Xẩm folk singing «Xẩm Show» at CADAO Collective

   Xẩm is the music Hanoi once heard at village markets, river landings and old street corners. On Saturday evenings near West Lake (Hồ Tây), veteran masters of the genre sing it again, up close.

   The program features familiar xẩm tunes:
— «Xẩm 36 phố phường» (Xam of the 36 Streets)
— «Vui nhất có chợ Đồng Xuân» (Dong Xuan Market Is the Most Fun)
— «Xẩm diêm huê»
— «Mục hạ vô nhân»
According to the press, the performers include People's Artist Xuan Hoach (Xuân Hoạch), artisan Ta Hanh (Tạ Hạnh) and performer Tran Koong (Trần Koóng).

   The performance takes place upstairs in the Home (Nhà) space, in the relaxed hát chơi style — singing for pleasure. Afterwards you can talk with the masters and hold the instruments: the đàn đáy lute, the đàn bầu monochord, the nhị fiddle, the phách clappers and the trống chầu drum.

   The press describes xẩm as evoking the bustling, lively street life of old Hanoi, and this evening is for anyone curious about the city's song culture who wants to hear it from the masters rather than on a recording.

   CADAO Collective opened in July 2026; its three floors — Village, Street and Home — are given over to water puppetry, food and drink, and ca trù and xẩm singing.

   «Xẩm Show» runs on Saturday evenings, after the «Rối Show» puppet performance; CADAO Collective publishes its schedule month by month. Besides the show ticket there is a package with dinner. CADAO Collective posts the schedule and prices on its Facebook page.

   If you would rather end your Saturday with songs about old Hanoi's streets than in a bar, head upstairs to the Home in time for the start.