Kinhtedothi - While people often make donations or offer oil to help light incense and candles in these sacred places of worship, director Mai Thanh Tung has chosen a different way to add a little more light to these historical sites.
Literally, his artistic programs illuminate historical landmarks during vibrant festivals; in another sense, through these activities, the sites are "awakened," harmonizing with modern life and becoming a powerful resource for the cultural industry...
"Breathing life" into historical sites.
Not only the people of Bac Tu Liem, but also many tourists and television viewers still vividly remember the joy and emotion of watching the art program "Sacred Chem Temple - The Flow of Quintessence". This sacred temple, thousands of years old, sits beside the Red River – the mother river of Hanoi 's culture and the culture bearing its name – which has held immense significance in repelling foreign invaders and protecting the country. At the same time, with its ancient and unique architecture, facing the river with its year-round gentle waves, Chem Temple is also a place frequently visited by Hanoi residents and tourists from all over to worship and admire the scenery.
Mentioning Chèm Temple brings to mind the ancient temple, thousands of years old, dedicated to Saint Chèm (also known as Hy Khang Thien Vuong Ly Ong Trong). Beyond its cultural, historical, and spiritual value, Chèm Temple is also known for its unique design, built in the sturdy and elaborate "inner courtyard, outer enclosure" architectural style.
Nevertheless, throughout its more than 2,000 years of formation and development, undergoing numerous restorations and renovations, and enduring countless historical changes, for the first time, Chem Temple shone brightly in an unprecedented festival. This is a festival not only for the people of Bac Tu Liem district but also for those who cherish the heritage of their ancestors, those who have loved Chem Temple for so long.
As part of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023, this art program is full of creativity, uniqueness, and novelty, aiming to promote heritage values and further highlight the position of Chem Temple in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.
The art program "Sacred Chèm Temple - Flow of Quintessence" was therefore organized to introduce the sacred temple on the Red River, to honor traditional art forms, the national essence distilled over many generations, and to express the wisdom and qualities in the thinking and lifestyle of the people during thousands of years of nation-building and national defense.
The program also aims to promote the potential and strengths of Bac Tu Liem district, raise awareness among businesses and the community about the design and creative industries, contributing to the socio -economic development of the district; and contribute to connecting and promoting the cultural, historical, and architectural values in the districts along the Red River axis during urban reconstruction associated with the development of creative spaces, serving the development of the cultural industry.
“The Sacred Chèm Temple – A Flow of Excellence” is structured into three chapters: The Source of Cultural Heritage; A Thousand-Year-Old Masterpiece – Reflecting the National Soul; and Shining Brightly with Excellence. In particular, the scene depicting the Sacred Chèm Temple, with commentary by Meritorious Artist Lê Chức, further highlights the stature and significance of this ancient temple, emphasizing the “legendary” element of this unique historical site.
In this highly creative event, General Director Mai Thanh Tung used music as a central thread to tell the story of the journey of cultural excellence. Many famous musical works, along with a top-notch sound and lighting system, blended with the gentle breeze of the ancient Red River, created an unforgettable experience for the audience.
The program left a deep impression on the public. At the same time, Chem Temple has truly flourished, attracting a large number of people to visit and worship. Furthermore, the local people have become more conscious of protecting the value of the historical site.
Reviving resources powerfully
In the development of Hanoi's cultural industry, historical sites, heritage, and traditional cultural values cannot be excluded. In addition, each locality needs its own highlights, destinations, and vibrant activities to create something unique and distinctive. "Awakening" and "breathing life" into famous architectural works, places of worship, and spiritual sites that have held value for generations is a correct approach. This not only helps utilize the valuable assets left by our ancestors, preventing resource waste, but also brings out the unique identity of each locality.
Amidst the flow of creativity and the powerful revival of these historical sites, Dong Da district is also bringing a breath of fresh air to the capital's cultural industry at the beginning of this new spring. As one of the earliest festivals in Hanoi and the country, the Dong Da Hill Festival 2025 not only ushers in a new festival season and a new spring with many new hopes, but also holds significant importance for the people of the region and the entire country.
First and foremost, this place commemorates a glorious victory for our country: inflicting a crushing defeat on the enemy, leaving them utterly annihilated for daring to invade our territory. The national hero Quang Trung and his army swiftly marched to Thang Long to "make history know that the Southern nation has heroic leaders." In reality, no matter how strong the enemy, if they harbor the ambition to invade our country, they will be utterly defeated.
