Top Vietnamese Instruments in Vietnam Package Tours

The Roots of Musical Heritage in Vietnam

If we want to really experience the heart of Traditional Vietnamese Instruments, we have to move on to review its source. From the bronze percussion instruments (drums, gongs) used in ritual and war in the ancient Dong Son culture to the elegant Nha Nhac court music played in the royal courts of Hue, Vietnam’s musical heritage holds strong. There were instruments, like the dan tranh, dan bau, dan nguyet, and ken bau, which were played to great effect and majestic sound which reflecting cosmic harmony and regal salubrity, an art tradition still carried on to this day within the traditional Vietnamese culture.

But the story of Vietnam’s music is far richer than the court. The country is home to 54 ethnic groups and more than 200 documented traditional Vietnamese instruments, so each region and community brings its sound. From the bamboo flute of the northern villages to the lithophone of the ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands, every sound is an element transforming geography, belief, and daily life into music. Imported from India, China, and the neighboring countries, these have blended with native customs and idiosyncratic genius to produce instruments such as the pear-shaped lute and monochord zither, uniquely Vietnamese and internationally celebrated. These are not mere vestiges of the past, but are living manifestations of the traditional Vietnamese culture that one can still hear during festive days, at the theatre, or in mountainous regions.

Bo Day – String Traditional Vietnamese Instruments: Where Emotion Becomes Melody

Dan Tranh (Zither)

One of the most iconic traditional Vietnamese musical instruments, the dan tranh is an elegant monochord zither with 16 or more strings, which glides through the air like ripples skimming across a lake. Usually played with folk music groups or in chamber orchestras, its shimmering, falling notes encompass all the joy of youth and the subdued sadness of later years. This is the instrument that accompanies both ancient poetry recitals and contemporary cultural displays in Hanoi and Hue.

Dan Tranh (Zither) (Source: wikipedia)

Dan Bau (Monochord)

The dan bau – a marvel of simplicity and soul. With only one string, this monochord zither is capable of reproducing the tremors and whispers of the human voice. It’s the emotional center of many solo performances, and a much-loved symbol of traditional Vietnamese culture. Musicians manipulate pitch with a supple rod, producing glissandos so haunting that they often leave audiences breathless.

Dan Bau (Monochord) (Source: TheHeritageShowVietnam)

Dan Nguyet (Moon-Shaped Two String Lute)

“Moon” shaped and rich with symbolism, the dan nguyet is a moon-shaped two-string lute that has a rich history in traditional folk music as well as in the royal courts. It has a bright, bell-like tone that brings a lyrical quality to forms like Cheo and Tuong, and its long neck and high frets make it possible for players to add discreet emotional shading. As cherished as a voice of Vietnam itself, the dan nguyet mirrors the grace and spirit of the Vietnamese people.

Dan Nguyet (Source: wikipedia)

Dan Ty Ba (Pear-Shaped Lute)

While it has its origins in Chinese and Japanese culture and cuisine, the dan ty ba has developed into a distinctly Vietnamese creation. A pear-shaped lute, whose decorations and fingerwork have come to be recognized for their lively and energetic sound. Usually played by females in the traditional ensemble, it is an instrument that not only adds elegance to the appearance but also rhythm to the music of any Traditional Vietnamese Instruments Campaign!

Dan Ty Ba (Source: nhactruyenthong)

Dan Nhi (Vietnamese Fiddle)

Don’t be fooled by its humble looks – the dan nhi is a profoundly expressive two-string fiddle that possesses an emotional range to match. Known as the “Vietnamese violin,” it features in the nation’s traditional music as well as its opera genres, such as Ca Tru and Cai Luong. The instrument’s reptile skin covered, and its horsehair-bowed voice already speaks to the heart. It is a favorite among ethnic minorities as well, with regionalized variations from North to South.

Dan Nhi (Source: thesaigontimes)

Dan Day (Long-Necked Lute)

Uncommon yet unforgettable, the dan day is a long-necked stringed lute primarily employed in poetic recitations in addition to accompaniment in ceremonial music. The lyre’s resonant, mellow sound also makes a great pairing with singers, in forms such as Hat Cuu Dinh or Ca Tru. Its oversized square soundbox and towering frets give it an arresting look, and historically, it was a badge of highbrow refinement. Today, it is quietly making a comeback, valued for its introspective pitch and cultural resonance.

Dan Day (Long-Necked Lute) (Source: nhaccutatthang)

Bo Hoi – Wind Traditional Vietnamese Instruments: The Breath of Nature and Tradition

Sao Truc (Bamboo Flute)

Beloved bamboo flute, so seemingly simple, yet so deep. This slender bamboo tube is the voice of rural Vietnam. It can contain the feeling of a shepherd on a tranquil mountain path or the delight of festival music in the village square. It is an expressive and portable instrument.

You’ll frequently hear the bamboo flute in performances of traditional solo pieces or orchestras in Ha Noi, Hue, and Da Nang. It’s heavily steeped in traditional Vietnamese culture, especially in the north, where its supple, fragrant tone can be heard singing love poems and romantic ballads.

Sao Truc (Source: vnanet)

Ken Bau (Gourd Trumpet)

Looking for something more dramatic? Now, let’s get into the bold, bright voice of the ken bau, a double-reed Vietnamese wind instrument known for its forceful, high-pitched tone. The name refers to the dried gourd (“bau”) that is used as part of the bell of the instrument. This trumpet-type traditional Vietnamese musical instrument plays a significant role in traditional Vietnamese music, in the performance of festivals, folk music, Nha nhac (royal music), weddings, and funerals.

