Da Lat - the place where Vietnamese pride is born.

(LĐ online) - After 130 years of formation and development, with countless ups and downs in the history of the nation, Da Lat city is now gradually transforming with many important new developments. In particular, alongside the planning project to expand its area to 330,930 hectares, the central urban area of Da Lat will reach national and international levels with its own unique characteristics and identity; tourism combined with culture and creativity will become a new driving force for development. Anticipating this general trend, many pioneering investment models and projects in the field of modern culture and entertainment have emerged, including the VIETNAM AMAZING SHOW by the Vietnam-Korea Trade Promotion Joint Stock Company and the Vietnam-Korea Event Organization in Da Lat, which has been and continues to bring pride to the name of Vietnam…

Mr. Huynh Ngoc Quoc Long - CEO (on the left) and author

It was a 68-minute comprehensive art performance, a unique combination of modern audiovisual forms such as music, dance, and fashion shows (covering the history of Vietnamese clothing from the founding of the nation by the Hung Kings through various dynasties to the present day). Fifteen selected musical works from all three regions of Vietnam told a story, leading visitors into a visually stunning feast with the continuous and seamless movement of sound, light, dance, lyrics, and performance layers. Interspersed throughout were open stage performances: actors, artists, and artisans emerged from the wings and moved down to the audience area; some special acts, such as those depicting the culture of the Central Highlands, involved a group of artisans moving from the backstage area to the audience and then onto the main stage with gongs and Xoan dances. Another interesting highlight is that, in addition to the dynamically moving performance groups moving up and down the stands or in front of the front row, during the Northwest and Central Highlands cultural performances, the actors and artists will invite tourists onto the stage to dance and interact in a very friendly and polite manner. On the main stage, the signboards and voiceovers in foreign languages help tourists quickly grasp, understand, and disseminate the selected historical and cultural content and messages they need to know… The continuous applause after each performance throughout the audience further demonstrates this.

This is an art show that officially launched on July 2nd, 2023, at the Da Lat Thong Theater (2nd and 3rd floors of the Labor Culture House, Tran Quoc Toan Street - Da Lat city, with a stunning view overlooking the romantic Xuan Huong Lake). The program has been approved by the Ministry of Culture and initially offers two performances daily at 5 PM and 7 PM, with a seating capacity of 700. This theater embodies the spirit of: "Da Lat's Theater." Korean tourists brought to Da Lat by partners, in addition to their sightseeing, relaxation, shopping, and dining itineraries, can also enjoy this comprehensive art show at the scheduled times. The theater also arranged staff to welcome guests, guide them to the audience area, the exhibition area showcasing Vietnamese ao dai (traditional dress), and a check-in point with models and artists… As of early April 2024, the Da Lat Pine Theater had served over 500 performances for tourists from its partners in South Korea. Mr. Kim Zon Sut and his family tour group expressed: “It was wonderful! The show was very engaging and uninterrupted. I went from curiosity to surprise about the diverse and beautiful cultural traditions of your country. Before coming to Vietnam, I had researched the World Heritage site of the Central Highlands Gong Culture. Seeing and hearing the gongs, horns, flutes, iron trumpets, drums, folk songs, and the very natural and graceful dances of the young men and women here was truly captivating. Our group was also invited to participate in the lively music on stage, and I managed to capture some videos and photos that I really liked. I was truly moved and surprised when, after the closing segment of the program, you all made everyone erupt with applause for the ARIANG performance – a traditional dance of our country. Thank you, Vietnam!”

A performance at the Da Lat Pine Theatre.

