Hue Singing, in general, is not written on the basis of 6-8 poems or "Ve" (a traditional kind of music). Its lyric is written on the basis of existing melodies. Melodies may also be written based on available lyrics.
Compared to folk music, Hue Singing is usually more complicated. To take an example, songs, namely "Hanh van", "Luu thuy" or "Tu dai canh" commonly include complete verses tightly connected like the structure of traditional poem ("khai, thua, chuyen, hop).
As for Hue Singing’s performance, it is quite similar to "Tru singing" in the north with the accompanying of moon lute, pipa, Chinese guizheng, the two-string fiddle and coin clapper.
With regards to structure and performance style, Hue Singing is considered as a professional and intellectual genre of music clearly affected by folk music. Therefore, it not only successfully satisfies the noble class and feudal intellectuals but also locals.
It is Hue Singing and folk music that make Hue music widely known in northern and southern areas. For this reason, Hue Singing was once called "Ca ly Hue" in the north.