Songs that represent the country

In the constant flow of Vietnamese music, patriotic songs always hold a special place - both as memories and as an endless source of inspiration for generations of artists. If in the past, songs like “Tien Quan Ca”, “To Quoc Toi Chua Xue Dep The Bao Gio”, “Co Gai Mo Duong”, “Truong Son Dong - Truong Son Tay”… were the songs that resounded amidst bombs and bullets, now these songs are being renewed to continue spreading the national spirit in peace.

Patriotic songs were well received by the audience at the concert "Fatherland in the Heart"

The revival of patriotic songs

There was a time when we were worried that music about love for the homeland would be forgotten by young people in the new life. However, in recent years, especially in 2025 with many important events of the country taking place, it has brought a "revival" to patriotic songs by modern arrangements, combined with the youthful voices of the Gen Z generation. What is precious is that young artists not only "sing again" but also "sing with their hearts". They find in old songs a pride, a deep sympathy with their fathers. Phuong My Chi, Hoang Dung, Tung Duong or Bui Lan Huong, Ha Anh Tuan, My Tam, Nguyen Minh Ngoc are all contributing to proving that patriotism is not a slogan, but a sincere emotion conveyed through each melody.

We were moved to witness more than 50 thousand people singing “Tien Quan Ca” at the concert “To Quoc Trong Tim”. Patriotic songs were sung again with a new, youthful spirit, carrying the breath of today’s life and were well received by the public. “Co Gai Do Duong” resounded with a rock sound, “Tu Van” had a pop-balada color, or “Noi Vong Tay Lon” was renewed with EDM… creating a new vitality, closer to young audiences.

Singer Duc Tuan in the album "50 - Unforgettable Songs 2" brought modern harmonies, a youthful performance style while still maintaining the solemn and profound spirit for revolutionary songs such as "Night Stars", "The Road We Go", "Song of Hope", "The Country Full of Joy"... "Tuan has invested all his brainpower as well as put all his feelings into it. Tuan did not hesitate to invest a large amount of money in revolutionary songs to bring classic works that are also modern", singer Duc Tuan said. Or Le Minh Ngoc, from a folk artist, also chose for herself a more difficult path, singing chamber songs about the homeland because she felt it was her mission to spread the beauty of those songs to today's youth. Ngoc sang "Ba Dinh sunshine" (1947, Bui Cong Ky - Vu Hoang Dich), "Bo dot ve lang" (1950, Le Yen - Hoang Trung Thong), "Nguoi chien si ay" (1969, Hoang Van), "Tu nguyen" (1968, Truong Quoc Khanh), "Mua xuan tren que huong" (1976, Hoai Mai)... in the documentary "La letter to the future" which is very new and interesting.

Patriotic music is being renewed by artists and spreading strongly on social networks. Young artists not only love their country, but also find ways to tell Vietnamese stories in the musical language of the times. With a new arrangement and the combination of two artists from two generations - People's Artist Thanh Hoa and young singer Hoa Minzy, the song "Green Forest Echoes Ta Lu" has brought a fresh, youthful breeze to revolutionary songs; it has been enthusiastically received by audiences, especially young people. People's Artist Thanh Hoa shared: "When singing with Hoa, Thanh Hoa is also swept away by that purity and enthusiasm. It is very light, without the need for the fervor of days on the battlefield."

Or 5 familiar revolutionary songs such as "National Defense Army" and " Ho Chi Minh Song" were remixed by the Oplus group in a modern style. The acapella version of "Marching to Saigon" quickly reached more than 1 million views. Mr. Nguyen Quang Minh - leader of the Oplus group shared: "OPlus believes that, for young audiences - those who did not directly experience the historical years - they still have their own way of feeling to preserve, conserve and pass on historical values. For artists, this is a spread". Oplus is currently a music group that is always present in political music programs because of the way they create, making patriotic songs become youthful, easily touching the hearts of young people. This is a journey to renew revolutionary music in a modern, positive direction, aiming to spread the spirit of patriotism to today's young generation.

