From desire to give young talent chance to shine...
Doan Thi Thanh Hien, known by her stage name Bi Do and lead vocalist of The Magma, is among the young singers featured in “Tan Da”. In the heart of Ha Noi, the programme is gradually creating a vibrant cultural space where music brings people together.
This special series of artistic performances is organised under the direction of Nhan Dan Newspaper and produced by the community-oriented brand Nha Van Hoa. More than a free musical event for the public, it has become a launchpad for emerging artists seeking opportunities to showcase their distinctive musical identities.
Audiences have long been familiar with major artistic and political programmes organised by Nhan Dan Newspaper, featuring renowned Vietnamese and international performers. Many concerts have attracted tens of thousands of spectators and generated millions of interactions across social media platforms. Yet alongside these successes, there has been a persistent concern about how to support the younger generation of artists – those with considerable talent and unwavering passion who still lack opportunities to perform on professional stages and reach wider audiences.
Le Quoc Minh, member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Publicity, and Chairman of the Viet Nam Journalists Association, said: “Nhan Dan Newspaper has organised numerous world-class music programmes, inviting internationally renowned artists to perform in Viet Nam. We have also staged large-scale events such as 'The Fatherland in Our Hearts', featuring many famous performers across an expansive venue and attracting tens of thousands of spectators. However, one question has always remained on our minds: how can we support young bands that have not yet had the opportunity to perform on major stages?"
Drawing on his observations of artistic life, Le Quoc Minh noted that in other countries, people walking through parks or public spaces often encounter musicians and bands performing, sometimes discovering remarkable talent among them.
Most artists invited to “Tan Da” have already been performing for some time and have established a certain fan base and level of recognition. However, they often struggle to secure opportunities at major concerts where broader audiences can discover their abilities, talent and passion.
"From that idea, 'Tan Da' was created out of a desire to support young bands. Although several well-known artists also participate to encourage and perform alongside them, our main objective remains to provide a launchpad for emerging talent," Le Quoc Minh explained.
Following its debut, the programme received an enthusiastic response from residents and visitors to the capital. By its second edition, the event had already seen more substantial investment in its scale and organisation.
The show reached approximately 6 million people across online and social media platforms, generating more than 60,000 interactions. It was featured in around 90 posts on major social media pages, attracted approximately 2,000 spectators in person and received coverage from more than 20 newspapers and media outlets. These are significant figures for a music programme still relatively new to the public.
Beyond entertainment, the programme ultimately aims to enrich young audiences' understanding of traditional culture.
"Our aim is to incorporate educational content. For example, audiences may enjoy listening to music without necessarily understanding different musical instruments or being able to distinguish between Xam (traditional Vietnamese folk singing), Cheo (traditional opera), Tuong (classical opera), and Cai luong (reformed theatre). In future editions, the programme will integrate cultural education, particularly for children," Le Quoc Minh added.
Held at the headquarters of Nhan Dan Newspaper at 71 Hang Trong Street, “Tan Da” is being developed into a modular cultural and artistic format, with a flexible structure that will allow it to be organised in different locations in the future. Each venue will offer its own story, cultural elements and forms of interaction while preserving the programme's shared spirit: accessible art, open spaces and direct connections with the community.
...to a contemporary artistic experience
On the “Tan Da” stage, young artists have demonstrated their creativity by harmoniously combining contemporary musical styles with distinctive artistic identities and diverse sources of inspiration.
Although formed only at the beginning of this year, The Magma confidently presented a selection of fresh, original songs composed by its members. Young singer Doan Thi Thanh Hien, known as Bi Do, shared: "Performing on the 'Tan Da' stage, I could clearly feel the audience's excitement and affection, especially the enthusiastic applause from international visitors. The programme has a deeply humanistic spirit because everyone can enjoy the performances freely without buying tickets. Music becomes a bridge that creates lasting memories and brings people closer together."
At the second edition of “Tan Da”, Thanh Hien introduced her song “Manifest”, which she wrote in English to convey her belief that positive things can come into people’s lives.
“Put simply, 'Manifest' is somewhat like a way of expressing the hope that good things will happen. We all wish for good things in life, but they must come from our own efforts. Alongside hope, we must always act,” Thanh Hien explained, describing the message behind her song.
“Performing my own musical creations on stage for the first time, I felt incredibly proud to be part of a professional programme with excellent sound quality, an impressive performance space and a warm, approachable production team. The enthusiastic reception from audiences along the pedestrian street – from local residents to international visitors who happened to stop and watch – also demonstrates the quality of a meaningful artistic programme," she added.
Alongside The Magma, Pink Frog was another emerging band introduced at the second “Tan Da” show. Vu Thanh Loc, a singer with Pink Frog, said: “The banyan tree and its spreading canopy are symbolic images that evoke something distinctly Vietnamese. Pink Frog’s music always seeks to bring Vietnamese influences into every melody, expressing our love for life and people. Even when our songs explore sadness, they are still filled with hope."
For young artists, performing in a public space and experiencing genuine, close interactions with audiences offers something that not every stage can provide.
“That is why I was quite surprised when I received the invitation to take part in the programme, as it offers such an interesting way of connecting with audiences. Music is a language unlike any other. Even when words fail to express certain emotions, songwriters and listeners can still share those feelings through music. Music is not confined to any particular audience; it speaks to everyone. Each generation will respond to Pink Frog’s music in its own way and find something that resonates with them,” Thanh Loc said.
With substantial investment in its organisation, carefully designed sound and lighting systems, and an open performance space overlooking the Ho Guom pedestrian street, “Tan Da” not only brings contemporary performing arts closer to the public but also provides encouragement and opportunities for young artists to develop their artistic careers.
Through “Tan Da”, a space traditionally associated with Nhan Dan Newspaper at 71 Hang Trong Street is being opened up in a new way, becoming a place where cultural stories can be heard, seen, experienced and creatively reinterpreted by today's generation. From music and visual arts to community spaces, the programme seeks to create a meeting point between heritage and contemporary culture, memory and creativity, and young artists and the public.
