Viola artist Nguyet Thu donates 1 million bowls of pho to international tourists.

International viola artist Nguyet Thu announced the simultaneous launch of a project to donate 1 million bowls of pho to international tourists and a community music project called "Where Love Begins."

Artist Nguyet Thu performs music at the press conference - Photo: DAU DUNG

International viola artist Nguyet Thu recently held a press conference to launch the Hoan Nguyen living art space at Thong Nhat Park (Hanoi), combining cuisine, cultural exchange, and artistic performances with educational activities and community experiences.

Two of the highlights are the music project "Where Love Begins" and the project to give away 1 million bowls of pho to tourists visiting Hanoi .

Why pho?

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , Nguyet Thu shared that she is a fan of pho. When she lived and worked abroad, she often missed Vietnamese pho, but cooking a pot of pho in a foreign country was very difficult, taking about 10 hours, and not always having enough ingredients.

Pho is a dish that Vietnamese people can be proud to share with international friends, and it's also very famous worldwide. Pho embodies culinary art and Vietnamese culture.

Therefore, she chose pho to kick off this community project. In addition to donating 1 million bowls of pho to tourists visiting Vietnam, Nguyet Thu is also calling for donations of thousands of pho carts for people with disabilities in Vietnam.

Nguyệt Thu recounted that we often sing "This Earth Belongs to Us," but someone once said to her, "Why not say 'This Earth Belongs to Our Homeland'?"

For the artist, offering each tourist a free bowl of pho is also a way to convey the hospitality of the Vietnamese people to international friends.

According to the plan, the project will be implemented within three months, initially piloted at the Hoan Nguyen space starting today, and then expanded to several other locations. The project will utilize a QR code tool to manage registered visitor information.

Artist Nguyet Thu (right) shares about two community projects - Photo: DAU DUNG

Where love begins , replacing the terrifying sounds of the hospital .

Ten years ago, after returning to Vietnam, artist Nguyet Thu embarked on community projects. As the mother of an autistic child, this journey is even more meaningful to her.

Since last year, she has been working with various parties to promote the community music project "Where Love Begins," and it will officially launch at Bach Mai Hospital and Hanoi Oncology Hospital at the end of this year.

With this project, Nguyet Thu said she wanted to use music to replace the frightening and terrifying sounds in hospitals. These include the beeping of ventilators, the sounds of ambulances, and especially the heartfelt emotions of doctors, patients, and their families.

Nguyet Thu plays the song "Continuing the Story of Peace" - Clip: DAU DUNG

"The presence of music there brings positive, healing energy, soothing the spirits of doctors, medical staff, and patients, helping patients reduce pain and stress, and creating a relaxed, positive environment in the hospital," she said.

In addition to organizing live performances, the project aims to apply music therapy to patients under the supervision of medical professionals.

Furthermore, Thong Nhat Park is a place that holds special memories for Nguyet Thu during her childhood, as well as for many other Hanoi children in the past. That's why, at the Hoan Nguyen space, there will also be free music nights for people to enjoy.

Born into a family with a musical tradition, her father, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Van Thuong, was the founder of the viola discipline at the Hanoi Conservatory of Music (now the Vietnam National Academy of Music). At the age of 6, Nguyet Thu began playing music and, at 7, topped the entrance exam for the elementary level at the Hanoi Conservatory of Music. She was the first Vietnamese student to study viola at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Russia.

After five years of studying under Professor Yuri Abramovich Bashmet, she graduated with honors, became an internationally renowned viola artist, and performed in numerous concerts around the world. She holds two master's degrees in arts education from Russia and the Netherlands.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nghe-si-viola-nguyet-thu-tang-1-trieu-to-pho-cho-du-khach-quoc-te-20251216143138792.htm