When you think of musical instruments for stage productions, you do not typically conjure up cooking pots, knives, or cutting boards. However, the following folk show takes on these daily household items and uses them to reflect the spirit and ambience of a typical northern Vietnamese village.

The show, Tam Hon Lang Viet or “the soul of the Vietnamese countryside”, vividly depicts the everyday activities of countryside people in the north, from early morning flute sounds to the noisiness of a rural evening marketplace.  The weekend show draws crowds of foreigners and locals who love to be immersed in the countryside space. The folk show features performances from many renowned artists with music genres which have been recognised by UNESCO as part of the world’s intangible heritage, such as “ca tru” (ceremonial singing), “quan ho” (love duet singing), and “nha nhac cung dinh Hue” (royal court music of the former imperial capital) Tam Hon Lang Viet has become a favourite rendezvous place for music lovers. The show is organised every Sunday at the Ho Chi Minh Museum, Hanoi. –VNA