The Process of French Cultural Acculturation in Vietnamese Songs Before 1975

Vietnamese songs emerged as a necessity due to the influence of French culture. When Vietnamese New music emerged, Vietnamese people had their own songs. These songs not only inherit elements of Western culture but also bring characteristics of Vietnamese people’s composition. The interaction between Eastern and Western cultures in this genre is expressed in various ways. The characteristics of content, theme, style, and genre of the song reflect not only the Vietnamese society of the time and the thoughts and emotions of the Vietnamese people, but also the ways of importing French culture into Vietnam. The musical characteristics, ethnicity, and influences of Western culture are expressed through three typical elements such as structure, material, and tonality. This created an intersection of Eastern–Western culture in the genre of the song.