this unique art form.”

Thanks to persistent efforts, cai luong is gradually becoming a familiar spiritual nourishment for the community, especially in schools across Dong Nai. Through performances, exchanges with artists, and direct stage experiences, students not only gain access to the nation's cultural heritage but also cultivate pride and responsibility towards the nation’s traditional arts.

By My Ny - Translated by Quynh Nhu, Thu Ha