According to tradition, whenever Quan ho families celebrate joyful occasions such as weddings or longevity celebrations, or before a hat canh (singing at a host's house) session held at a Quan ho gathering house during spring festivals, the lien anh (male Quan ho singers) and lien chi (female Quan ho singers) invite their friends to share a meal.

Recreating the traditional beauty of Quan ho feast at the home of male singer Duong Duc Thang.

In particular, on the day of a village festival, before the hat canh performance begins, the Quan ho feast takes on a unique character, deeply infused with the spirit of Quan ho culture.

The meal prepared for Quan ho friends features many local specialties, carefully cooked and presented with refined manners, demonstrating elegance, courtesy, and heartfelt affection.

The term “Quan ho feast” is a simple and humble way of referring to this tradition, as such meals are far from daily fare.

They are meticulously prepared by the lien anh and lien chi, with great care, creativity, and skill, featuring distinctive dishes that follow the customs of each village.

The rice must be made from newly harvested grains, cooked to perfection so that it is soft, fragrant, and fluffy.

Dishes such as bamboo shoots, vermicelli, meatballs, pork skin jelly, and mushrooms are prepared with great attention to detail and served in decorative bowls.

A Quan ho meal for guests must include Vietnamese pork roll and chicken. According to Quan ho beliefs, chicken is not only a precious dish but also helps bring a sweeter voice and better singing.

The refinement of Quan ho feast is reflected not only in the dishes but also in the carefully selected tableware, which carries profound cultural meanings.

According to author Le Danh Khiem in the book Khong gian van hoa Quan Ho (The Cultural Space of Quan Ho), an authentic Quan ho meal must feature “mam dan – bat dan.”

The mam dan is a red wooden tray, associated with the legend of Ngo Cuong cutting down the cinnamon tree on the moon, while the bat dan refers to bowls carved from eucalyptus wood, inspired by the love story of Truong Chi.

Quan ho people use these items because they symbolise close bonds and express enduring loyalty and affection among members of the Quan ho community.

The “art of Quan ho” is a highly sophisticated tradition involving many rituals and codes of conduct, yet these practices also represent valuable cultural heritage that needs to be preserved.

When inviting Quan ho friends to a meal, hosts traditionally use graceful and humble expressions that reflect the elegant communication style of Quan ho people.

Quan ho cuisine includes not only savory dishes (tiec man) but also seasonal fruits, traditional cakes, and tea (tiec ngot). This has given rise to the folk saying: “Quan ho meal is a savory feast carried in and a vegetarian feast carried out.”

Each village has its own signature dishes, always selecting the finest specialties to welcome guests. Whether during the savory or sweet courses, Quan ho people place hospitality, respect, affection, elegance, and courtesy at the heart of their traditions.

Film inspired by Vietnamese Quan Ho folk singing released globally

Produced by the India Book of Records (IBR) based on an idea by Prof. Dr. Chu Bao Que, "Love Garden" weaves Quan Ho folk singing into a bridge connecting past and present. The storyline follows a young Indian woman from Madhya Pradesh state who travels to the heartland of Quan Ho in northern Vietnam and performance stages in Hanoi to trace memories of her late mother.

Bac Ninh preserves Quan Ho folk singing through digital transformation and tourism push

BAC NINH – Kinh Bac ward has recently issued a plan to preserve and promote the heritage value of Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk singing, further implementing Vietnam’s commitments to UNESCO in a new context shaped by digital transformation and tourism development.

Quan Ho folk singing performed on boats to mark Party congress

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Bac Ninh turns cultural essence of Quan Ho folk singing into unique tourism product

BAC NINH - Sixteen years after being recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Quan Ho folk singing — the signature art form of Bac Ninh province — has evolved from a traditional cultural expression into a captivating tourism experience that attracts visitors from across Vietnam and beyond. 

Teaching Quan Ho singing and Cheo performance to Bac Ninh students

BAC NINH - Bac Ninh Cheo Theater on August 25 organized an event to summarize the Quan Ho singing and Cheo performance class for students of Ngo Si Lien Secondary School (Bac Giang ward).

Unique cuisine in the land of quan ho folk songs

BAC NINH- As mentioning banh khuc (glutinous rice ball), people immediately think of a rustic dish in Diem village (or Viem Xa village, Kinh Bac ward).