HÁT XOAN SINGING AS A CASE OF GLOCALIZATION꞉ AN ANALYSIS OF THE RECONFIGURATION OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE IN VIETNAM'S URBAN CONTEXT

Abstract

This article examines Xoan singing in Phu Tho province as a representative case of cultural glocalization in the
safeguarding and revitalization of intangible cultural heritage in contemporary Vietnam. Under the influences
of globalization, urbanization, and digital transformation, Xoan singing ‑ once a sacred village‑based ritual ‑
has undergone profound reconfiguration in its social actors, spatial settings, performance forms, musical
aesthetics, costumes, and functions. Drawing on ethnographic data, governmental reports, and secondary
sources (2011–2024), the study adopts an anthropological and cultural approach, employing the theoretical
frameworks of glocalization and heritage reconfiguration to interpret the adaptive mechanisms of this heritage
practice. The findings indicate that Xoan singing has evolved into a form of dynamic heritage, simultaneously
maintaining ritual authenticity and flexibly adapting to urban environments and global media networks. This
paper contributes to theoretical discussions on cultural glocalization in intangible heritage studies and proposes
the concept of “dynamic conservation” as an alternative approach to contemporary cultural governance in
Vietnam.