Thua Thien-Hue tightens management of Hue singing performances on Huong River

Thua Thien-Hue province has just directed departments, branches and local authorities to strengthen the management of Hue singing performances on the Huong River in accordance with regulations, to contribute to promoting Hue cultural heritage.

Ca Hue was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2015. For many years, Ca Hue performances on the Perfume River have been a unique tourism product with its own identity in the ancient capital of Hue.

According to the Department of Culture and Sports of Thua Thien-Hue, the province has 12 licensed enterprises to organize Ca Hue performances with more than 500 actors and musicians; of which, more than 250 actors and musicians participate in Ca Hue tours on the Perfume River.

On the Perfume River, there are about 40 boats participating in organizing Hue Singing performances, not only creating jobs and income for hundreds of actors and musicians but also contributing significantly to promoting Hue's cultural heritage.

However, the activity of organizing Hue Ca performances on the Perfume River still exists. That is, some units participating in the performance organization do not ensure the regulations such as boats carrying more people than the number of people, cutting down the program, performance duration or performing not according to the licensed program, the situation of soliciting, combining guests, lowering tour prices leading to the program quality not being guaranteed.

Authorities have also disciplined a number of cases where actors and musicians did not wear name tags; captains and crew members did not wear name tags or uniforms when participating in Ca Hue performances.

To improve the management of Hue Ca performances, on May 3, 2024, the People's Committee of Thua Thien-Hue province issued Decision No. 21/2024/QD-UBND on the Regulations on management and organization of Hue Ca performances in the province.

The decision sets out many regulations on Hue Ca performances on the Perfume River, such as tourist boats that organize Hue Ca performances must install 2-3 surveillance cameras in the performance area (with a minimum data storage of 7 days), connected to the information system of the management agency; pick-up and drop-off points for Hue Ca performances on the Perfume River are at Toa Kham Tourist Boat Wharf and other wharves licensed by competent State agencies in accordance with regulations...

In addition, the Department of Culture coordinates with relevant units to establish interdisciplinary teams to inspect the organization of Hue Ca performances, especially Hue Ca performances on the Huong River; simultaneously deploy troops to ensure security, order and environment at tourist boat docks.

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Thua Thien-Hue province Nguyen Thien Binh, along with propaganda and mobilization of units to implement the Regulations on management and organization of Ca Hue performances, the Department has strengthened the organization of inter-sectoral inspections of business activities, resolutely and strictly handled violations of boat owners, actors and musicians who do not ensure the quality of their performances, in order to create a good impression in the hearts of tourists, making Ca Hue a typical cultural and tourism product of the province.

The People's Committee of Thua Thien-Hue province has just directed the Department of Culture and Sports and the People's Committee of Hue city to implement solutions including strengthening the appraisal of approval of Hue Ca performance programs to ensure proper quality; promoting propaganda and dissemination of legal regulations related to performance activities for organizations and individuals participating in Hue Ca performance activities; coordinating with relevant agencies to strengthen inspection, examination, rectification and proposing relevant agencies to strictly handle the situation of organizing performances in violation of regulations and the situation of selling individual tickets in the wrong places.

In addition, units organize professional training, foster performance skills, management skills, and program hosting skills; equip and update knowledge about laws, professional codes of conduct, and knowledge about Hue culture for artists, actors, and musicians; build media billboards about regulations on organizing Hue singing performances at Toa Kham Tourist Wharf; build ticket sales locations for Hue singing arranged centrally at Toa Kham Tourist Wharf, and must post ticket prices registered with the tax authority for the performance program.

In addition, continue to review and advise on documents guiding state management of Hue singing activities, especially Hue singing on the Perfume River./.