"Musical rendezvous" in the center of Ho Chi Minh City

In the chilly weather at the end of the year, the sounds of flutes, zithers, monochords, and drums make the open space warm and cozy. Those sounds come from the performance of the Lotus Folk Music and Dance Theatre.

Nearly 20 performances are staged and performed alternately each week, combining traditional instruments with modern harmony. Although the sidewalk area next to the Post Office and Book Street is under construction, the space is somewhat narrowed, but the audience still gathers around, attentively waiting for the show time.

No fences, no seats, just a few square meters and even sitting on the steps of the Post Office entrance, viewers have an "open stage" right in the city center.

“Musical rendezvous” in the center of Ho Chi Minh City - photo 2 — The theater's art program attracts a large audience.

Melody in the bustling streets

At around 7:30 last weekend, the artists appeared in traditional costumes. Although this is a regular weekly performance, many international tourists and young Vietnamese people said this was the first time they saw it live.

As the first notes began to play, the lively singing and dancing immediately attracted passersby. The audience grew larger and larger, many of them holding up their phones to capture the moment as a souvenir or to share with friends and family.

The performance opened with the piece Soul of the Country (composed by Thanh Son) with the long-lasting sound of the monochord and the clear sound of the zither… From behind, a few international tourists initially just stood and observed; only a moment later, they turned on their cameras, recording short clips.

One by one, performances such as the song Southern Sun and Wind (composed by Meritorious Artist Nhat Sinh), My Homeland (composed by Khac Viet), Vietnamese Melody (composed by Tuan Cry), the duet Truc Xinh (composed by Meritorious Artist Dinh Linh), the solo performance of the Dan Kim (Full Moon) (composed by Meritorious Artist Anh Tan), Non Quai Thao dance (choreographed by People's Artist Phi Long), Mam Vang dance (choreographed by Meritorious Artist Vinh Hien)... took the audience through the North, Central and South in a short but deeply Vietnamese journey. Each performance was not long, only a few minutes, but enough for the audience to feel the regional nuances through the costumes, movements and musical instruments.

The special feature is the bilingual Vietnamese-English program, helping visitors understand the general content of the performance. Not everyone understands the cultural story behind each performance, but the emotions conveyed through sound and rhythm do not need translation.

A female tour guide named Cao Nhi (of Millennium Travel Company in Ho Chi Minh City, specializing in inbound tourists) who was leading a group of Indian tourists to visit the city center said that she and her group "met the program by chance", but everyone enjoyed it. "They don't understand the content, but they like the melody. They say the sound is strange but pleasant to the ear. We take tourists to the Post Office, Book Street, Notre Dame Cathedral... and every time we see a performance like that, the tourists stop to watch," the tour guide shared.

Nhi added that, in addition to Indian guests, she often brings guests from Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, etc., and “most of them like these outdoor cultural programs.” When I asked why, Nhi said, “Because it’s natural. Guests pass by, hear the music , and see the dancers, and they get curious. And it’s fun to watch.”

“Musical rendezvous” in the center of Ho Chi Minh City - photo 3 — Artists from the Lotus Folk Music and Dance Theater perform at Nguyen Hue walking street on weekend evenings.

Open stage - open audience

The performance space in the middle of the street creates a friendly and accessible feeling. The elderly stand behind the young, children sit right in front of the stage, and tourists constantly move to find better angles. This flexibility is a unique feature of the public performance model that the Lotus Theatre has maintained over time.

According to singer and musician Le Anh Tuan, Head of the Performance Organization and External Relations Department of the Lotus Folk Music and Dance Theater, this activity is part of a series of programs promoting contemporary folk art that will take place until the end of 2025. “There are two performances each week, morning and evening. We change the repertoire constantly to keep things fresh. The goal is to let people, especially young people, access traditional art in the most natural way,” Tuan said.

The Lotus National Music and Dance Theatre currently maintains performances at two locations: Nguyen Hue Walking Street and the area in front of the City Post Office. Each show lasts from 60 to 90 minutes, with the participation of a large cast of artists: Meritorious Artist Anh Tan, Meritorious Artist Thu Thuy, Le Anh Tuan, Anh Nguyet, Minh Khang, Minh Phat, Lam Tran Quang, Hoang Anh Tuan, Diem Quynh, Lam Ngoc, My Duyen, Tuong Vy... and many dancers.

With a flexible structure, the program helps the audience “quickly experience” many types of folk art: zither, monochord, and cat flute ensemble; folk dances from three regions; songs with national melodies but newly arranged. Everything retains the traditional spirit but the way of expression is close to the modern pace of life in the city.

In the crowd on the morning of November 29, we met Thuan, a student at the University of Foreign Languages and Information Technology in Ho Chi Minh City. Thuan stood watching for a long time before agreeing to answer the interview. “Yes… strange. I found it strange first and then found it interesting. Normally, we entertain ourselves with movies and modern music, we rarely watch these things. But when I see a performance on the street, I stop right away,” Thuan shared.

When asked if he would come back to watch it again, Thuan immediately nodded: "Yes. And I will invite my friends to come too, it's more fun to watch it outdoors." Nearby, two female students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University) are familiar audiences of the "open stage" here.

A friend named Phuong Anh said: “We often go to Book Street so we know in advance that the Post Office often has art performances. Sometimes it’s Don ca tai tu (traditional music), sometimes cai luong (reformed opera), now it’s music, dance and orchestra. We like this atmosphere, it’s light and fun, very meaningful.”

These natural responses show that public performances are truly making the central space of Ho Chi Minh City more vibrant, while contributing to bringing traditional arts and Vietnamese melodies closer to both locals and tourists.

This is not the first time traditional art has “stepped onto the streets”, but the fact that it is maintained regularly and systematically like today is remarkable. The Lotus Theatre’s programs do not collect tickets and do not set commercial goals.

Artists perform in sometimes imperfect settings, with the sound of cars, shoes, and construction sites right next door… but that is what creates a natural connection between art and urban life. Many performances use traditional instruments but are arranged with modern music, creating a more familiar feeling for young people. The flexible staging helps the audience not feel heavy or repetitive; even after watching a few times, they are still willing to stay for more.

Interestingly, the open space makes the experience more comfortable: Many tech-based drivers take advantage of parking nearby to watch a few shows while waiting for customers, without having to park or enter any stage.

According to the theater, the biggest goal of the series of programs is to create a bridge between tradition and modernity, so that people in Ho Chi Minh City, especially the young generation, can see the beauty of Vietnamese culture in the most familiar space. At the same time, this is also a way to promote the image of a dynamic and friendly city in the eyes of international tourists.

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