An evening… of Traditional Music

Cau Go Restaurant is superbly located in the very heart of Hanoi. The bustling old quarter, the charming Hoan Kiem Lake and many of the city’s finest museums are within walking distance… and so is vast array of exciting evening activities. In our ‘An Evening…’ series, we open up nighttime Hanoi by providing you with the ingredients to cook up a fabulous evening in this charming city. Hanoi is undoubtedly Vietnam’s culture capital, and what better way to spend an evening here than to combine a fabulous meal with unique entertainment?

This post will focus on Ca Tru, which has been in existence for a millennium and has recently been recognized by UNESCO as an example of Intangible Cultural Heritage. A performance of Ca Tru is something completely unique, sure to be different from anything you’ve ever heard before. The experience has been described as ‘otherworldly’, ‘mesmerizing’ and even ‘haunting’. All photos courtesy of Ca Tru Thang Long

A meal at Cau Go Restaurant preceding or following a Ca Tru performance makes for a magical Hanoian experience. Our new menu has a section devoted to northern flavors and Ca Tru is the quintessential northern music form. Originally only performed during court religious ceremonies, Ca Tru is believed to have started during the Ly dynasty (the same dynasty responsible for founding Hanoi) but became more widespread throughout Northern Vietnam in the 15th Century.

Ca Tru has just 3 performers:

1. The Vocalist is always female and plays the phách, small wooden sticks beaten on a small bamboo bar.
2. The Lute Player is traditionally male but now both men and women can be seen playing this role. The lute for Ca Tru has a long neck and just 3 strings.
3. The Spectator who beats the praise drum; the way he strikes the drum tells whether or not he approves of the song.

Ca Tru Thang Long has showings on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 8pm at 28 Hang Buom. Tickets are just 210,000 VND ($10) for an intimate showing with around 10 guests. You will also be given the chance to play the instruments so be sure to pluck up the courage and have your camera ready! An early dinner at 6pm is enough time for a great meal in the early evening before the 10 minute walk to Hang Buom. Alternatively, you could book a table for 9.15pm and stroll over after the showing as it is no longer than an hour.