In addition to dance and singing and amateur theatre festivals, 34 outdoor art shows will be held in all the city’s districts and towns to serve local people, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said at a press briefing on June 23.

Highlight of the programme will be an art performance entitled “Flame from the Hung Kings ancestral land to Hanoi-1,000 year-old capital city” that will be staged at the downtown Ba Kieu Temple on the evening of July 2. Hundreds of artists will use art language to tell the story on the nation’s founding and defence process from Hung Kings to the Ho Chi Minh era.

Two days later, the symphony orchestra of the Vietnam National Academy of Music will perform works composed by musician Vinh Cat, which feature the history and culture of Thang Long-Dong Do-Hanoi.

Only the Thang Long Water Puppetry Theater, which has three shows a day, is well known to tourists. Other theaters don’t have regular shows.

The Vietnam Tuong Theatre recently launched a website in English and Vietnamese, introducing its history of tuong and its performing schedules. The theatre also tries to organize occasional shows at the Hong Ha theater on every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon to serve foreign tourists.

The show comprises tuong extracts, such as “The old husband carries his young wife on his back to a festival”, “Mother unicorn gives birth”, “Hue royal court music” and “Ho Nguyet Co changes into a fox”. These items are mainly performed in dance so it is not difficult to understand for foreigners.

However, the theater director, People’s Artist Hoang Khiem complained that the shows do attract many audiences because travel firms won’t add it to their tours.

Meanwhile, the Hanoi Cheo Theater has built good relationships with travel firms over the last four years and has two shows a week for tourists.

The theatre’s director Trinh Thuy Mui said her shows are always full. The theater introduces ancient cheo extracts like “Thi Mau visits pagoda”, “Suy Van pretends to be mad”, and the “Tam Cam Sisters”.

The Vietnam Cheo Theater has also launched weekend shows at the Kim Ma Theater, Hanoi, for tourists. Besides ancient and modern cheo extracts, the theatre introduces Vietnamese folk songs and music. Its website in English and Vietnamese has been launched, too.

“The public hasn’t neglected traditional arts,” said Thao Giang, deputy director of the Vietnam Center for Music Art Development, saying that the hat xam show on every Saturday at the Dong Xuan market is soon to reach its1000th show.

The free show attracts thousands, including many foreign tourists every Saturday night. However, the Vietnam Center for Music Art Development can only introduce a number of hat xam songs because of a lack of funds.

Effectively advertising traditional arts is a difficult job.

In HCM City, the policy to serve tourists with traditional arts has been implemented since 2005. The local Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has combined with local theaters to organize traditional music shows for foreign tourists.

The Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theater introduced cai luong shows with special extracts like Luc Van Tien – Kieu Nguyet Nga, Lu Bo-Dieu Thuyen and Da Co Hoai Lang, performed by the Light up faith troupe.

The HCM City Art Performance Company has a “Painting of Motherland” show with many special songs and dances.

However, after four years, all of these programs have closed due to lack of audiences and lack of funds.

Phan Quoc Hung, director of the Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theater, said that a lack of cooperation between theaters and travel firms is the biggest reason.

At present, only the Rong Vang Water Puppetry Theatre still opens its door for tourists. Actress Hong Van recently opened the Super Bowl stage, where she performs dramas in English.