Golden Apricot Award Nominations: Bold impressions, evoking national pride

If a few years ago, Ho Chi Minh City theater was almost devoid of political works, 2025 marked the strong return of highly ideological plays, where artists use the language of the stage to dialogue about ethics, beliefs and ideals. In addition, elaborately staged political art programs have created a colorful picture, attracting millions of audiences and fostering patriotism and enthusiasm for good deeds to build an increasingly prosperous country.

The return of revolutionary theater

The most typical is the play "Comrade" (Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association, author Le Thu Hanh, director People's Artist Tran Ngoc Giau - Quoc Thinh), a touching work with the story of loyal comrades, maintaining their stance in the midst of the temptation of money. The modern staging, combined with humorous pieces, creates a play that is both profound and close, making the audience shed tears but still feel faith in goodness.

Những dấu ấn đậm nét, khơi gợi niềm tự hào dân tộc - Ảnh 1. — A scene from the play "Comrades"

"Another War" (Hong Van Drama Theatre, director - Meritorious Artist Le Nguyen Dat) chose a different approach: no martial arts, no thrilling chase scenes, but a conflict of morality and conscience. It is the calm, humane storytelling that helps the play create a strong ripple effect, touching the audience's soul with the message "justice does not only come from slogans, but from human actions".

Những dấu ấn đậm nét, khơi gợi niềm tự hào dân tộc - Ảnh 2. — The play "Emotional Reunion"

On Trinh Kim Chi's stage, the two plays "Two Mothers" (author Le Thu Hanh) and "The Heaven's Gate Day" (Nguyen Khang Chien) carry the spirit of humanity and tolerance of women in historical and modern contexts, clearly showing the mark of director - People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi, who is always steadfast in the genre of plays with revolutionary values and dedication to community life.

Meanwhile, Quoc Thao stage made its mark with "Deep Night" and "Fire Field" - two plays that expressed a frank and honest perspective on people in the post-war period. The reformed opera "Tieng Ho Song Hau" directed by Hoa Ha is a political work with profound meaning. The play had the participation of many talented artists from Ho Chi Minh City and attracted a large audience to watch and cheer.

Những dấu ấn đậm nét, khơi gợi niềm tự hào dân tộc - Ảnh 3. — Cai luong play "The Song of the Hau River"

In the North, the reformed opera "Thunder of Lach Hoi" (Lam Son Art Theatre) and "From Viet Bac to Hanoi " (staged by People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien) contributed to reviving the spirit of resistance and revolutionary values in the new era. The good news is that audiences, especially the young, have begun to return to the political stage.

The performances of the above works always attract large audiences. The play "Comrades" is always full, not only performed in Ho Chi Minh City but also toured to Korea, showing the public's belief in stories that are humane, orienting and awakening to society.

Symphonies of national pride

Not only on the stage of reformed opera and drama, the political art stream in 2025 will also spread strongly through music and dance programs to celebrate the country's major holidays.

The program "80 years of journey of Independence - Freedom - Happiness" (Hanoi) took place at My Dinh Stadium with nearly 3,000 artists, the program recreated 80 years of Vietnamese history - from the long night of slavery to the era of integration and growth.

Three artistic programs including "The Road to Independence and Reunification", "Aspiration for the Fatherland" and "My Fatherland, Never So Beautiful" created a touching epic. The harmony of symphony, dance, 3D mapping technology and modern LED screen brought the audience to "relive" the entire journey of the nation.

The program "Independence Star" (in the new Ho Chi Minh City, after merging with the old Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces) is an art party co-organized by HTV, connecting 3 major online points. It is a symphony of light, sound and emotion with the participation of Trong Tan, Anh Tho, Duc Phuc, Huong Tram, Meritorious Artist Tuan Lin... The highlight is the "Independence Flame" segment combining LED and laser, along with 15 minutes of artistic fireworks in the sky of 3 regions, including the center of Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong area and Vung Tau area, closing a proud historical night.

Những dấu ấn đậm nét, khơi gợi niềm tự hào dân tộc - Ảnh 4. — Poster of the art program "Independent Stars"

The programs: "Independence Star 2025", "Under the Glorious Flag", "Fatherland in the Heart" are a series of 3 political art nights directed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, depicting the journey of struggle, building the country and the aspiration for a strong Vietnam.

Each program is an artistic perspective - sometimes lyrical, majestic and with the same message: The Fatherland is always in the heart of every Vietnamese person.

In particular, the series of events "Colors of Uncle Ho's City" will be brilliant in April 2025 with a series of activities such as "The Country is Full of Joy", "Peace Symphony", drone performance, 3D mapping, flower boat parade and amateur music performance on the Saigon River.

This is a testament to the spirit of creativity and modernization of political art, turning public space into "the people's stage".

Suggested nominations for the 31st Golden Apricot Awards 2025

This year, the political art works and programs not only focus on history or propaganda but also truly touch emotions, igniting the aspiration for a strong, humane, and integrated Vietnam.

Readers of the Lao Dong Newspaper can vote and nominate for: Most favorite political play category: "Comrade", "Another war", "The cry of Hau river", "Two mothers", "Thunder of Lach Hoi", "From Viet Bac to Hanoi"...; Most favorite political art program category: "80 years of journey of Independence - Freedom - Happiness", "Independence star", "Independence star 2025", "Fatherland in the heart", "Colors of Uncle Ho's city"...