May Night Festival
This year's Lotus Village Festival features the participation of 20 performing arts troupes from provinces and cities across the country, each troupe a fragrant lotus flower contributing to the May flower garden offered to President Ho Chi Minh.
Ho Chi Minh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Monument shimmered with stage lights, adorned with flags, banners, and slogans. Beneath the monument of our beloved President Ho Chi Minh, the art program "Lotus Fragrance of Nghe An" took place... Not only the people of Vinh City and Nghe An province, but also a large number of people from all over the country gathered here to participate in activities celebrating the 120th anniversary of the birth of President Ho Chi Minh – the beloved Father of the Vietnamese nation.
"The Fragrance of Lotus in Nghe An" is a comprehensive art program structured according to a complex system of imagery: singing, dancing, and theatrical scenes, directed by playwright Vu Hai.
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Fireworks display during the opening night of the 2010 National Lotus Village Festival. Photo: Xuan Nhuong |
The 90-minute program featured nearly 1000 performers, including students from the Vietnam Dance School, Vinh University, the Huong Sen Art Troupe, and the Nghe An Folk Song Troupe (now the Center for Preservation and Promotion of Nghe An Folk Song Heritage). The program was elaborately staged, based on the main theme of Nghe An folk songs combined with folk songs from other regions. The Ho Chi Minh Monument in Ho Chi Minh Square was chosen as the main stage, with highlights including scenes of the stilt house where he worked at the Presidential Palace, and scenes of Lang Sen Village – his hometown. Five segments recreated his childhood, his revolutionary life, his affection for the people, and the profound gratitude of the people and humanity for his immense contributions.
The opening segment, "Footprints Ahead," recreates the image of young Nguyen Sinh Cung following his mother as she left home. Set to the music of the folk song "Lang Sen Village," the boy grows up, becoming the handsome young man Nguyen Tat Thanh, crossing the ocean to find a way to save the country. Then, the segment depicts Uncle Ho encountering Lenin's theses and the day he read the Declaration of Independence... Segment 2, "Remembering Viet Bac," tells the story of Uncle Ho's time in Viet Bac, the feelings and devotion of the people of Viet Bac towards him, the revolution, and the resistance zone... Segment 3, titled "Central Vietnam Remembers Uncle Ho," tells the story of Uncle Ho's time in Viet Bac, the affection and devotion of the people of Viet Bac towards him, the revolution, and the resistance zone... Segment 3, titled "Central Vietnam Remembers Uncle Ho," says the song "Uncle Ho Lives On with the Central Highlands," along with stories of Uncle Ho's journey from Hue to the South to teach at Duc Thanh School. Section 4, "The South Remembers and Remems Its Gratitude to Him": "The whole South, upon seeing Uncle Ho take out his handkerchief/To wipe away tears, burst into sobs/The sky of the South that day was woven with pink clouds/That beautiful morning, Uncle Ho carried into his sleep..."
Next is the story "Remembering the Day We Met Uncle Ho," recounting the time students from the South came to the capital to meet Uncle Ho. The segment concludes with the song "Joyful Festival in Sen Village" by composer Ho Huu Thoi. Segment 5 is titled "Homeland, a Place of Deep Affection and High Loyalty": "Traveling across five continents, returning to the banks of the Red River / Hearing a hundred voices, Uncle Ho remembers the voice of Sen Village / The gentle voice permeates all the people / The voice of Nghe Tinh is still clearly heard..." along with scenes reenacting Uncle Ho's two visits to his hometown, songs praising his deep affection for his homeland such as "He Returns to Visit His Homeland," and the scene "Uncle Ho's Love is Like the Nam Non River"...
The performance concluded with a medley of songs including "Uncle Ho's Last Words Before His Departure"... and images of President Ho Chi Minh in the hearts of the Vietnamese people, the affection of friends from all over the world for the national liberation hero and outstanding Vietnamese cultural figure...
This year's Lotus Village Festival features the participation of 20 folk art troupes from provinces and cities across the country, each a fragrant lotus flower contributing to the May flower garden dedicated to Uncle Ho. Actress Kim Luong, of the Cham ethnic group, from the Ninh Binh province folk art troupe, emotionally expressed: "Singing about Him, our hearts are warmed, and we feel even more love and longing for Uncle Ho"...
The "Fragrance of Lotus in Nghe An" art program at Ho Chi Minh Square concluded with a spectacular fireworks display. People across the country had a sleepless night, their minds still captivated by the benevolent face, bright eyes, and warm smile of our beloved Father: "From the land of Nghe An, we extend our arms of Vietnam. Oh, my dear friend, let us return to Lang Sen. Under the warm roof of humanity, the spirit of Ho Chi Minh resonates. The nation sings a single song of love for our homeland..."
Thuy - Phuc - Ly
