25 years remembering Trinh Cong Son

Hong Nhung recalled the silk scarf that Trinh Cong Son gave her to wear on her broken arm when she was 23 years old, while My Linh remembered the time nearly 30 years ago when she and her friends sang many songs by Trinh Cong Son…

Báo Tuổi Trẻ•09/03/2026

Trịnh Công Sơn - Ảnh 1. — Hong Nhung appeared more composed at the 25th anniversary concert commemorating Trinh Cong Son, in her singing style, interaction with the audience, and even her attire - Photo: T. DIEU

Four singers, Hong Nhung, My Linh, Quang Dung, and Ha Le, along with approximately 1,000 Hanoi audience members, remembered Trinh Cong Son at the "Lullaby for a Thousand Years" concert at the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Palace on the evening of March 8th, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the talented musician's passing.

A memorial concert filled with love to remember the musician who dedicated his life to writing loving songs, embracing people and stimulating the seeds of love within them, urging people to "love each other."

Trịnh Công Sơn - Ảnh 2. — Hong Nhung and Quang Dung sing a duet of the song "Like a Farewell" - Photo: T. ĐIỂU

Ha Le became more composed, while My Linh reminisced about a time when she was passionately singing Trinh Cong Son's music.

Ha Le opened the concert with a unique voice singing Trinh Cong Son's songs. It was unique because, although he had established his "brand" of singing Trinh Cong Son's music in a fresh, distinctive style that was well-received by young people, for most of the middle-aged and older audience at the "Lullaby for a Thousand Years" concert, that way of singing Trinh Cong Son's songs was still unfamiliar.

However, just like Trinh Cong Son's open and tolerant heart, embracing all human emotions, the audience who love Trinh Cong Son's music in Hanoi are also ready to open their hearts to any exploration of new paths for his music. They listened to "Tuoi Da Buon," "O Tro," "Diem Xua," and "Mua Hong" with the excitement of discovering a new garment for Trinh Cong Son's music.

Compared to her own recorded versions of these songs, Ha Le's live performances on stage are more emotional and less affected, thanks to the raw yet profound nature of the arrangements by musician Son Thach.

My Linh may not be the familiar voice for Trinh Cong Son's music, but Hanoi audiences clearly have a lot of affection for this singer, who is considered a diva.

My Linh sang "Let the Wind Carry It Away ," "Lullaby of Sorrow," "Mother's Lullaby," and especially the song "What Age Is Left for You? " full of memories, with heartfelt, resonant melodies.

Quang Dung already knows how to dance.

Two singers of Trinh Cong Son's music that the audience had been eagerly anticipating were Quang Dung and Hong Nhung, who appeared in the latter part of the concert. Quang Dung no longer stood still and sang as usual, but instead danced around the stage.

Audiences accustomed to seeing Quang Dung standing still in a suit while singing, as he himself admits, were surprised this time by his playful, unrestrained performance, as if he had found true freedom deep within himself.

Then there was a section where he chose to bow deeply to sing the heartfelt sentiments of Trịnh Công Sơn. At another climax, the backing music stopped, the singer put down the microphone, and sustained the melody solely with his voice, leaving the audience in awe of Quang Dũng's still rich and powerful voice.

Trịnh Công Sơn - Ảnh 4. — Quang Dung still maintains his elegant appearance, but seems to have become more free and unrestrained in his performance style - Photo: T. ĐIỂU

Hong Nhung didn't showcase her innate speaking talent as much as before; just a few stories were enough to make the audience laugh at her intelligence and wit, and be moved by her heartfelt sentiments about the musician Trinh Cong Son.

She recounted the story of the silk scarf that Trinh Cong Son gave her to wear over her broken arm while singing. At the age of 23, she proudly thought that if she just wore a vest over her broken arm, the audience wouldn't notice. But unexpectedly, doing so made her arm extremely tired. And the silk scarf given by musician Trinh Cong Son supported a mischievous, innocent youth, not just a broken arm.

Hong Nhung sings Hoa Xuan Ca (Spring Flower Song) - Video: T. DIEU

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Hong Nhung sang songs she'd sung countless times before: "Lullaby for a Thousand Years," "Finally for a Love," "Remembering Hanoi's Autumn"... But this time, she performed them with her own fresh interpretation, thanks to new arrangements by Son Thach and a vibrant orchestra and choir playing on stage.

And of course, we can't forget the first song Trinh Cong Son wrote for her, with its pentatonic melodies from Northern Vietnamese folk music.

The concert concluded with a performance of the song "Let's Love Each Other" by all the artists present, as a heartfelt message that Trinh Cong Son left for humanity.