Speaking to a reporter from Dan Tri newspaper on the eve of the Lunar New Year 2026, pipa artist Vu Dieu Thao said that after many upheavals in life, what she cherishes most is peace. "I don't dare wish for anything more than peace. For me, that's already enough," she said.
According to Dieu Thao, during her student years and when she started performing professionally, she rarely had a complete New Year's Eve. While the audience was resting and preparing to welcome the new year, artists were busy with programs to serve the public.
Pipa artist Vu Dieu Thao is one of the prominent figures associated with traditional Vietnamese music (Photo: Provided by the artist).
The female artist has performed in many provinces and cities such as Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang, and even abroad to serve overseas Vietnamese communities. "Artists' Tet (Lunar New Year) is usually busier than for ordinary people, but in return, it brings many memorable stories and experiences," she shared.
Diệu Thảo recounts that each place she visited during the early days of spring had its own unique cultural flavor, helping her to better appreciate the richness of Vietnamese Tet. Wherever she is, she always longs to return home, reunite with her family, and send her loved ones wishes for peace and well-being after a busy year.
In the artist's memory, the most memorable Tet holiday was during the Covid-19 pandemic. At that time, she received an assignment from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and along with other artists, went on a six-month work trip to Dubai and had to celebrate Tet in a foreign land.
When it was time to return home, Dieu Thao had to stay in quarantine for another 10 days because she contracted Covid-19. Being alone in a foreign country, almost missing her flight, and enduring the wait amidst the pandemic made her appreciate the value of returning home even more. "After that journey, I cherish the meaning of 'safety' even more," she expressed.
Diệu Thảo said that she was overjoyed when the plane landed safely at Nội Bài airport. That year, she celebrated Tet with happiness, cherishing every moment with her family.
For her, New Year's Eve is always the most sacred moment of the year. If she's not performing, she usually spends the entire 30th day of the Lunar New Year preparing the traditional feast, personally cooking familiar Hanoi dishes.
At the exact moment of transition, the whole family gathers to light incense, wait to watch the fireworks, and then go to a temple to pray for peace and good fortune in the new year. "For me, Tet in Hanoi is simple and peaceful like that," the female artist expressed.
Artist Vu Dieu Thao and singer Luu Quoc Vuong during the making of "A Peaceful Tet Together" (Photo: Provided by the subjects).
From this concept of valuing peace and family reunion, Dieu Thao's musical direction has also evolved. In recent years, many artists from professional training backgrounds have not only focused on instrumental music performances but have also sought to revitalize traditional materials, bringing folk instruments closer to contemporary life.
In the ongoing trend of revitalizing traditional music, the music video " Tet Binh An Ben Nhau" (Peaceful Tet Together) was released by her just before the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026. The work was composed by Vu Dieu Thao, arranged and produced by Chau EP, performed by singer Luu Quoc Vuong, and directed by Nhat Giang.
Luu Quoc Vuong (born in 2006) previously won the title of Champion at the Southeast Asian Children's Talent Festival 2019, a gold medal at the Son Ca Melody (VOV) competition, and was among the Top 3 outstanding young talents nationwide ...
Diệu Thảo said she sees this as a New Year's greeting, hoping that music will become a bridge connecting everyone back to peace within their families. The song has a more lively and youthful rhythm compared to her previous compositions, but the pipa (Chinese lute) still plays a central role, creating a connection between tradition and contemporary spirit.
Diệu Thảo (born in 1986) was previously known to audiences for her role as the gentle youngest sister Thảo in the popular television series "The Sky Ahead " directed by Đỗ Thanh Hải.
When she participated in the film, she was only 13 years old and a student at the Vietnam National Academy of Music. However, after graduating, she chose to stop acting altogether to wholeheartedly pursue traditional music.
She studied under the guidance of People's Artist Mai Phương, Meritorious Artist Kim Hạnh, and People's Teacher Hoàng Dương. Since 2024, Diệu Thảo has been a lecturer specializing in the pipa (Chinese lute) at the Vietnam National Academy of Music.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giai-tri/nghe-si-ty-ba-vu-dieu-thao-ke-ve-cai-tet-xa-que-giua-dai-dich-20260212202405121.htm
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