Secret Garden: We are delighted to be part of a music project with social significance

Spreading music for a charitable cause

The concert “Secret Garden Live in Viet Nam” is the third event in the international community music project “Good Morning Viet Nam,” jointly organised by Nhan Dan Newspaper and IB Group Viet Nam. It follows the success of “Kenny G Live in Viet Nam” and “Bond Live in Viet Nam.”

More than just a bridge bringing world-class music to Vietnamese audiences, the “Good Morning Viet Nam” project’s organisers also aim to promote the image of Viet Nam internationally through music videos produced with participating international artists. As in previous years, all ticket sales from the concert will go toward charitable purpose — a humanitarian goal that Nhan Dan Newspaper and IB Group Viet Nam have consistently upheld.

Following two resounding successes, “Secret Garden Live in Viet Nam” marks the next milestone in the “Good Morning Viet Nam” journey — bringing world-class music closer to the Vietnamese public while spreading humanitarian values through charity-driven performances.

Unlike the previous editions featuring Kenny G and Bond, both of whom had performed in Viet Nam before, this will be the first time the legendary duo Secret Garden performs in the country. The concert “Secret Garden Live in Viet Nam” also marks the opening show of their world tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of their musical career.

Speaking at the event, Member of the Party Central Committee (PCC) and Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper Le Quoc Minh, who is also Deputy Head of the PCC’s Commission for Communications, Education and for Mass Mobilisation, and Chairman of the Viet Nam Journalists’ Association, shared: “I asked the two artists from Secret Garden whether they were aware of how influential their music is in Viet Nam. They replied that, based on record label statistics, they knew many Vietnamese people love their music.”

“In Norway, the two artists also read about the recent storms and floods in Viet Nam, and they were deeply touched to take part in the international community music project ‘Good Morning Viet Nam,’ initiated by Nhan Dan Newspaper and IB Group Viet Nam,” Minh added. “For the artists, beyond bringing world-class music to the public, the programme’s charitable purpose — donating all ticket proceeds to help flood-affected communities in Viet Nam — makes it even more meaningful.”

Sharing at the press conference, violinist Fionnuala Sherry said the duo were delighted to be in Viet Nam for the very first time. They had long known of their Vietnamese fans’ love for their music and had dreamed of performing in the country one day. “And now,” she said, “that dream has come true.”

Composer Rolf Løvland added that, back in Norway, they had read and watched news about the natural disasters and floods in Viet Nam. For them, performing as part of the “Good Morning Viet Nam” project carried profound meaning.

Speaking about their presence in Viet Nam, Løvland revealed that the group had actually received an invitation to join the “Good Morning Viet Nam” project two years ago, but only accepted it this year. “This timing is very special for us,” he explained, “as 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of our musical career.”

Fionnuala Sherry further shared that, upon arriving in Viet Nam, they could immediately feel the warmth and kindness of the people. She expressed her happiness to receive such passionate affection from Vietnamese audiences, and said that they are truly grateful to take part in the meaningful charitable and social initiatives organised by Nhan Dan Newspaper and IB Group.

A special connection in music

According to the organisers, Secret Garden’s concert in Ha Noi follows an international standard format in both stage and sound design. The duo will perform a curated selection of their most celebrated works, divided into three overarching themes: nature; landscapes and human connection; and culture.

With a minimalist stage design that highlights the storytelling power of sound, Vietnamese audiences will be taken on a poetic musical journey — from evocative and wordless melodies to pieces that blend classical and Nordic–Celtic folk influences, all perfectly suited to the refined atmosphere of autumn in Ha Noi. Director Pham Hoang Nam revealed that the Vietnamese stage will include unique features found nowhere else on the duo’s world tour.

Talking about the stage setup, the artists expressed their surprise and gratitude to stage director Pham Hoang Nam. Upon seeing the stage, they were impressed by how harmoniously it resonated with Secret Garden’s music. They said they are very happy.

Rolf Løvland spoke about the duo’s creative connection. In the past, he mainly composed pop music, but Fionnuala encouraged me to explore other genres. There’s a special bond between us that has allowed us to journey together for 30 years.

Fionnuala Sherry added that their performances are like conversations between two artists, with the audience as attentive listeners. “Each performance is different,” she said, “because the emotions are never the same — and that difference comes from the audience itself.”

When asked about exploring Vietnamese music, the artists said they had listened to it but had not yet had the opportunity to play any Vietnamese instruments or pieces. They have previously performed music from several Asian countries such as China and the Republic of Korea, but not yet from Viet Nam. “Our music is deeply influenced by Nordic traditions, yet it shares certain resonances with Asian music. We hope to collaborate with Vietnamese artists in the future to create new versions of our compositions,” Fionnuala said.

Nhan Dan Newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief Le Quoc Minh revealed that the organisers of “Good Morning Viet Nam” have already prepared a list of potential artists for next year’s programme. However, he noted that arranging a suitable schedule with international performers is never a simple task.

“With Secret Garden, it took us two years to coordinate their schedule for a performance in Viet Nam,” he said. “Viet Nam is also the first stop on the group’s world tour celebrating their 30th anniversary. Secret Garden’s music is truly special — it has the power to ease hardship and wash away life’s fatigue. And with their melodies, we felt that no location could be more fitting than Ninh Binh. The music video will be filmed there, amidst its majestic mountains, rivers, and natural scenery,” shared Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper Le Quoc Minh.

Chairman of IB Group Viet Nam Nguyen Thuy Duong said: “Our biggest challenge is how to ensure that the music resonates with Viet Nam’s cultural and historical values while aligning with the artists’ schedules. Fortunately, the great success of the first two seasons of ‘Good Morning Viet Nam’ has strengthened artists’ confidence in the programme.”

As a token of appreciation, Secret Garden presents the organisers with a violin.

Secret Garden, consisting of violinist Fionnuala Sherry and composer Rolf Løvland, was founded in 1994. The duo has maintained their prominence in contemporary music, standing among Universal Classics & Jazz’s best-selling artists, with 113 platinum certifications worldwide, over three billion streams, and 311 weeks on the Billboard New Age chart.

Their iconic 2001 composition “You Raise Me Up” has been covered by more than a thousand artists, including global stars such as Josh Groban, Westlife, and Il Divo, making it one of the most recorded songs of the century.

In 1995, Secret Garden made history by winning the Eurovision Song Contest with “Nocturne,” breaking a 40-year tradition as the first instrumental ensemble to receive the competition’s top honour. Over three decades of devoted artistry, the duo has nurtured the love of audiences worldwide through 12 albums, beginning with “Songs From a Secret Garden” (1995) and most recently “Songs In the Circle of Time” (2024).