Therefore, Dong Da Hill is a timeless testament to the utter defeat of the invading army, a source of pride for our nation's tradition of resisting foreign invaders. The annual Dong Da Hill Festival, held not only to commemorate the contributions of King Quang Trung but also to honor the indomitable spirit of our nation, serves to educate future generations about the spiritual values of our ancestors, the art of rapid troop movement, and the quick-victory strategy of the Tay Son army.
The difference this year is that the 236th anniversary celebration of the Ngoc Hoi - Dong Da victory will be held on the evening of February 2nd, 2025 (the 5th day of the first lunar month) at Dong Da Cultural Park, instead of in the morning as in previous years. This is the first time the festival will be broadcast live on Channel H1 of Hanoi Radio and Television, Kinh Te & Do Thi Newspaper, radio and television stations of provinces and cities nationwide, and digital platforms at 8:10 PM to a large audience of people and tourists, with the highlight being a special art program themed "Dong Da – A Golden History – A Steadfast Future". This is a unique art program created in a semi-realistic format combined with modern 3D mapping technology, directed by Mai Thanh Tung and continued to be produced by Oscar Media.
The program tells historical stories in a modern and innovative way, with chapters and scenes seamlessly interwoven and subtly transformed by special effects, captivating music, and diverse forms of expression such as singing, circus acts, dancing, and drum ensembles.
The stage constantly changes settings, vividly recreating scenes from the lives of the people in the late 18th century, the turmoil and chaos of the court, the Trinh-Nguyen conflict, the division of the country into Dang Trong and Dang Ngoai, and the fervent spirit of the Tay Son rebels' battles.
Unlike previous years when spectators could only admire the spectacle from afar, this year, the audience will feel as if they are in the midst of the Tây Sơn rebels' swift march, surrounded by elephants, horses, spears, bows and arrows... At times, they will feel like they are standing on a warship during the Battle of Rạch Gầm Xoài Mút, and at other times, they will feel like they are rejoicing in the triumphant victory of the people of Thăng Long in the spring of the year Kỷ Dậu (1789).
The special art program focuses on cultural and historical elements, honoring the merits of King Quang Trung, combining performances with the most modern technologies. 3D mapping technology will recreate the glorious yet tragic picture using light, providing viewers with realistic, vivid, and impressive visual experiences, bringing the historical story to touch all the senses.
The lighting effects, music, and dancers, along with the graceful and intricate circus performances, are programmed to follow a script, creating an artistic matrix that captivates the audience. The program is a feast of sound and light, showcasing the allure of modern technology on a core foundation of valuable historical stories. It offers a fresh perspective and a new way of presenting historical narratives in contemporary life, attracting a large audience of locals and tourists.
The program features renowned artists and MCs: People's Artist Thanh Lam, singers Trong Tan, Minh Quan, Vu Thang Loi, Hoang Hong Ngoc, Ngoc Ky, Viet Danh, Dong Hung, Minh Duc, Quynh Lady, and Minh Phuong, along with the Lavender dance troupe, the Children's Star Club, and the collective of amateur actors from Dong Da District. The program is hosted by MCs Hong Nhung and Son Lam.
The great power of art lies in its expressive form, touching the hearts of viewers, evoking emotions and feelings, and conveying the message the program aims to send most effectively. Certainly, under the skillful and creative direction of General Director Mai Thanh Tung, the organizers' aspirations will be fully conveyed to the audience through this festival.
Furthermore, this innovative approach will create a new path for localities not only in Hanoi but also nationwide to continue to cherish, promote, and highlight the valuable assets of their respective regions. On this journey, director Mai Thanh Tung will be a persistent, patient, and creative contributor, adding a little more light to these historical sites and heritage, allowing them to shine brightly in the rhythm of modern life.
Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/dao-dien-mai-thanh-tung-nguoi-tiep-sang-nhung-di-tich-cua-ha-noi.html
![[Infographic] Strategic Resolutions Leading Vietnam into a New Era](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/402x226/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/03/01/1772371472793_ky-nguyen-vuon-minh-1920x800-copy.jpeg)
Comment (0)