[Video] Nha Nhac Royal Court Music: UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hue

Recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, Nha Nhac (Vietnamese Court Music) developed during the Nguyen Dynasty as the official ceremonial music of the imperial palaces in Hue.

The Sound of the Royal Court

Featuring a complex orchestra of traditional instruments—including the Dan Nhi (two-string fiddle), Trong Ban (court drum), Ken Bau (shawm), and stone lithophones—Nha Nhac was performed during coronations, royal banquets, and sacred ancestral rites.

"Nha Nhac expresses the philosophical harmony between heaven, earth, and mankind through intricate modal rhythms and poetic grace," says court music researcher Tran Van Khe.

Video Performance Content

• Duyet Thi Duong Royal Theater: Recorded inside Vietnam's oldest surviving imperial theater within the Forbidden Purple City.
• Court Dances: The Dance of the Four Sacred Animals (Dragon, Qilin, Turtle, Phoenix) and the Royal Lantern Dance.
• Costumes: Authentic imperial silk robes embroidered with silver and gold threads.

Immerse yourself in this royal auditory masterpiece below.