People's Artist Quoc Hung: Singing about Uncle Ho and the islands with all my heart.

People's Artist Quoc Hung has just returned from Truong Sa, carrying with him the same emotions as he prepares to take the stage to sing about President Ho Chi Minh and the islands in his homeland.

Cherish every word when singing about Uncle Ho.

People's Artist Quoc Hung accepted the invitation to participate in the art program "Vietnam's Sea - A Journey to Green Space" in response to World Environment Day (June 5), World Ocean Day (June 8), the Month of Action for the Environment, and Vietnam's Sea and Islands Week in 2026 almost without hesitation.

In the program, People's Artist Quoc Hung performed the opening act with the song "He is the Unwavering Faith in Victory" by composer Chu Minh. The artist stated: "All the singers who choose to sing about Uncle Ho dedicate time to self-practice and rehearse with the orchestra and sound crew, ensuring everything is meticulously prepared." According to the artist: "From pronunciation to enunciation, every detail must be refined. It's very technical but also very emotional. The spirit of pride, reverence, and gratitude is conveyed in every lyric and melody when praising Uncle Ho."

Although the song was previously associated with the name of People's Artist Quang Thọ, People's Artist Quốc Hưng, while expressing his appreciation for the senior artist's performance, also stated that art needs continuity, and each artist has their own way of approaching and expressing a work according to their own feelings.

People's Artist Quoc Hung is renowned for his full, rich, deep, and expressive voice. Photo: Provided by the artist.

While mentioning vocal technique, what People's Artist Quoc Hung wants to emphasize isn't necessarily technique. According to the artist: "Singing needs to be good, not just accurate." He believes that "accuracy" refers to correct pitch, rhythm, duration, and tempo. "Good," on the other hand, is the ability to "touch" the emotions of the work and connect with the listener.

"What distinguishes humans from machines is that humans may be a little flawed, but that flaw is precisely what makes them special," he shared. For him, when the artist's heart truly resonates, the listener will feel it.

In particular, singing about President Ho Chi Minh right in his hometown, by the sea in Nghe An , on the occasion of his birthday anniversary is a special honor. "That is an immense honor for an artist," People's Artist Quoc Hung shared his feelings.

He shared that the image of President Ho Chi Minh in the hearts of the people is immense. From his homeland, he set out to find a way to save the country, regain independence for the nation, freedom and happiness for the people, so that our golden forests and silver seas could truly be ours... Therefore, when artists stand before works written about President Ho Chi Minh, they are filled with sacred reverence. And according to the artist, there is no greater happiness than singing about President Ho Chi Minh, and even more so, singing about him in his homeland, that happiness is multiplied.

Therefore, the opening performance of the concert, "He is the Unwavering Faith in Victory," was not simply an opening act, but an opportunity to convey the feelings of an artist and a citizen towards their beloved leader. For the artist, it was also a continuation of an emotional journey from the front lines back to the mainland.

Heartfelt emotions from Truong Sa

A month ago, People's Artist Quoc Hung concluded a long working trip to the Truong Sa archipelago. He led an art troupe from the Vietnam National Academy of Music in collaboration with the Army Ceremonial Unit to visit, encourage, and perform for officers and soldiers serving on the remote islands.

What People's Artist Quoc Hung brought back was not just a memento of a business trip. He shared: "Only when you get out there do you truly see the spirit of the soldiers in Truong Sa; it's indescribable. Courage is one thing, but the determination to live, the determination to protect the sovereignty of our homeland's seas and islands, is what's even more remarkable," he confided.

The soldiers that People's Artist Quoc Hung met included some who were only 18 years old, with sun-tanned skin and a thin, small build, but their eyes were always bright and full of determination. Some had served on the islands for many years, only returning to the mainland a couple of times. Regardless of age, their will to protect the beloved sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and islands could not be subdued by any circumstances.

The moment the artist remembers most vividly is when the team was unable to reach the DK1 platform due to extremely rough seas. The ship approached several times but was unable to bring the people aboard.

Finally, he took the walkie-talkie to both host the program and connect with the soldiers on the offshore platform. Artists like Le Anh Dung, Huong Ly, and many other young singers performed live via walkie-talkie, sending their songs to the soldiers on duty.

He continued: “We asked: 'Can you hear the singing? If you can, wave the flags.' On the other end of the line, there were only seven or eight soldiers. And I saw seven or eight flags being waved. Almost everyone on the ship that day was in tears.”

Leaving DK1, the delegation visited Gac Ma Island, in the sacred waters of the Fatherland. All members of the delegation solemnly held a memorial ceremony for the heroic martyrs, the soldiers who bravely fell for the sovereignty of Vietnam's sea and islands.

“The waves were huge. After the flower arrangement was released into the sea, it kept drifting away and then returning to the island. It was incredibly sacred. Everyone was moved,” he recounted.

During that trip, on many decks of the ship and at various islands, he encountered images of President Ho Chi Minh in his naval uniform, displayed in the most prominent positions. That image stayed with him all the way back to the mainland.

"Uncle Ho and the sea and islands - these two themes combine very well."

Having served as the general director of numerous art programs about President Ho Chi Minh as well as programs about the sea and islands, People's Artist Quoc Hung believes these are all major and inspiring themes. "The theme about President Ho Chi Minh is the best, the most profound, and also an endless source of inspiration for creators."

