Since ancient times, the people of Lung Giang and Tam Son (Tien Du - Bac Ninh) have created a unique art form, imbued with beliefs, telling about the efforts of their parents and filial piety. the children, called Chèo Chai hê (chèo two decimal filial). However, like the fate of many other forms of folklore, Chèo Chai hê is gradually disappearing and absent of talented and devoted artisans.

A flow of mandarins?
Mr. Nguyen Nang Dich, 60 years old, is the only artist who still preserves and remembers the origin and development history of this ancient rowing genre. Listening to the old people, in order to build a communal house, Lung Giang boys had to go to the forest to cut wood. When pulling to the river section through Tam Son village, it ran aground, thanks to the help of the people of this village. Since then, the two villages connected with Cheo Chai and Hehe originated from this area. The words in Chèo Chai hê are filled with humanity, its content tells about the father, mother, and filial piety of the son.

Cheo Chai hê is a very special cultural feature of the river culture and is only found in Lung Giang and Tam Son villages. The specialty of Chèo Chai hê is the mood of sadness, so it is often held on occasions such as the autumn of August (in the death anniversary) to show gratitude to parents, or to longevity and filial piety celebrations. Many researchers have the same feeling, this kind of culture is somewhat like Quan Quan. Dich himself also commented: "Is this a flow of Quan Quan?"

Ancient culture is gradually being forgotten
Artisan Nguyen Nang Dich has been in the country for weeks, but he is still lucid, and proud and passionate about the "treasures" his father left behind. he knew all of Cheo Chai's melodies. He said that the first person who studied Chèo Chai hê was his old friend, PhD. Le Van Toan (Deputy Director of Vietnam Music Institute). In 2003, when he came to his house, he heard a song sung: "Where to go from night till now / To wait for the news and wait for the good news", Mr. Toan exclaimed: "It is Chèo Chai hê already". Later, Chèo Chai hê was included in the national program of collecting and preserving the intangible culture of the nation by the Music Institute. Since then, many newspapers and radio have reported and suggested that Mr. Dich rebuild Cheo Chai ward. Bac Ninh School of Arts and Culture also invited him to teach, training young people so that they can preserve and retain the unique local culture. he also successfully created an excerpt of Cheo Chai hê participating in the National Festival of Music and Theater in 2006 in Da Nang.

The family of artisans Nguyen Nang Dich has many generations and many people know how to sing Cheo Chai hê, when he was small, he used to be in the singing sessions to serve tea for artisans, also his doctors.

But the restoration of Cheo Chai hê did not go smoothly. Lung Giang people have a tradition of good trading. In the market economy period, people are still engrossed in doing business so it is very difficult to gather more than 20 enthusiastic people to restore Cheo Chai hê ward. Besides the lack of manpower, there is a lack of funding and time. Mr. Dich said: "If mobilizing manpower, we do not know where to get money to pay for activities."

Experiencing the research, staging, Cheo Chai He has risen a small part. But the road to conservation and restoration is still very arduous, because those who still remember Cheo Chai hê no more. The preservation, preservation and promotion of new reality lies in books. But to put Cheo Chai hê into people's daily life is very difficult, after a few years has passed, but Cheo has never had one.

Mr. Dich confided: "I will try to find ways to choreograph and record images of dances and vocals so that in the future, there will be a valuable asset to be saved for the next life". Knowing when to enjoy the unique lyrics, dances, lively Cheo Chai performances, embodies an ancient folk life, but the innocence and health of that life are very should be back in today.