Tuong of Quang Nam: Classical Theatre and Where to Find It
Tuong (tuồng, also called hat boi) is Vietnam's classical theatre. In Da Nang it dates to the 17th century. The culture ministry recognised Quang tuong as national intangible heritage in a decision of 8 June 2015. Today the merged Da Nang Traditional Arts Theatre carries it on.
In this guide
What tuong is
Tuong (tuồng) is a traditional Vietnamese theatrical art form, also known as hat boi (hát bội). Think of sung verse, drums and stylised costume rather than realistic acting. Characters follow set types: young male, female, elderly, traitor, loyal official, general and demon. The music runs in three main modes, recitative, southern singing and northern singing.
Because the roles are fixed, a first-time visitor follows a scene without knowing the plot, since a traitor looks like a traitor. This page covers where Quang tuong comes from, one famous Quang Nam master, the heritage recognition and how to see a show. It pairs with bai choi, the other stage art of the same region.
Where Quang tuong comes from
Workshop speakers in Quang Nam said in 2018 that tuong of the Quang region inherited from Hue court tuong and overlaps with Binh Dinh tuong. The Da Nang theatre’s director put it more simply: Quang Nam and Da Nang are the cradle that gave birth to tuong.
Tuong began in the Da Nang area as early as the 17th century. Many troupes existed by the early 19th century, and the early 20th century was a golden era. In 2018 a Quang Nam culture official counted about 20 tuong units still performing fairly regularly in the province.
Nguyen Hien Dinh and the An Quan school
The Da Nang theatre carries his name, and tuong in Da Nang is hard to discuss without him. He lived from 1853 to 1926. He composed many classic scripts that became benchmarks for performers across Vietnam.
A Bao Phap Luat profile adds the man. He came from An Quan village, Dien Phuoc district, Dien Ban prefecture, rose to the rank of Tuan vu, and was nicknamed Cu Tuan An Quan. He founded the An Quan theatre school in his home village. His best-known pupils, the ngu my, were famed across central Vietnam. For the scholars of the same province, see Quang Nam scholars.
National heritage recognition
Tuong in Da Nang was recognised as national intangible cultural heritage in a decision of 8 June 2015. A 2018 press report confirms the ministry’s formal recognition of Quang tuong. The date comes from the city tourism portal; the ministry’s own text was not checked.
The theatre today
The Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong Theatre merged with the Quang Nam Opera Troupe to form the Da Nang Traditional Arts Theatre. A January 2026 report says it works on two forms, tuong and bai choi opera, and performs in public space, especially on both banks of the Han River. The same report warns that young artists are few. A 2018 workshop named wider worries: fading, few successors and no performance space.
How to see a show
Ask first, because times have moved. The Nguyen Hien Dinh theatre is at 155 Phan Chau Trinh, Hai Chau, as of November 2025. The address after the merger is unconfirmed.
Past schedules show the pattern, not today’s timetable. In 2018 a free street programme ran from 19:00 to 20:45 every Saturday on the east bank of the Han River.
In July 2019 the Hon Viet show opened for tourists with evening slots, Sunday at 17:30 and Wednesday closed. As of July 2019, the first 15 shows were free, then the price was VND 300 thousand per guest. It included an excerpt from Nguyet Co hoa cao. By July 2020 the theatre was lighting up on weekends after the Covid break, with about 40 to 50 seats filled per night. All of this is history, so ask the venue.
In Hoi An, tuong excerpts are staged at the Traditional Art Performance House, 66 Bach Dang Street, during events such as Hoi An Ancient Town Night and the Mid-Autumn Festival. See Hoi An ancient town for planning.
Tuong, bai choi and hat ba trao
Tuong and bai choi now share one theatre, so a single venue covers both. Hat ba trao is a different art: a certificate naming it national intangible heritage was handed to Nui Thanh in February 2016. No source read ties it to tuong, so this page claims no link.
Photos (1)
- Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên, CC BY-SA 3.0 (opens in a new tab)
Not confirmed: Today's show times and ticket prices are unconfirmed; the figures here are old. The earliest start date rests on one portal page. Ho Si Tao appears in no source read, so he is left out. No source links tuong to hat ba trao. The theatre's founding year, merger year and post-merger address are open.
Common questions
What is tuong?
A traditional Vietnamese theatrical art form, also called hat boi. Characters fall into set roles such as young male, elderly, traitor and loyal official, and the music has three main modes.
How old is tuong in Quang Nam and Da Nang?
It began in the Da Nang area as early as the 17th century, and many troupes existed by the early 19th century.
Who was Nguyen Hien Dinh?
A mandarin from An Quan village in Dien Ban, who rose to the rank of Tuan vu and founded the An Quan theatre school. He lived from 1853 to 1926.
Is tuong a national heritage?
Yes. Tuong in Da Nang was recognised in a decision of 8 June 2015, and a 2018 press report confirms the ministry's formal recognition of Quang tuong.
Where do you see tuong in Da Nang and Hoi An?
The Nguyen Hien Dinh theatre is at 155 Phan Chau Trinh, Hai Chau. In Hoi An, excerpts are staged at the Traditional Art Performance House, 66 Bach Dang Street. Ask the venue for the current programme.
How much is a ticket?
No current price is known. When the Hon Viet show launched in July 2019, the first 15 shows were free and the price then set was VND 300 thousand per guest. Treat that as history.
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General information checked against the sources listed above. Ticket prices, opening hours and rules change; check with the place before you go. See how guides are checked.
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