Attending the performance, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn performed with a Thai two-stringed fiddle while wearing a Vietnamese ao dai (traditional dress). The event was attended by over 1,500 spectators, including intellectuals, officials from Thailand, and members
of the diplomatic corps in Bangkok (Thailand). The Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand delegation, led by the Chargé d'affaires ad interim of the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand, Bui Thi Hue, also attended the event. "Vietnam, a Place of Peace" is a 68-line poem composed by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, recounting her positive impressions and feelings about the landscapes, country, and people of Vietnam. The poem has been adapted into nine songs using Thai and Vietnamese musical styles, totaling 50 minutes in length. The musical piece "Vietnam, a Place of Peace of Mind" combines various musical forms such as orchestral music, choral music, and dance, presented by nearly 150 musicians, singers, and performers from the Sai Yai Chamchuri Band and the Western Orchestra of Chulalongkorn University, all wearing Vietnamese ao dai (traditional dress), and two lecturers from the Hanoi Conservatory of Music performing the bầu and tranh (Vietnamese zithers). Many familiar melodies such as: Trống cơm (Rice Drum), Lý ngựa ô (Horse Horse Song), Bèo dạt mây trôi (Floating Water Hyacinths and Drifting Clouds), Cò lả (Crane Song)... were introduced to the audience with musical accompaniment by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The poem begins with a praise of Vietnam's diverse and rich cuisine, with characteristics of the three regions: North, Central, and South: "We have heard the ancients tell stories / The great Vietnamese kitchen has delicious dishes / From ancient times they have eaten pho / Vietnamese food is not difficult to make / People say Vietnamese food has three styles / North, Central, and South, we all find them delicious."
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Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn participated in the performance wearing an ao dai (pink dress in the middle). (Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand) |
Following this, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn summarized Vietnam's glorious history, overcoming hardships and difficulties to achieve its current
economic success: “Coming to Vietnam allows us to learn about history / So many stories of the nation in each era / The French colonial rule of the country was regrettable / But independence was achieved as desired / The Vietnamese economy has developed since then / Agriculture is cultivated in many places / Growing rice, coffee, and rubber / Flowers, fruits, vegetables, everything is available... / The people all work diligently / Their hard work helps the country grow strong.” The performance also praised Vietnamese handicrafts such as lacquerware, silk, embroidery, painting, and traditional music. Throughout the program, beautiful images of the country, its people, and its cuisine were projected on the stage screen. Folk games and traditional dances are also recreated through meticulously prepared and lively scenes, featuring actors in traditional ao dai dresses and conical hats riding bicycles and performing lantern dances. Through the Princess's discerning eye, the image of the bamboo pole dance is humorously depicted: "I once saw them perform the bamboo pole dance / I can dance it, but I can't quite replicate it / Don't be careless or you'll pinch your foot and hurt yourself / Don't blame each other for not warning you if you're not careful." The final part of the poem is a repeated invitation to visit and explore Vietnam: "There are countless stories that cannot be told / But it's difficult to write them down because there are too many / Whenever there's an opportunity, I'll invite you / To go on a trip for a peaceful and joyful time."
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A performance showcasing Vietnamese culture at the event. (Photo: Chulalongkorn University). |
The performance concluded to enthusiastic applause from the entire audience. Following the performance, delegates also visited an exhibition showcasing gifts that Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn received during her previous visits to Vietnam, such as Vietnamese musical instruments, some items from ethnic minority groups in Vietnam, handicrafts, photographs, and replicas of Vietnamese bronze drums. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has visited Vietnam many times and implemented several charitable and
educational projects there. Annually, the "Princess of Thailand Award for Teachers with Significant Contributions to Education and the Community" is given 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 beloved by the Thai people and is also known as the "Angel Princess". Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, born in 1955, is the third child of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the younger sister of King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has a great fondness for Vietnam and has visited many provinces and cities in Vietnam.
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Representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand presented Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (left) with an embroidered Vietnamese silk scarf at the event. (Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand) |
The Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand once compiled a photo book titled "Vietnam Through the Lens of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn," which brought together 100 beautiful photographs of Vietnam. The book included 60 photographs taken by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn during her visits to Vietnam from 1993 to 2015. The other photographs were valuable archival images capturing the Thai Princess's meetings with Vietnamese leaders, her interactions with the Vietnamese people, and her visits to many scenic spots, historical sites, and cultural landmarks in Vietnam.
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