According to him, there are musicians who may not be truly outstanding in terms of compositional technique, but they write about Uncle Ho with all their hearts. It is this that helps their works "touch" the hearts of listeners.

What particularly impressed him about this program was the combination of two themes: President Ho Chi Minh and the sea and islands. He said: "The theme about President Ho Chi Minh was already great, and adding the theme about the sea and islands makes it even better."

Throughout his career, People's Artist Quoc Hung has directed many programs specifically about President Ho Chi Minh or about the sea and islands. But this is one of the few occasions where these two themes have been presented side-by-side on the same stage.

According to him, in literature and art as well as in reality, President Ho Chi Minh and the sea and islands have never been two separate themes. The image of President Ho Chi Minh in his naval uniform present on ships and on the frontline islands is clear evidence of that connection. After his trip to Truong Sa, that feeling became even more profound for him.

Artists are also soldiers.

Although not born in a coastal region, the sea has been a part of People's Artist Quoc Hung's life and memories since a very young age. During his youth, while working at the People's Police Art Troupe, now the People's Police Theater, he had the opportunity to travel along almost the entire length of Vietnam's coastline. He remembers afternoons sitting by the sea, silently watching the waves and letting his thoughts drift along the horizon.

From those experiences, the album "Sea of ​​Love" was born. "I poured deep emotion into every word, every phrase, every note. If even one word deviated from the feeling, I would stop immediately and re-record it right away."

According to People's Artist Quoc Hung, field trips like those to Truong Sa bring artists the most genuine emotions. He affirmed: "Only by going out there can you see the vastness of the ocean, and how sacred the silent sacrifices of the soldiers truly are."

For him, artists who sing about the sea and islands are not simply performers. They are fulfilling a mission: to praise the beauty of their homeland's sea, to honor the soldiers who are guarding sovereignty day and night, and to awaken in the public a love for the country and its sea and islands.

People's Artist Quoc Hung will perform famous songs such as "You Are the Unwavering Faith in Victory," "The Sea of ​​Memories and You," etc. Photo: Provided by the artist.

"Every artist is also a soldier," he said, adding that in peacetime, this responsibility demands that music be invested in more seriously and meticulously, but also be more creative and modern.

He mentioned great epics of Vietnamese music such as "The People of Hanoi," "Guerrillas of the Thao River," "Epic of the Lo River,"... works that require the artist not only to sing technically but also to truly empathize.

But he was also very happy to see the young soldiers in Truong Sa singing youthful, lively songs on the island. "That was absolutely wonderful."

He specifically mentioned the song "The Homeland Calls My Name" by composer Dinh Trung Can as an example of how music from the islands can be both majestic and emotionally rich.

After the trip to Truong Sa, some young artists in the group wrote new songs based on their own emotions. “There was no need for anyone to commission them; after the real-life experiences of the trip, living through special emotions, witnessing the images of the soldiers guarding the sea and sky day and night, the artist naturally felt the need to write something about those images. It's truly a very good theme.”

Then he reiterated a concise statement: "The sea is our home, the islands are our homeland," a saying, a song that will forever be etched in the hearts of anyone who has participated in a trip and set foot on Truong Sa. For him, only when one truly understands this can an artist sing from the heart, not just with their voice.

The art program "Vietnam's Sea - A Journey to Green Space," taking place at 8 PM on June 5, 2026, at Binh Minh Square, Cua Lo Ward, Nghe An Province, featuring renowned artists, is one of the highlight activities in a series of events in response to World Environment Day (June 5), World Ocean Day (June 8), the Month of Action for the Environment, and Vietnam's Sea and Islands Week 2026, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and implemented by the Agriculture and Environment Newspaper.

The program is directed by Meritorious Artist Quỳnh Trang, Director of the Vietnam Contemporary Art Theatre, with People's Artist Trần Bình serving as General Director.

People's Artist Quoc Hung opened the performance with the song "You Are the Unwavering Belief in Victory". He then returned with the song "The Sea of ​​Nostalgia and You".

Locations where free tickets for the concert will be distributed:

1. Agriculture and Environment Newspaper

- Address: 14 Ngo Quyen Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

- Phone: 0971.933.568 (Ms. Tran To Nhu)

2. Center for the Production of Press and Media Products ( thuộc the Agriculture and Environment Newspaper)

- Address: Lot E2, Duong Dinh Nghe Street, Hanoi.

- Phone: 0947.858.328 (Mr. Pham Cong Trinh)

3. North Central Office, Agriculture and Environment Newspaper

- Address: 156 Dinh Cong Trang Street, Thanh Vinh Ward, Nghe An Province

- Phone: 0915.822.977 (Ms. Pham Thanh Chi)

4. Nghe An Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism

- Address: 11 Nguyen Sy Sach Street, Vinh Phu Ward, Nghe An Province

- Phone: 0946.689.922 (Ms. Phuong Hien, Office Specialist)

5. Office of the People's Council and People's Committee of Cua Lo Ward, Nghe An Province

- Address: No. 10, Nguyen Sinh Cung Street, Cua Lo Ward, Nghe An Province

- Phone: 0985.015.737 (Ms. Hoang Thi Thu, specialist at the Office of the People's Council and People's Committee of Cua Lo Ward).

Tickets will be distributed during business hours, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, from May 30th to June 5th, 2026.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/nsnd-quoc-hung-hat-ve-bac-ve-bien-dao-bang-ca-trai-tim-d813958.html