Dan Bau artist Van Trung wins Third Prize at International Traditional Music Competition in Kyrgyzstan
WVR - Bringing the sound of the Vietnamese dan bau (Mono-cord musical instrument) to the international traditional music festival "Kochmondor Sanaty" as part of the VI World Nomad Games 2026, artist Van Trung - Nguyen Thi Trung excelled in winning the Third Prize in the Instrumental Performance category.
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| Artist Van Trung receiving the award alongside international artists. (Source: VI World Nomad Games 2026) |
This achievement marks a significant milestone for Vietnamese artists at a platform that gathers traditional music practitioners from 38 countries.
The competition is part of the festival, within the cultural program of the VI World Nomad Games 2026 – the sixth edition of the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan.
According to the national news agency of Kyrgyzstan, Kabar, the festival took place over four days and brought together artists and traditional music practitioners from 38 countries. It is considered an international exchange space aimed at showcasing the musical heritage of various ethnic groups while enhancing connectivity and friendship among cultures.
According to the official results announced in Kyrgyzstan on September 5, the competition comprised three categories: storytelling, instrumental, and vocal-instrumental arts.
In the Instrumental Performance/Instrumental Art category, Vietnam's representative Nguyen Thi Trung - dan bau artist Van Trung was awarded the Third Prize, accompanied by a prize of 50,000 Kyrgyzstan som. The award was presented at the festival's closing ceremony on September 5.
The award for the Vietnamese representative was presented by Professor Dr. Sulaiman Kayipov, a scholar, cultural-folklore and history researcher, who has conducted extensive research on Central Asian culture and ethnic groups. International academic sources also recognize him with the title of Professor and his scientific research role in Kyrgyzstan.
In the instrumental category's achievement list, the Grand Prix was awarded to artist Mehri Asadullaeva from Azerbaijan. First prizes were given to representatives from Kyrgyzstan and a group of artists from India; second prizes went to representatives from Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. Vietnam's representative Nguyen Thi Trung was among the artists winning the Third Prize.
Bringing the Vietnamese Dan Bau to the World
For Van Trung, appearing on an international stage that gathers artists preserving traditional music from many countries is not just about conquering a competition. More importantly, it is an opportunity for the sound of the Vietnamese dan bau to resonate amidst the diverse cultural landscape of the world.
The female artist shared: “The most meaningful thing for me when participating in the program is not just an award, but the opportunity for the sound of the Vietnamese dan bau to be heard by international friends. I hope that through music, I can contribute a small part to preserving, promoting, and spreading the traditional cultural values of the Vietnamese people to the world.”
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| The sound of Van Trung's dan bau on the festival stage. (Source: VI World Nomad Games 2026) |
With an instrument that has only one string, the artist must master technique, nuance, and expressive ability to create a vast sound world. Therefore, the presence of the Vietnamese dan bau in the competition is also a way to introduce international friends to the creativity and depth of Vietnamese traditional music.
Formally trained in traditional music and graduating as the valedictorian in the Dan Bau major at the Vietnam National Academy of Music, artist Van Trung not only engages in performance activities but also dedicates much effort to ethnic music education and bringing traditional art closer to students.
Currently, the artist is the Head of the High School Department at Nguyen Binh Khiem Secondary & High School (Cau Giay, Hanoi), directly teaching and managing the school's ethnic orchestra. Over many years of activity, Van Trung has participated in staging, training, and bringing many student groups to participate in art platforms domestically and internationally, achieving numerous awards.
In addition to teaching, the female artist has participated in cultural exchange programs promoting Vietnamese culture in Russia, China, Cuba, Thailand, Myanmar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Philippines, Mongolia, and several other countries; performing in cultural exchange programs, diplomatic events, Vietnam Weeks abroad, as well as programs welcoming international guests in Vietnam.
From Silver Cup in Mongolia to Third Prize in Kyrgyzstan
The award in Kyrgyzstan continues Van Trung's journey of bringing Vietnamese ethnic music to the world. In 2025, she participated in Asia Folk - the Asian Folk Art Festival in Mongolia, an event with about 170 artists from 11 countries, and won the Silver Cup.
From this milestone, in 2026, Van Trung received an invitation to participate in the program in Kyrgyzstan and continued to bring the Vietnamese dan bau to a larger international stage. If the Silver Cup in Mongolia was a milestone, the Third Prize in Kyrgyzstan is the next step in affirming the expressive capability of Vietnamese traditional instruments on the international stage.
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| The award in Kyrgyzstan continues Van Trung's journey of bringing Vietnamese traditional music to the world. (Source: VI World Nomad Games 2026) |
Notably, this journey is inseparable from the educational work of the female artist. For Van Trung, preserving traditional music is not only about continuing to perform but also about instilling a love for folk music in the younger generation, so that these values continue to be passed down.
The dan bau is a unique Vietnamese instrument. From a single string, through the hands and techniques of the artist, a wide range of sounds can be opened up in a transformative manner. In Kyrgyzstan, that sound was not just a part of a Vietnamese artist's performance but carried a story about the country, people, and soul of Vietnam; a story told through sound, in a meeting with other musical heritages of the world.
The Third Prize at this festival is thus not only a professional milestone for Van Trung but also adds a Vietnamese voice to the space of international traditional music exchange, preservation, and promotion.
