People's Artist Thanh Thúy's regret

People's Artist Thanh Thúy expressed her regret that due to health conditions, poet Lê Giang was unable to attend the "Song of Affection" concert honoring composer Lư Nhất Vũ and poet Lê Giang, which took place on the evening of December 28th.

On the evening of December 28th at the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House, the "Songs of Affection" program honored the cultural legacy of composer Lu Nhat Vu and poet Le Giang – a talented artistic couple who dedicated their lives to Southern Vietnamese folk music . Composer Lu Nhat Vu passed away at the end of March 2025 due to old age.

The artists participating in the program.

Over half a century of companionship and nurturing of Southern culture.

People's Artist Thanh Thúy - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports - commented on this inseparable pair of soulmates. Since meeting and falling in love in 1970 in the war zone, they have quietly but persistently walked together on their creative path.

Composer Lu Nhat Vu (real name Le Van Gat) was born in Thu Dau Mot, Binh Duong. In 1955, he defected to the North to join the Youth Volunteer Force, graduating from the Composition Department of the Vietnam Music School in 1962. Poet Le Giang (real name Tran Thi Kim) was born in Ca Mau . From 1945, she participated in the resistance war, later relocating to the North and returning to the Central Committee's base in the South in 1963.

People's Artist Thanh Thúy stated:

People's Artist Thanh Thúy emphasized: "The works of the couple are simple yet profound, unpretentious yet resonant, just like the people of Southern Vietnam – affectionate, loyal, resilient, yet incredibly gentle."

A distinctive feature of Lu Nhat Vu's songwriting career is his songs set to music from Le Giang's poems: "Song of the Southern Land," "Saigon Girl Carrying Ammunition," "The Sound of the Gong Over the Waterfall," "Beside the Monument to Uncle Ho," "Rest Assured, Mother," "Kien Giang is So Beautiful..."

Besides their songwriting careers, they also embarked on incredibly meaningful journeys throughout the country, collecting folk songs and creating valuable research works such as: "Ho in Vietnamese Folk Songs," "Vietnamese Lullabies," "300 Southern Folk Songs," and "Chronicle of Liberation March Music."

"Having collaborated in art and life for over half a century, musician Lu Nhat Vu and poet Le Giang have left behind a vast body of research on folk songs, a valuable legacy that plays an important role in preserving the national cultural identity," shared People's Artist Thanh Thuy.

She also expressed her regret, saying, "Due to health reasons, poet Le Giang was unable to be present here, but representatives of the family attended to reminisce about the milestones in their literary careers."

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"I had to eat and sleep at my aunt and uncle's house to practice music."

Bich Phuong, who has a long-standing connection with the compositions of Lu Nhat Vu and Le Giang, shared about her special journey. Although born into a traditional Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) family, she was completely unfamiliar with the field of Vietnamese folk music when she first entered it.

"My aunt and uncle were the first people to guide and teach me about traditional Vietnamese music, especially Southern Vietnamese folk songs," Bích Phượng recalled emotionally.

Sharing from Bich Phuong:

During the performance, the rendition of "Ly Keu Do - Ly Cay Khe" by Bich Phuong and Quoc Dai transported the audience back to the 1980s and 90s, when this folk song about a wife lamenting her fate and her husband's witty and humorous responses, which were both tense and humorous, became a sensation on television.

The program, organized by the Department of Culture and Sports, the Music Association, and Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television, brought together a lineup of renowned artists. People's Artist Trong Phuc opened the program with "Song of the Southern Land " - a song that has been associated with him for over 25 years and always evokes strong emotions in him whenever he performs it.

People's Artist Trong Phuc performs "Song of the Southern Land":

The Mat Ngoc group presented a deeply moving performance of "Saigon Girl Carrying Ammunition ."

Singer Nguyen Phi Hung impressed with a youthful new arrangement of the song "Please Rest Assured, Mother." The performance of "The Song of the Pioneers" incorporated the projection of historical images, recalling the period of national reconstruction after the war.

In particular, the performance " Returning to Binh Duong" was staged in combination with sand art by artist Nguyen Tien, creating vivid images of the homeland.

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Singers Quang Linh, Dong Dao, Ha Van, Meritorious Artist Van Khanh, Meritorious Artist Khanh Ngoc, Meritorious Artist Thanh Mai, along with dance groups and traditional music groups, contributed to creating a colorful musical evening.

The program concluded with the song "Khúc hát ân tình " (Lam Giang Short Piece) performed by all the artists, as a heartfelt tribute to the talented artists Lu Nhat Vu and Le Giang.

Photos, videos: HM

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Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/dieu-tiec-nuoi-cua-nsnd-thanh-thuy-2476962.html