1. The program promoting traditional and contemporary folk art in public spaces throughout Ho Chi Minh City, organized by the Bong Sen National Folk Music and Dance Theatre, featured over 30 performances, contributing to spreading and bringing traditional art closer to the public, especially the younger generation and international tourists.
Unlike performances in enclosed auditoriums, the series of programs is held in familiar urban spaces such as Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, the War Remnants Museum, and the Ho Chi Minh City Museum. The performances are neatly and restrainedly staged, suitable for open spaces, making them easily accessible to viewers while still maintaining artistic depth. The duration of each performance is just right for the audience to pause, listen, and enjoy. This model not only contributes to "opening the door" of traditional art to modern urban life but also creates opportunities for art forms once considered niche to reach new audiences, especially the younger generation – the force that will determine the future of cultural heritage.
In this context, the first performance of traditional Vietnamese opera (hat boi) in 2026 at the Hung King Temple (2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Saigon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Traditional Opera Theatre, scheduled for 9:00 AM on January 18th, is attracting considerable attention from young audiences. This is part of a series of New Year's art programs aimed at promoting the art of hat boi through the new work "Hien Than" (Virtuous Deity).
After months of interruption due to the Hung King Temple undergoing renovation and restoration, news of the return of traditional Vietnamese opera (hat boi) quickly spread on social media. Nguyen Thanh Hoai Truc (20 years old, a student at Saigon University, Ho Chi Minh City) shared: “My friends and I usually come here to watch hat boi every Sunday morning. When we learned about the resumption of the performance through the Ho Chi Minh City History Museum's Fanpage, my friends shared the news, scheduled a trip, and even planned to wear traditional ao dai to take photos for Tet (Lunar New Year).”
From seemingly ordinary public spaces, traditional art is gradually reclaiming its place in modern urban life. When organized with flexible and accessible approaches, heritage is not only "preserved" in museums or theaters, but is truly living alongside the community, especially with today's young audience.
2. Bringing traditional art into public spaces not only aims to expand its reach but also reflects the need to innovate methods of cultural dissemination in today's urban context. As life becomes increasingly fast-paced, the public – especially young people and international tourists – tend to access art through short, direct, and friendly experiences. Outdoor performances, therefore, become natural "touch points" between art and the public, where viewers can access culture without complex rituals of appreciation.
According to a representative of the Bong Sen National Folk Music and Dance Theatre (Ho Chi Minh City), bringing traditional art out of specialized performance spaces is a direction the theatre has long considered. In the context of dynamic urban life, traditional art cannot simply wait for audiences to seek it out; it needs to proactively engage with the public through more flexible and accessible forms, especially with young people and international tourists.
Notably, choosing museums as performance venues carries significant meaning, both in terms of space and cultural development. These locations, already steeped in historical memory, artifacts, and documentation, are now enhanced with a vibrant experience through music and performing arts. This combination creates a connection between the past and the present, between historical memory and contemporary life, making museum spaces more accessible and engaging for the public.
For international tourists, this is also an opportunity to experience Vietnamese culture not only through artifacts and explanatory materials, but also through the language of music, body language, and emotions of traditional art. Culture, therefore, is not only "seen," but also "heard" and "felt," making the experience complete and leaving a lasting impression.
From a cultural management and development perspective, the model of combining performing arts with museum spaces in Ho Chi Minh City is considered a suitable approach in line with modern trends. Instead of being limited to mere display, museums are gradually expanding their reach, enhancing interaction and experiences for visitors, especially young audiences.
This also represents a significant shift in thinking: from simply showcasing what one has to offer, to understanding and responding to public expectations when visiting heritage spaces. When museums become intersections of education , art, and experience, they are not only cultural destinations but also crucial resources for urban tourism to connect and develop sustainable products.
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nghe-thuat-truyen-thong-va-diem-cham-cong-chung-do-thi-post834032.html
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