The song connects souls

VHO - From the majestic echoes of the Ma River to the melancholy of Hue folk songs, from the soulful Nghe folk songs to the soulful melodies by the poetic Lam River - all have blended into a national symphony at the 2025 North Central Region Mass Art Performance "Songs Connecting Rivers"

The dance performance shows the spirit of solidarity, belief and aspiration of the people of North Central Vietnam.

The event is not only an art playground but also a bridge connecting like-minded souls, honoring the cultural identity of each region and lighting the flame of love for heritage in the hearts of Vietnamese people.

Rivers tell stories of home

In the middle of a sunny and windy Thanh Hoa summer, Lam Son Theater becomes an artistic rendezvous for those who love folk music . With the resounding drum beats and bright lights, the stage lights up, evoking many cultural memories and many emotional sources about the beloved river regions.

The Ho Song Connecting the Rivers is a gathering of more than 200 artisans and amateur artists from 4 provinces: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Thua Thien Hue, with elaborately staged performances, imbued with the characteristics of Central Vietnamese folk culture, such as the hearty Ho Song Ma tune, the pure Nghe Tinh Vi Giam folk songs, the delicate and melancholy Hue songs... All have blended into a multi-tonal and emotional harmony, carrying the sounds of the land and the souls of the people of Central Vietnam.

One of the opening performances that left a strong impression was Khat vong song Lam, a heroic song expressing the aspiration to rise up and the strong vitality of the people of Nghe An. “I choked up when I sang the first verse of Khat vong song Lam, everyone listened and sang in unison. At that moment, all distances seemed to disappear...”, artist Thu Hoan (Nghe An Mass Art Troupe) shared, her eyes still shining with emotion.

Next is the song of the heart of Hong mountain, La river, a sweet and lyrical folk song, combining a deep melody and delicate lyrics, depicting the poetic beauty of Ha Tinh land. "Em thuong anh qua nui Hong, anh cho em ben song La"... makes many people tear up remembering a time of youth, an unforgettable memory. An audience in Vinh city expressed: "Hearing that song, I remember my mother, who used to sing lullabies to her children with Vi Giam tunes. Now my mother is far away, but the song seems to bring her back to me"...

The ensemble "Down the Ma River" from Thanh Hoa troupe brings a bustling, vibrant atmosphere with a slow, powerful rhythm. The sounds of drums, flutes, and monochords blend with ancient chants to create a vivid picture of hardworking, brave, kind-hearted, and spirited people.

With the song Loi Ca Song Huong from the Thua Thien Hue troupe, the audience seemed to be transported back to the poetic land of the ancient capital. The melodious, gentle lyrics, combined with traditional background music and the image of the gentle winding Huong River through each lyric, stirred up subtle emotions in the audience.

“The Perfume River is quiet, but when it is on stage, it is full of charm. I seem to see the silhouettes of ancient Hue women rowing boats and singing with immense voices...”, audience member Tran Cong Nho (Thanh Hoa) shared.

Each performance is a slice of culture, a story of life expressed through each melody. What is special here is the love of folk culture and the silent dedication of the amateur artists. They come from the countryside, from the fields, from the passion for traditional art passed down through generations. Many artists could not hide their emotions when standing on stage to perform their hometown melodies.

Many people confided that there were times when they thought they had to put aside their passion because of the vortex of making a living. But then, it was performances like this that held them back, giving them a space to burn with their identity. "Every time I put on the ao dai, stand on stage and sing the folk songs of my homeland, I feel like I have returned completely to the soul of my homeland, to my childhood memories," shared an artist participating in the performance.

Ethnic minority artists perform gong ensemble and traditional dances at Lam Son Theater stage

Journey to keep the heritage alive

During the three days from July 8-10, Cau ho noi nhung dong song has truly become an open art space, where artists gather, exchange and hone their performance skills. The performances not only carry the typical folk tones, but also strongly arouse the cultural pride of each participating locality.

This is considered an important milestone contributing to preserving and continuing the artistic source at the grassroots level - where traditional quintessence is still being cherished and preserved through each generation.

The festival also opens up a valuable opportunity for young people to approach and experience the rustic beauty of traditional melodies. In each performance, the image of children, pupils and students attentively listening and softly humming along to the folk songs and vi verses has left many emotions. These are the green buds of culture being cultivated from the rich folk material, a positive sign for the journey of continuing the heritage.

Deputy Director of Thanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms. Vuong Thi Hai Yen shared: “The festival is a unique art playground, carrying many meaningful values. From the participants to the performance theme and staging, everything is imbued with love for the homeland and the spirit of community solidarity. The lyrics sung will be imprinted in the minds of the audience as a message about the connection between people and their roots.”

Each performance is not simply a performance, but a story. The story of the land and people, of the peaceful countryside, of memories awakened through each song and melody. Therefore, the festival does not stop at the framework of an artistic event, but is a journey back to the cultural roots, where the soul is healed by simple, profound sounds.

From those simple lyrics, a belief was kindled that traditional values ​​are still alive in every rhythm of the folk songs and verses. The rivers, in the true spirit of the festival, will continue to flow, continuing to connect the land, the people and the memories.

On that flow, the young generation is being inspired to continue, to preserve, to renew the heritage with their own hearts that love culture and hope: Heritage is not only the past, but is resounding in today's life.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/cau-ho-noi-nhung-tam-hon-151163.html