Many hát ru begin with the gentle sounds "à ơi" to soothe a baby.
"À ơi" is a soft, sing-song sound. It is like saying "there, there" to help a little one drift off.
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More facts about Vietnamese Lullabies
Vietnamese lullabies are called "hát ru," sung softly to help babies sleep.
Babies are often rocked to sleep in a cloth hammock called a "võng."
Grandmothers and mothers pass hát ru down by heart, song after song.
Many lullabies use words from old folk poems called "ca dao."
Hát ru is one of the oldest singing traditions in Vietnam.