Audience and artists sing the national anthem together during the show. Video by courtesy of the organizers
The “To Quoc Trong Tim” concert on Aug. 10 concert drew widespread attention as crowds in red-and-yellow shirts representing the country’s flag filled My Dinh Stadium. They sang the national anthem with hands on heart and passed along the national flag.
The concert featured revolutionary music and did not reveal its performers ahead of time.
It drew huge attention with more than three million accounts registering for free tickets on the website. But scalpers have been offering them at prices of up to VND1 million (US$40).
Dang Duong, one of the performers, says he was overwhelmed by the audience’s energy. “I have sung in many concerts, but this was the first time I performed revolutionary music in a stadium before 50,000 people.”
Veteran Le Tinh, 81, says he was surprised that many young spectators knew the songs that defined his generation by heart.
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Audience at the “To Quoc Trong Tim” concert. Video by courtesy of the organizers |
Until recently only Korean and other pop concerts such as Blackpink and “Anh Trai Say Hi” could draw tens of thousands of people to stadiums. Blackpink’s 2023 shows in Hanoi attracted 67,000 fans over two nights. “Anh Trai Say Hi” drew more than 30,000 people.
In April the “Hen Uuoc Bac Nam” (North-South Promise) concert at My Dinh Stadium drew 12,000 spectators while the “Mua Xuan Thong Nhat” (Spring of Reunification) show in HCMC attracted 5,000.
Gen Z coined the term “national concert” for events that feature Vietnamese revolutionary music like “Hen Uoc Bac Nam” and encourage each other to attend. For the “To Quoc Trong Tim” concert, organizers adopted the phrase as a main promotional keyword.
Audience cheer as singer Dang Duong performs “Dat Nuoc Tron Niem Vui” (A Nation in Joy) by composer Hoang Ha during the “To Quoc Trong Tim” concert. Video courtesy of organizers
Revolutionary music is now attracting young fans through new singing and performance styles. Instead of in mid-sized theaters, concerts are held in open-air venues like parks and stadiums with large stages and modern technology.
The stage for the To quoc trong tim event was shaped like a “V” to represent Vietnam. The stage for the “Hen Uoc Bac Nam” concert featured two staggered blocks, symbolizing North and South Vietnam with the Hien Luong Bridge across the Ben Hai River in between.
Event organizers carefully selected familiar revolutionary songs and utilized lighting effects to connect with young audiences, and the performers included popular Gen Z idols such as Soobin, Hoa Minzy and Noo Phuoc Thinh.
Singer Tung Duong says artists are working to renew revolutionary music. “During the war our older generations performed on a simple stage. We represent a peaceful era, so we often mix the songs with rock, R&B or hip hop.”
Singer Tung Duong Performs “Viet continues the story” (Continuing The Story of Peace) by Composer Nguyen Van Chung During The “To Quoc in the heart” Concert. Video by htv
At the “To Quoc Trong Tim” concert, the crowd sang along from start to finish. Images of fans chanting lines like “Ho do ta nao, keo phao ta vuot qua nui” from “Ho Keo Phao” (Artillery Hauling Shanty) by Hoang Van and “Nao anh em ta cung nhau xong pha len dang” from “Len Dang” (Onward We March) by Luu Huu Phuoc went viral online.
Tech entrepreneur Do Cao Bao wrote on his personal page: “There were no international stars, no trendy music, just a political concert with familiar songs about the homeland. Yet these songs touched hearts and stirred national pride.” His comment drew widespread agreement and shares.
Social media has also amplified the reach of revolutionary and patriotic songs. Nguyen Van Chung’s “Viet Tiep Cau Chuyen Hoa Binh” (Continuing the Story of Peace) was released two years ago, but it became popular after young producer Duc Tu remixed it and posted it on TikTok, drawing billions of eyeballs.
Linh Lan, a spectator in HCMC, says she discovered the song through a video of students singing and dancing on TikTok. Other songs like “Tien ve Sai Gon” (March for Sai Gon) performed by Oplus and Mot vong Viet Nam performed by Tung Duong gained millions of views after being remade into short videos.
Major shows such as Anh Trai Vuot Ngan Chong Gai and Bai Hat cua Chung Ta also gave the genre a fresh look by making songs like “Me Yeu Con” (Mother Loves Her Child) by Nguyen Van Ty and “Chiec Khan Pieu” (The Pieu Scarf, a traditional Vietnamese attire) by Doan Nho feel more youthful and relatable.
Young people attending national concerts also embraced new cultural symbols like the red-and-yellow shirt. Phrases like “patriotic fandom” and “national flag lightstick” have become part of the experience.
Artists Thanh Hoa and Hoa Minzy performed “Rung Xanh Vang Tieng Ta-lu” (The green forest echoes with Ta-lu chants, Ta-lu is a type of rhythmic chant associated with ethnic groups in Vietnam) by composer Phuong Nam at the “Hen uoc Bac Nam” concert in April. Video by Loc Chung
Lan Anh, 21, a student in Hanoi, says the program changed her perception that revolutionary music was rigid.
“After the concert the melodies kept echoing in my mind. I went back to listen to songs like “Doan Ve Quoc Quan” (The National Defense Army March) by Phan Huynh Dieu and “Dat Nuoc Tron Niem Vui” (A Nation in Joy) by Hoang Ha, and learned the lyrics more carefully to be ready for the next concerts.”
Associate Professor Bui Hoai Son says: “As the country enters an era of global integration …, concerts like “To quoc trong tim” remind us of our roots.
“These are the foundations that allow us to embrace the new without losing our identity, to compete while preserving the Vietnamese spirit.”
The “national concert” effect has fueled public enthusiasm for music events marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2.
Many people have looked for tickets to shows such as “Hanoi From the Historic Autumn of 1945” (Aug. 15 at the August Revolution Square), “Proud to Be Vietnamese” (Aug. 17 at My Dinh Stadium) and “Vietnam in Me” (Aug. 26 in Dong Anh, Hanoi).
