Society

The 2025 Lotus Village Singing Festival: A Tribute to Him

Minh Quan • May 12, 2025 11:20

In the sacred month of May, when the lotus blossoms begin to spread their fragrance throughout the villages of Nghe An province, thousands of amateur artists from all three regions of the country will converge on Nghe An to participate in the "Village of Lotus Songs" 2025 festival – a heartfelt tribute to President Ho Chi Minh.

The enduring vitality of the Song of Lang Sen Village

Established in 1981, the "Village of Lotus Songs" Festival has continuously expanded its reach over the years, from village and commune levels to national scale. It's a journey that not only nurtures deep affection for President Ho Chi Minh but also honors the revolutionary musical heritage and contributes to spreading Ho Chi Minh's ideology, ethics, and style throughout the community.

In previous years, starting from the end of March, the atmosphere of rehearsals for the festival would be bustling throughout the districts, towns, and cities. At village communal houses, cultural centers, and commune/ward headquarters, amateur performing arts groups enthusiastically practiced, meticulously refining each song and dance. In some places, the lights stayed on until late at night, and some groups even had to borrow schoolyards for rehearsals. Each festival season was an opportunity to preserve and nurture intangible cultural values, with each folk song and dance melody being sung with pride and emotion. It is this vitality that has made "The Song of Lang Sen Village" an indispensable part of the spiritual life of the people of Nghe An province.

This year, in the special context of the nationwide administrative reorganization, although the provincial-level event could not be held as widely as usual, many localities still proactively kept the movement alive.

A prime example is Hung Tay commune (Hung Nguyen district), where hundreds of amateur performers from folk music clubs, schools, and grassroots organizations participated in the performance. The simple yet profound folk melodies resonated not only as art but also as the heartfelt sentiments of the people for Uncle Ho and their homeland.

Colors converge from all corners of the country.

In 2025, commemorating the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth, the "Village of Lotus Singing" Festival returns on a national scale under the name "Village of Lotus Singing" Mass Art Performance, bringing together 31 mass art troupes from the North, Central, and South regions. Each troupe brings its own unique style and sentiment, but all share a common aspiration to honor him.

As the host province, the Nghe An Provincial Folk Art Troupe poured all its efforts into the program "The Fragrance of Lotus in Uncle Ho's Homeland" - a moving symphony recreating the journey of President Ho Chi Minh from Lang Sen village to the horizon of national salvation. The performance space was elaborately staged, applying modern stage technology and combining props such as conical hats, bundles of rice, lotus ponds, etc., creating a multi-layered emotional experience for the audience.

Singer Duy Thao, who performed the solo piece "We Sing About Him," emotionally shared: "We experimented with new arrangements to brighten the spirit of the song, but without losing its emotional depth. Every note, every glance is a sincere dedication to Uncle Ho."

From Ha Tinh, Mr. Nguyen Sy Chinh - Director of the Provincial Center for Culture, Cinema and Tourism Promotion - said that the delegation will bring to the festival performances rich in the folk music of Vi and Giam, including new compositions and modern-style folk songs such as "The Person Returning Home". Singer Thuy Hong - who performed this piece - emotionally expressed: "The festival is not only an opportunity for us to pay tribute to Uncle Ho, but also a place to learn, listen, and feel the artistic spirit from all over the country. The stage is not just a place to perform, but a place to entrust the hearts of the artists - those who carry within them a deep love for their homeland, their nation, and Uncle Ho."

The Hai Duong delegation incorporated images of their lychee-growing homeland through five meticulously prepared performances of solo singing, choral singing, dance, and flute playing. Meanwhile, the Dong Nai delegation brought a youthful and modern spirit with six performances of singing, dancing, and solo performances on the two-stringed fiddle. Cao Thep, the program director, shared: “We carefully crafted each performance, not only focusing on technique but also on heartfelt dedication. Being on the Lang Sen stage is a great source of pride. The artists from Dong Nai brought to the program an open, friendly spirit and immense love and trust – truly reflecting the spirit of this sun-drenched, yet deeply affectionate, southern land.”

Groups from Can Tho, Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, and other provinces are also rushing to finalize their programs, each with its own unique style and identity. Despite differences in style and region, all share a sacred sentiment – ​​profound gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh. With the convergence of nearly 1,000 amateur artists from all three regions of the country, this year's festival will not only be a cultural meeting point but also a gathering of souls, where art takes flight from love of the homeland and boundless reverence for the great President Ho Chi Minh.