Imperial court dances[edit]
Accompanied with Nhã nhạc (court music of the Trần Dynasty to the Nguyễn Dynasty) were the intricate dances of the Vietnamese Imperial court. Nhã Nhạc means "elegant music" when translated. While assuredly court dances existed before nhã nhạc in particular emerged, it is the Nguyễn Dynasty form that is still highly preserved today, and has been declared along with the whole of nhã nhạc as an Intangible cultural heritage.
These dances require great skill and the dancers are often dressed in extravagant costumes. Currently, they are performed at festivals in Huế (múa cung đình Huế - court dance) or other special (often televised) occasions, in order to promote the traditional arts. Some of the most popular dances include (among others):
Fan dance - vũ phiến
Lantern dance - lục cúng hoa đăng
Lotus dance - múa sen, múa bài bông
Flag dance
Platter dance - múa mâm
Candle dance
Incense dance
Hat dance - múa nón
Scarf dance
Lion dance - múa lân
Ribbon dance
The meaning of "múa" extends to water puppetry - múa rối nước