Ken bau is especially prominent in the performances of the Tay and Cham minority communities, celebrated for their festive and soulful parties. You can hear its festival sound at old music shows in Hue, at raucous village-wide festivals all over the Central region.

Ken Bau (Source: amazon)

Khen (Mouth Organ)

The khen is surely one of the most typical musical instruments played by people of the ethnic groups in the Central Highlands, such as the H’Mong. Consisting of several bamboo pipes attached to a gourd-shaped windchest, it is played by blowing and using finger holes to produce polyphonic harmonies, a sound which is at once ancient and otherworldly.

The khen is something more than music; it’s part of daily life and spiritual culture. Part of courtship, festivals, and funerals, it speaks of love, loss, and the rhythms of nature. If you are lucky enough to go to a H’Mong cultural festival in Sa Pa, Lao Cai, or Ha Giang and you’ll see young men dancing with the khen, playing music handed down through generations.

Khen (Mouth Organ) (Source: wikimedia)

Bo Go – Percussion Traditional Vietnamese Instruments: The Pulse of Rituals and Festivities

Trong Com (Rice Drum)

Let’s start with one of the most distinctive instruments of all, the rice drum, or trong com, so named for how the instrument is tuned by placing soft, warm, sticky rice on the drumhead to produce a deep, resonant sound that is distinctly human and earthy. It is a signature sound in folk music, notably in Cheo theater and ceremonial performances. 

That rice drum is heard in live performances of folk songs all over Ha Noi, Nam Dinh, and Bac Ninh, where traditional forms of art like Hat Xam and Ca Tru continue to be performed. It propels the vocalist and establishes the mood of whatever scene is in question, be it festive or solemn.

Trong Com (Source: wikipedia)

Cong Chieng (Gongs)

Next, we take you to Vietnam’s magnificent highlands, where the cong chieng gongs have deep significance for many ethnic minorities. When smacked, these metal disks sound a deep spiritual note that links earth and sky, past and present.

The gongs feature in all the rituals of the Central Highland groups like the Ba Na, Ede, and Gia Rai. In Dak Lak, Kon Tum, and Gia Lai, the Space of Gong Culture has been listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. More than sound, this is a spiritual journey and a living testament of traditional Vietnamese culture.

Cong Chieng (Source: wikipedia)

Dan Da (Lithophone)

Picture a music carved in stone, yes, I know, you read it well! The dan da or lithophone, being one of the world’s oldest traditional Vietnamese musical instruments, dates from over 3,000 years ago. It is made from slabs of stone of differing sizes to produce different pitches when struck.

There are still examples of this archaic device, preserved and occasionally sounded in the museums and cultural festivals of Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, and Ninh Thuan. The sound is surprisingly pure, soft, haunting, and resonant as the wind passing through a mountain cave. It’s a beautiful emblem of how deeply Vietnamese percussion is bound to nature and history.

Dan Da (Source: baothanhnien)

T’rung (Bamboo Xylophone) 

Light, playful and colourful, the t’rung is a bamboo xylophone played by the ethnic minorities of the Central Highlands. (Don’t worry, the structures are too much; they’re extra-long bamboo tubes that make a melodious sound when you tap them lightly). It’s bounciness, burbling like running water and birdsong.

One can catch the sounds of t’rung performed in village festivals, community dances in Lam Dong, Dak Nong villages, as well as during cultural nights in Buon Ma Thuot since then. Until today, it’s even included in the curriculum at music conservatories and the repertoires of national concerts of Traditional Vietnamese Instruments.

T’rung (Bamboo Xylophone) (Source: baoangiang)

Conclusion

Vietnamese Traditional Instruments are something that is not merely echoes in the past but are tuneful strings in traditional Vietnamese culture flowing through generations of artists and tale-tellers. Whether it’s the muted moan of the dan bau, the beat of the rice drum, or the celebratory clangor of cong chieng in the Central Highlands, these instruments beckon you to hear and feel, to sense and connect. To really feel their magic, visit a place like Hue, Ha Noi, or Dak Lak where tradition still rings loud and clear.

FAQ about Traditional Vietnamese Instruments

1. What is the traditional instrument in Vietnam?
Traditional Vietnamese instruments. One well-known Traditional Vietnamese Instruments is the dan bau (monochord zither), and its sound is quite expressive and haunting, with only one string. Other ethnic musical instruments are put to good use, such as the dan tranh, sao truc, trong com, and cong chieng, etc., referring to the rich musical treasure of various ethnic groups in Vietnam.

2. What is the 16-string Vietnamese instrument?
The zither is a 16-stringed instrument of Vietnamese music, known as the dan tranh, used commonly in both Vietnamese popular and royal music. One of Vietnam’s most recognizable Traditional Vietnamese Instruments, the dan tranh produces bright, colorful melodic tones and is popular for its shimmering and luscious sound.

3. What is traditional Vietnamese music called?
Traditional Vietnamese music is highly diverse and syncretistic, combining native and foreign influences, including Nha nhac (classical music) of the imperial court, ca tru (female chamber music), as well as music of religious ceremony, and theatre music. Traditional music genres are based on the use of Traditional Vietnamese Instruments with different musical styles and reflections between the regions of the country, as well as the ethnic minority groups.

4. What is the Vietnamese guitar called?
The Vietnamese equivalent of the instrument is dan nguyet, or often moon lute. It is a long-necked stringed lute widely used in folk music and court music, to produce clear and resonant tones, with a rhythmically and punctuating lyrical sound.