Ben Tre | Enjoy Southern Folk Music – Don ca tai tu by the Riverside

Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Đon ca tai tu is a unique form of Southern Vietnamese traditional music. In Ben Tre, visitors can enjoy this soulful performance in a truly authentic setting—along quiet canals, beneath swaying coconut palms, or in rustic garden houses.

You might listen to live performances while drifting on a small boat or relaxing in a riverside hut, where local musicians play traditional instruments like the đan kim (two-string lute), đan tranh (16-string zither), and đan co (Vietnamese fiddle). Famous songs such as Da co hoai lang and Ly con sao Bac Lieu bring alive the poetic spirit of the Mekong Delta.

What makes this experience special is the chance to try it yourself: guests are often invited to strum a few notes, sing a simple folk verse, or even dress in a traditional áo bà ba outfit. It’s a beautiful, hands-on way to connect with the cultural soul of southern Vietnam