本文針對社會主義越南共和國的音樂現狀，以局外人的觀點探討其音樂保存和發展的各個面向。由於越南的特殊狀況，許多音樂傳統都被以當前越南的文化政策視角─即有時被稱作「革命寫實主義」的風格加以重新評估及定義。而許多實際的音樂生態也因為近來的歷史發展，包括音樂的制度化，而產生了改變。然而，此種在傳統與現代化之間的掙扎並非晚近之事，而是已持續了數十年之久。

Focusing on the current situation of music in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, this article explores aspects of preservation and development of music from an outsider’s point of view. Because of Vietnam's specific situation, many traditions have been reevaluated and redefined according to contemporary Vietnamese cultural politics in a style sometimes called “revolutionary realism.” Many musical practices have also changed stemming from the stress of recent history including institutionalization of music. This struggle between tradition and modernization, however, is not new and in other guises has gone on for decades.