This is a passionate artistic project, meticulously crafted over nearly a year by the scriptwriter and director – Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, Director of the Vietnam-Korea Trade Promotion and Event Organization Company. It is known that nearly ten billion VND was invested in this historical reenactment-oriented fashion and art program; this does not include the significant additional costs for purchasing state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment (sound, lighting, projection technology, LED screens, props, and especially dozens of beautiful, unique costumes for each performance), as well as the stage setup, recruitment, and on-site training of personnel for six months in Da Lat. A special feature is that the more than 60 performers responsible for singing, dancing, performing, and welcoming guests are all very young, mostly local people, students, and art enthusiasts living or working in Da Lat - Lam Dong; only a few were recruited from elsewhere by the Vietnam-Korea Company. According to Mr. Huynh Ngoc Quoc Long, the CEO: The theater's staff includes groups such as models (18 people), dancers (36 people), singers, and reserve personnel, plus nearly a dozen technical staff, backstage crew, and cleaning staff. In the initial trial phase, the theater serves around 300 guests per performance each day. After two performances a day, a debriefing meeting will be held to review and adjust the staffing and content to ensure a seamless, increasingly perfect, and highly professional performance. Each position is replaceable to ensure the highest quality, as the criterion is to avoid having a "Vedette" (star performer). This allows the theater flexibility in personnel allocation, avoiding being constrained or overly dependent on a "star"; moreover, the spirit of teamwork and harmony in work is respected and supported by all members, from rehearsals and schedules to stage coordination and other general theater tasks. Thuy Tien, the beauty queen in the traditional Ao Dai dress and singer who performed the song "Hanoi: 12 Colors of Flowers," always received enthusiastic applause from the audience. She shared: "Stepping onto the stage, you have to give it your all, immerse yourself and pour your soul into the art. Even though I perform every day, I never get bored; on the contrary, I have to become even more proficient because this is Vietnamese culture, and it's my duty to convey it in the most soulful and best way possible so that international guests understand and correctly perceive the Vietnamese identity. The applause from the audience further motivates me and my fellow performers to be more enthusiastic and strive our best for the flag and colors of our homeland, Vietnam!"

The collective of artists, actors, and staff of the Da Lat Pine Theatre

It also offers a fresh take on Vietnamese musical works and a curated selection of performances, including drum dances: "The Sacred Soul of Vietnam - The Heroic Spirit of Vietnam"; historical narratives: introducing court costumes - "Midday Dream" - "Let Me Tell You" (combined with Northwest bamboo dance exchange) - "Hanoi 12 Seasons of Flowers" - "Son - Sen" - "The Sun Worship Ceremony" (combined with Central Highlands gong culture exchange) - "Who Goes to the Land of Cherry Blossoms" - "Saigon is So Beautiful" - "Drum Dance" - "Hello Vietnam". Continuously refining and adjusting each performance to achieve the best possible results each day is the working method of the Da Lat Theater throughout this show. Although separate performances for domestic and international tourists haven't yet been scheduled, according to the CEO, translation options for the commentary in Vietnamese, English, and Taiwanese have been meticulously prepared by the leadership of the Vietnam-Korea Trade Promotion and Event Organization Joint Stock Company, Da Lat branch, to be ready for performance soon. Even before the Lunar New Year of the Dragon 2024, several Vietnamese guests who enjoyed this special show couldn't hide their shared emotions: moved and delighted that Da Lat now officially has a truly worthy and prestigious cultural destination! Ms. Hoai Chi, a native of Da Lat currently working in Ho Chi Minh City, exclaimed: “I have never seen such a magnificent, spectacular, and compelling show. After watching it, I suddenly felt more love for Vietnamese culture and people, and even more proud of Da Lat for launching such a high-quality cultural tourism model, because in other countries, tourism associated with watching shows is very common. I hope the theater will soon have programs for Vietnamese tourists, especially our overseas compatriots, when they return to Da Lat.” Dang Minh Tam, a researcher and collector of Central Highlands culture, further affirmed: “Absolutely fantastic, so convincing! Especially now that Da Lat has officially joined the UNESCO Creative Cities of Music network, this important and necessary type of entertainment must be spread more widely in the community to amplify the pride in Vietnam's cultural heritage!” According to a poll by the VLOG network in South Korea, this entertainment program made it into the Top most popular in Asia in 2023. From this highland city called Da Lat, tourists now have another interesting option - watching art shows that reflect Vietnamese culture - the culture of Da Lat...

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