Listening to Trinh Cong Son's music by the Nhat Le River.

QTO - As the first notes of "Mother's Folk Song" echoed through the Bảo Ninh seascape, an unusual silence enveloped the thousands of audience members at the "Legend of Mother" concert. It was a moment when Trịnh Công Sơn's music lovers quieted their hearts before the memories of a land that had endured war, before the image of Vietnamese mothers who dedicated their youth and lives to the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

As part of the 2026 Peace Festival, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the People's Committee of Quang Tri province and the family of musician Trinh Cong Son, organized a special concert titled "Legend of Mother". The concert was a meeting of music , memories, and aspirations for peace in the very land that once suffered so much from war.

The Fate of Nhat Le

Perhaps it's no coincidence that the program was held along the Nhật Lệ River. For many, the Nhật Lệ is the river of Mother Suốt. For Trịnh Công Sơn, it was a realm of memories that inspired him to write "Legend of Mother"—an immortal song about Vietnamese mothers. Amidst the sound of the waves and the night wind blowing from the Nhật Lệ estuary, the familiar melodies of Trịnh Công Sơn seemed to find a special space to return to. There, the images of mothers bidding farewell to their sons going to war, of young volunteers who once set foot on this land to heal the wounds of war, and of ordinary people who lived, fought, and sacrificed so that the country could have peace today, were present.

The image of the mother in the songs of musician Trinh Cong Son - Photo: DH

The three art movements, "Mother in the Realm of Memory," "Embracing Love," and "Aspiration for Peace - Let's Love Each Other," are seamlessly connected as an emotional journey. From war memories to the beloved lands that Trịnh Công Sơn once traveled through; from the pain of separation to the aspiration for peace; from motherly love, romantic love to love for humanity... all converge in a single overarching message: Peace is only truly meaningful when people know how to love each other.

Ms. Le Thi Ngoc Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Tri province, shared that musician Trinh Cong Son left behind a vast musical legacy about love for humanity and the aspiration for peace. Therefore, in the series of activities of the 2026 Peace Festival, the organizing committee chose the "Legend of Mother" music night as a meaningful highlight.

“This program is not only to commemorate the talented musician, but also to pay tribute to the Vietnamese mothers who sacrificed and dedicated themselves to the independence and freedom of the nation. In particular, this is also the title of a song composed by the musician, inspired by the image of the heroic Mother Suốt by the Nhật Lệ River. Each melody that resonates during the concert is a profound tribute to the heroic Vietnamese mothers, and at the same time a reminder of the value of peace, which was bought with so much loss and sacrifice,” Ms. Lê Thị Ngọc Hà expressed.

Melodies that extend memories

Trịnh Công Sơn once believed: "Love allows songs to be born. Pain and joy form the embryo that gives birth to music." He transformed pain, joy, separation, and happiness in life into music. Therefore, even when writing about war, what remains in his compositions is still love for humanity and a yearning for peace.

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There's something special about Trinh Cong Son's music: the more time passes, the closer it becomes to people. At the concert on the Dong Hoi beach, the audience could find many generations sitting together. Some had lived through the war years. Some young people only knew Trinh Cong Son through his songs on social media. But when songs like "Do You Still Remember or Have You Forgotten?", "Remembering Hanoi's Autumn", "White Summer", "A Realm to Return To", "Pink Rain", or "Let's Love Each Other"... were sung, that distance seemed to disappear.

The program features the participation of many young singers and artists - Photo: DH

Sitting in the audience, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan (62 years old, Dong Hoi ward) couldn't hide her emotion as she listened to the songs associated with her youth. "I've been listening to Trinh Cong Son's music since I was very young. Today, hearing those songs by the Nhat Le River, amidst a festival called 'For Peace,' the feeling is very different. It reminds me of those who sacrificed so we could have a peaceful life today and makes me realize the need to live better and love more," Ms. Lan shared.

Perhaps that is also why Trịnh Công Sơn's music lives on. Because war in his songs was never about confrontation or hatred. The center of all his thoughts was always humanity. Throughout his creative journey, Trịnh Công Sơn always placed people at the center.

He once said, "Wherever there are people, there is singing. On this earth, in this world, singing reminds us of a simple truth: I sing, therefore I exist." For him, music is not just art, but also a way for people to connect with each other through empathy and love. In the concert by the Nhật Lệ River, that spirit was present in every song, every story told through melody.

A message to the future

During the Q&A session, Mr. Nguyen Trung Truc, representing the family of musician Trinh Cong Son, expressed his emotion that Trinh Cong Son's music nights continue to be held in his hometown of Quang Tri, a land with a deep connection to the musician's life and music. According to him, the greatest legacy Trinh Cong Son left behind is not just his famous songs, but also his message of love, compassion, and a yearning for peace. These are values ​​that never become outdated, especially in today's world where people need to learn to listen and share with each other more.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening was the saxophone performance by artist Tran Manh Tuan with two pieces, "Dust" and "A Realm to Return To." His poignant saxophone melodies transported the audience through realms of memories, leaving them to reflect on life and the human condition—a theme always present in Trinh Cong Son's music.

Artist Tran Manh Tuan said that this wasn't the first time he had performed Trinh Cong Son's music in Quang Tri, but each time left him with unforgettable impressions. "Quang Tri always gives me very special feelings. Performing Trinh Cong Son's music in a peace program in a land rich in historical traditions like this is a very meaningful experience. I realize that the love that young people here have for Trinh Cong Son and his music is growing deeper and deeper," he shared.

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When the artists stepped onto the stage together, and thousands of spectators sang along to the familiar lyrics of "Joining Hands in a Great Circle," the distance between performers and audience disappeared. At that moment, music achieved something that words sometimes struggle to express: connecting strangers through shared emotions. The message that composer Trinh Cong Son left behind throughout his life seems clearer than ever: Humans are born to love and support each other amidst life's many changes. Because, as he once wrote: "Even stones will need each other someday."

From the Nhật Lệ River, the melodies of Trịnh Công Sơn once again rise up as a reminder of the value of peace. This value is nurtured by gratitude, empathy, and love between people. Just as Trịnh Công Sơn himself conveyed in his music throughout his life: "Let's love each other so that we forget the days and months, even if the night is filled with gunfire, even if the morning is filled with bombs..."

Dieu Huong

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/van-hoa/202606/nghe-nhac-trinh-ben-dong-nhat-le-8221085/