Canalside karaoke is a part of the soul of Ho Chi Minh City

Amidst the bustling pace of development in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Andrew Stiff - lecturer at RMIT University Vietnam believes that karaoke singing, street vendors and the rhythm of life along the Te Canal are the soul of this urban area.

As the initiator of the River Cities Network (RCN), a global initiative to connect riverside cities to reimagine the relationship between water and human life, Dr. Andrew Stiff believes that these places are the “living heritage” that reflects the city’s identity. In Vietnam, the project focuses on the Te Canal, a canal that divides District 4 and District 7 (old), once a bustling floating market, now bustling with street vendors, boats and houses.

"Traditional heritage such as temples and ancient villas have been widely recognized. But Ho Chi Minh City is still struggling to find its identity beyond its role as an economic locomotive. I want to draw attention to the simple spaces where urban emotions and memories truly exist," he said.

Ton That Thuyet Street (old District 4) next to Te Canal, many people have the habit of singing karaoke all night long.

PHOTO: LE NAM

For TS Stiff, seemingly small things like the smell of street food, the echoes of karaoke every afternoon, or the overflowing water during a full moon are all part of the urban identity.

"We all both hate and love karaoke. But do you remember how quiet the city was during the days of social distancing, when there was no singing or car horns? That is not a nuisance, but the soul of this land," he asked.

Te Canal divides District 4 and District 7 (old) of Ho Chi Minh City

PHOTO: LE NAM

Through a creative lens, he and his group of students recorded the sounds, images and rhythms of life around the Te Canal using documentary films, virtual reality (VR), 3D audio and documentary storytelling. The project not only preserves memories, but also restructures the view of the city as woven by everyday life, not just by concrete and steel glass.

Dr. Stiff recommends selective and empathetic urban redevelopment. "It would be risky to copy stereotypes, but it is equally dangerous to completely remove them and replace them with high-rise buildings. We need cities that develop but still retain Vietnamese identity," he said.

Urban area along Te Canal in Ho Chi Minh City

PHOTO: LE NAM

“There are no perfect solutions to urban problems,” Dr. Stiff asserts. “But there are always feasible things, and they start with listening, listening to communities, living spaces, and the often-neglected rhythms of everyday life.”

For him, the journey to create the future of Ho Chi Minh City is not only about technology or infrastructure, but also about how we preserve simple and humane things. These are the factors that make this city truly a common home for everyone.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tieng-karaoke-bo-kenh-la-mot-phan-hon-cua-tphcm-185251009143135107.htm