The spread of patriotic songs is also multiplied by the power of social networks. On TikTok, YouTube or Spotify, short music clips, remixes of “Like having Uncle Ho in the great victory day” or “Proud of Vietnam” are widely shared by young people, becoming a very natural way to express national pride.

When love of the Fatherland takes the form of youth

Not only stopping at innovation, the flow of patriotic music today is also opened up by new compositions. Songs with the image of the country often depict the beauty of the homeland, love for the Fatherland and the aspiration to build the homeland. If the previous generation had "Tien Quan Ca" (musician Van Cao); "Co Gai Mo Duong" (musician Xuan Giao), "Nhu Co Bac Trong Ngay Vui Dai Thang" (musician Pham Tuyen)... then today's generation has songs like "Viet Tiep Chua Hoa Binh " (Nguyen Van Chung), "Viet Nam Toi" (Jack - K-ICM), "Viet Nam Hao Khi" (Nguyen Van Chung), "Viet Nam Nhung Chuyen Diep" (Hua Kim Tuyen), or "Dat Nuoc Loi Lu" (Van Thanh Nho)... These compositions are full of pride, but expressed in modern musical language: electronic arrangements, rap, pop ballad or R&B - genres familiar to young people.

Musician Nguyen Van Chung - who is loved for many songs about family and homeland - has recently released compositions with deep patriotic spirit such as "Continuing the story of peace", "Vietnam's heroic spirit", "Fatherland in our heart", "Proudly stepping forward to the future"... He shared: "Patriotic music today is not only about war or the past, but also about pride and the aspiration to build a prosperous country". Besides, Hua Kim Tuyen, Den Vau, Minh Beta or TRI are also contributing to "modernizing" this topic by telling stories of Vietnam from a new perspective - the changing city, the young people's dedication, or the kindness in the community.

Many new patriotic songs have become online phenomena, attracting millions of listens and spreading on social media platforms. “My Vietnam”, for example, is not only a song, but also an affirmation of Vietnamese identity in the midst of globalization. Meanwhile, “Vietnam’s Pride” has been performed in many television programs and national events, becoming a “theme song” inspiring national pride for young people. For the first time, a song about love for the country has reached 2 billion views on social media. The song “Continuing the Story of Peace” - composed by musician Nguyen Van Chung, sung by Nguyen Duyen Quynh - has strongly spread the message of gratitude to the previous generation and continuing the aspiration to build the country. This song continues to go viral on social media through the voice of Tung Duong. And Tung Duong’s MV “Continuing the Story of Peace” also quickly reached the record of 1 million views within 24 hours of its release. Another MV that has taken YouTube by storm is the song “Aspiration for Youth”, performed by singer Tung Duong. After only 10 days, the MV has attracted 1.8 million views on YouTube. The special feature of this product is that all the images in the MV were created using AI technology, under the creative hands of young people.

Singer Vo Ha Tram and singer Dong Hung perform the song "Continuing the story of peace" at the Grand Ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day.

Young artists compose in modern language but they do not separate themselves from tradition. They incorporate into modern music folk sounds - zither, bamboo flute, two-string fiddle, or lullaby material - combined with pop, rap, and EDM melodies. Therefore, their music is both familiar and new, and reaches the masses.

In the vibrant flow of contemporary music, besides songs about love or youth, there is still a persistent source flowing throughout - that is patriotic music. Today, many young musicians are breathing new life into this seemingly "old" theme, making national pride melodies closer, fresher and more emotional than ever. Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education said: "In recent times, we have seen that there are many MVs and songs expressing positive messages, traditional values, patriotic values. That is extremely important when we see patriotism, solidarity, and the noble values ​​that music brings to people."

Patriotic music today is not just a memory, but a part of the present - lively, creative and full of energy. Those melodies continue the journey connecting the past with the future, nurturing in every Vietnamese a deep, lasting and always fresh love for their homeland.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/van-hoa/nhung-bai-ca-mang-dang-hinh-dat-nuoc-i786623/