Thai Princess composes and performs musical work...

The orchestra performs the piece "Vietnam at peace". (Photo: Embassy of Vietnam in Thailand)

Attending the performance, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn performed with the Thai Erhu while wearing Vietnamese Ao Dai. The event was attended by more than 1,500 spectators including Thai dignitaries, intellectuals, officials and the diplomatic corps in Bangkok (Thailand). The delegation of the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand led by Charge d'Affaires of the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand Bui Thi Hue attended the event.

“Vietnam at peace” is a 68-verse poem composed by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, telling about her good impressions and feelings about the landscape, country and people of Vietnam. The poem was adapted into 9 songs based on Thai and Vietnamese music , with a total duration of 50 minutes.

The musical work “Vietnam at peace” combines many musical forms such as orchestra, choir and dance, performed by nearly 150 musicians, singers and actors of Sai Yai Chamchuri Band, Chulalongkorn University’s Western Orchestra wearing Vietnamese ao dai and two lecturers of Hanoi Conservatory of Music performing monochord and zither. Many familiar melodies such as: Trong com, Ly ngua o, Beo dat may troi, Co la... were introduced to the audience with the accompaniment of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

The poem begins with a praise for the diverse and rich Vietnamese cuisine, with characteristics of the three regions of North, Central and South: “We have heard the ancients tell us/ The great Vietnamese kitchen has delicious dishes/ Since ancient times, people have eaten pho/ Vietnamese food is not difficult to make/ People say Vietnamese dishes have three styles/ North, Central and South, we find them all delicious”.

Next is the content of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn summarizing the heroic history of Vietnam, overcoming hardships and difficulties to reach today's economic success: "Coming to Vietnam, you can learn about history/ Many stories of the nation in each period/ The French colonized the country, what a pity/ But independence was won as desired/ Vietnam's economy developed from there/ Agricultural cultivation was possible in many places/ Growing rice, coffee and rubber/ Fruits, vegetables, all kinds.../ Everyone worked enthusiastically/ Diligence helped the country grow strong".

The program also paid tribute to Vietnamese traditional handicrafts such as lacquerware, silk, embroidery, painting and music. Throughout the program, beautiful images of the country, people and cuisine of Vietnam were shown on the stage screen. Folk games and traditional dances were also recreated through carefully prepared and lively scenes with actors in ao dai, conical hats riding bicycles, dancing with lanterns...

Through the Princess's delicate perspective, the image of the bamboo dance is humorously expressed: "I once saw them dance bamboo/ I can dance but I can't do it like that/ Don't be careless or you'll hurt your foot/ If you're not careful, don't blame each other for not reminding you."

The last part of the poem is an invitation to visit and explore Vietnam, repeated many times: "There are countless stories that cannot be told/ But it is difficult to write them down because there are too many/ Whenever there is a chance, I will invite you/ Together on a trip of peace and joy."

The performance ended with enthusiastic applause from the entire audience. After the performance, the delegates also visited the booth displaying some gifts that Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn received during her previous visits to Vietnam, such as Vietnamese musical instruments, some items of ethnic minorities in Vietnam, handicrafts, photos or a version of Vietnamese bronze drums.

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has visited Vietnam many times and implemented a number of charity and educational projects in Vietnam. Every year, the “Thai Princess Award for Teachers with Many Contributions to Education and the Community” is presented to an outstanding teacher from each member country of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), including Vietnam. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is extremely loved by the Thai people and is also known as the “Angel Princess”.

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was born in 1955, the third child of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and the younger sister of the King of Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is very sympathetic to Vietnam and has visited many provinces and cities in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand once compiled a photo book “Vietnam through the lens of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn”, which includes 100 beautiful photos of Vietnam.

The book contains 60 photos taken by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn during her visits to Vietnam from 1993 to 2015. Other photos are precious archive photos of the Thai Princess' meetings with Vietnamese leaders, her contacts with the Vietnamese people, and her visits to many scenic spots and historical and cultural sites in Vietnam.

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