Meet the only remaining heir of the ancient then in the Northeast

Artist Hoang Thi Me (also known as Vi Thi Me) is a "big tree" in Then rituals of the Tay people, especially in the Northeast region of Vietnam. She was born in 1911, residing in Na Khau village, Dong Tam commune, Binh Lieu district, Quang Ninh province.

Since she was a child, Me was raised in the cradle of Then culture, often singing Then rituals with her mother. This is a type of folk performance that combines singing, dancing, music and acting, imbued with spirituality, used by the Tay people to ward off bad luck, pray for blessings, pray for good harvests, pray for health and cure diseases. Me has devoted her entire life to practicing and teaching Then. She is one of the rare artists who still preserves ancient Then rituals, especially Then rituals - the core and most sacred part of Then practice.

With her extensive knowledge of Then, Hoang Thi Me has become a symbol, a "living treasure" of this heritage. She is not only a practitioner but also a person who inspires the fire, contributing to preserving and promoting the value of Then in the community.