The Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces in northern Vietnam have many twinned villages, which are reinforced by social customs such as the Quan Ho Bac Ninh folk songs. They are sung by two women from one village who sing in harmony, and two men from another village who respond with similar melodies, but with different lyrics.
According to history, Quan Ho Bac Ninh Folk Songs were first exchanged between two Mandarin families. Gradually, they spread out to the northern people and became popular. Couples would get together just for the sake of singing, and many marriages emerged from these gatherings. They became the most important Vietnamese folk song for centuries.
The Quan Ho singing style is characterized by its antiphonal nature where alternate singing is performed by two choirs or singers. The woman's costume traditionally includes a long round hat and scarf, and the man's costume includes turbans, umbrellas, and tunics. Song lyrics express people's feelings of longing and sadness upon separation, as well as their joy upon meeting their lover, but custom forbids marriage to someone who sings.
During rituals, festivals, competitions, and informal gatherings, Quan ho singing is frequently done. At these events, guests sing to their hosts about a variety of verses before they say farewell. Young musicians of both sexes may practice the four ways of singing – restrained, resonant, ringing, and staccato at parties.
Traditionally, the singing started the evening before the festival, but it is now more common for it to happen on the main festival day. In general, a pair of female singers sing a "challenge phrase" (cau ra) from the known songs, and a pair of male singers respond by choosing a "matching phrase" (cau doi), repeating the melody of the challenge phrase.
In the past, the men sang unaccompanied, but today it is common for them to be accompanied by traditional Vietnamese instruments or modern ones such as electric keyboards. Once they are finished singing, the order is reversed, and the men sing their own challenge phrase with a different melody.
Chan Ho songs express the spirit, philosophy, and local identity of this region's communities and bring people together who share a cherished cultural practice. Nowadays, "Quan Ho" is not only a social activity between a couple of singers - female and male - but also a way to express human and national love. The folk songs echo the love between men and women, but also convey sympathy and reverence for their country.