From an early age, Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang (born 1991) grew up surrounded by palettes and paintbrushes, amid lanterns, lion dance heads, and masks in her father’s handicraft workshop in Hoi An Tay Ward (Da Nang City). Today, she is striving to bring the art of mask painting associated with tuong (classical Vietnamese opera) closer to young people and international audiences.

Viet Nam possesses a wide range of rich and distinctive forms of traditional art; however, the exploitation and transformation of these values into drivers of development have not yet truly matched their potential. In the face of increasingly intense global competition, culture has become a pillar of national strength; therefore, properly recognising the role of traditional arts is an urgent requirement, reflecting a strategic vision.

When members of Generation (Gen) Z passionately explore and revitalise Cheo, Viet Nam’s traditional folk opera, it is not only an encouraging sign but also a testament to the enduring vitality of the nation’s traditional art.