'Golden season' of Hai Phong traditional stage art

In recent times, the branches of Hai Phong Traditional Theater have continuously brought back proud achievements at major festivals at home and abroad.

The reformed opera "Oath on Flagpole Mountain" won a high prize at the 5th National Professional Theatre Arts Festival in 2025.

When Hai Phong artists flourish

The opening of the series of successes was the Cai Luong Group - Hai Phong Traditional Theater with the play "Khong Ngai", winning a silver medal at the 2024 National Professional Cai Luong Festival held in Can Tho . Three artists of the group were honored with emotional roles, in which Meritorious Artist Kim Oanh and artist Thuy Nga both won gold medals, artist Hoang Hung won a silver medal.

Not stopping domestically, in December 2024, at the China - ASEAN Theatre Festival Week in Nanning (Guangxi, China), two Hai Phong artists, Meritorious Artist Kim Oanh and artist Duong Dung, continued to be awarded the "Outstanding Actor" award, a special honor affirming the stature of Vietnamese stage artists in the international arena.

In July 2025, at the 5th National Professional Stage Arts Festival on "The Image of the Vietnamese People's Public Security Soldier" in Hanoi , the play "Oath on Flagpole Mountain" by the Hai Phong Cai Luong Troupe made its mark with a Bronze Medal for the whole troupe, along with four individual medals, including: Meritorious Artist Kim Oanh, Artist Thuy Nga and Artist Hoang Hung won gold medals; Meritorious Artist Minh Tuan received a silver medal.

Meritorious Artist Kim Oanh shared: “The happiest thing for an artist is not only the medal, but also being remembered by the audience. Every time I transform, I feel like I am reliving the character, that is the greatest gift that the profession gives me.”

In the Cheo field, the Hai Phong Cheo Troupe Association continued to make its mark with the play "Ho Xuan Huong", winning a silver medal at the Capital Stage Festival (November 2024). Meritorious Artists Thuy Dung, Thuy Duong and Van Mon won gold medals; Meritorious Artist Thanh Binh, artist Hoang Yen and artist Duy Thanh won silver medals. The role of Ho Xuan Huong by Meritorious Artist Thuy Dung was assessed by experts as "a gentle innovation in traditional acting" that is both imbued with folk spirit and clearly reveals the personality of Vietnamese women through the Cheo language.

The play "Catching Demons" won the gold medal for the entire group at the 2024 National Professional Drama Festival.

In the drama category, Hai Phong Drama Troupe (now under Hai Phong Contemporary Theater) created a big buzz with the play "Catching Demons", winning the gold medal for the entire troupe at the 2024 National Professional Drama Festival. Meritorious Artists Thanh Nhan, Bich Ngoc, and artist Dang Khoa all received gold medals; artist Quang Thien won a silver medal.

Meanwhile, the Hai Phong Puppetry Art Troupe brought Vietnamese identity to the world with the play “The Devil’s Three Golden Hairs”, participating in the Zhelezkin International Puppetry Festival in Moscow (Russia). The character images and performance techniques of Hai Phong artists were highly appreciated by international friends, contributing to promoting Vietnamese culture on the world stage.

Affirming identity in the integration period

After the merger (from March 2025), Hai Phong Traditional Theater quickly stabilized its organization and implemented many new art programs, typically "Loyal Star", "Flock of Swans" in the Television Theater Project; along with performance programs serving the Red Flamboyant Festival, commemorating the 70th anniversary of Hai Phong Liberation and a series of activities at Hai Phong Book Street 2025. These activities show the enduring vitality of the city's theater arts, with the participation and dedication of a large number of members of the Vietnam Theater Artists Association in Hai Phong.

The opera "Khong Nguc Nga" won many high awards at the 2024 National Professional Opera Festival.

According to Meritorious Artist The Ban, Chairman of the Hai Phong Stage Artists Association, the successes achieved in the past year are the crystallization of the sense of responsibility, professional enthusiasm and tireless passion of the members. He emphasized: “Members of the Hai Phong Stage Artists Association have promoted the sense of responsibility, constantly created, leaving many marks at major stage festivals at home and abroad. In addition to winning many noble awards, the artists also actively participate in the activities of the association and the unit, contributing to enhancing the position and prestige of Hai Phong stage in the cultural and artistic life of the whole country”.

Under the association's guidance, Hai Phong stage is transforming strongly, bringing traditional art closer to young audiences, while exploring new methods of expression in the context of digital technology.

School theater projects, local history dramatization, and mobile performances in the suburbs and islands have created positive social effects. “In the coming time, we need to continue to promote tradition, study, practice, maintain our passion for the profession, and contribute to the development of Vietnam's revolutionary theater. The Association hopes to continue to receive attention, guidance, and facilitation from leaders at all levels and professional organizations so that Hai Phong theater can grow stronger and contribute more to the country's cultural and artistic career,” Meritorious Artist The Ban expressed.

From plays imbued with national spirit to international awards, from domestic stage lights to long tours, Hai Phong stage in 2025 has truly reaped a brilliant "golden season". Traditional stage artists of the Port City are day and night keeping the fire of their profession burning, continuing the proud tradition of previous generations of artists, so that every season of the profession's Ancestor's Death Anniversary, the flame of art is rekindled, illuminating the creative path today and tomorrow.

HAI HAU - DO HIEN

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/mua-vang-cua-nghe-thuat-san-khau-truyen-thong-hai-phong-524121.html