Vietnam’s “cultural party” in Russia

The upcoming “Vietnamese cultural days” in Russia promises to have new and unique items which convey great political and cultural messages of a Vietnam which is on the way of renovation.

The Performing Arts Agency approved the script of this programme a long time ago and Vietnamese artists have been busy practicing. A rehearsal will be held in early September. On September 13, the first artists will go to Russia. The opening ceremony will take place on September 15 and the programme will close on September 20.

People’s Artist Tran Binh, Director of the Central Light Music Theatre, talks more about the programme.

Could you reveal special items that Vietnamese artists will bring to “Vietnamese cultural days” in Russia?

We have chosen new, talented and responsible artists for this programme and we guarantee that we will bring the best items, deeply imbued with Vietnamese characteristics but very modern, to Russia this time.

This programme will include a wide range of activities like a fair-exhibition, art performances, films with the participation of many units, totalling 75 people. Artists mainly come from the Central Light Music Theatre and the National Conservatory of Music, numbering 40 members, divided into three groups: traditional music troupe, orchestral music troupe and fashion troupe.

This is first time Vietnam is bringing a fashion show to a “Vietnamese cultural days” event, so what kinds of clothes will Vietnam introduce to the Russian audience?

Renovated ao dai and four-panel traditional dress will be the key items of the fashion show. Especially, we will bring 20 original sets of costumes of ethnic groups in the central and Central Highlands regions of Vietnam to Russia.

Will you choose completely new or traditional music items for this programme?

For traditional music items, Bac Ninh love duets will be the main feature of the programme. As for orchestral music, we invited famous violinist Bui Cong Duy and pianist Vu Ngoc Linh and a trio of senior lecturers at the National Conservatory of Music, Prof. Dr. Ngo Van Thanh, Prof. Dr. Tran Thu Ha and People’s Artist Tran Thi Mo. These artists were trained in Russia.

A meeting between Vietnamese and Russian artists will be a notable activity in this programme. What do we expect to gain from this meeting?

Many Vietnamese intellectuals have special sentiments towards Russia because this country has trained many famous artists of Vietnam. To enhance mutual understanding, we will organise an exchange between artists of the two countries to meet and share feelings after many years. I hope after such exchanges, cooperation in music training between Russia and Vietnam will be strengthened.

Besides advertising Vietnamese culture in Russia and tightening the friendship between the two countries, does the “Vietnamese cultural days” event hope to convey another message?

The programme is not only to introduce cultural characteristics of Vietnam in Russia but also to bring a message about a new Vietnam in the international integration process.

This is also the first time the “Vietnamese cultural days” is organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism so the event has great meaning in terms of politics and culture.