A popular instrument in cheo and cai luong orchestras, the dan tham tap luc consists of a wooden trapezium with two rows of eighteen metal strings, played with two felt-tipped bamboo mallets.

The instrument has a two-octave register with the lower end giving warm, deep sounds, the middle giving full, pure sounds, and the upper end giving sharper sounds. The player can vary the sounds by using techniques such as vibration, tremolo, stopping, sliding and making chords.

As well accompanying cheo and cai luong operas, the dan tam thap luc can also be used in solo performance, to accompany singers, or in an integrated traditional orchestra.