Meritorious Artist Tuyet Mai shows international tourists how to play a traditional Vietnamese musical instrument at Truc Mai Home Concert. (Photo courtesy of www.nld.com.vn)HCM City (VNS/VNA) – Ho Chi MinhCity is piloting a new tourism project called Ngoi Nha Nghe Si (Artist'sHouse), with the aim of promoting Vietnamese music to internationaltourists at the homes of individual artists.
The number of international visitors to the citywho look for art shows such as the A o Show and GoldenDragon Water Puppet, and ethnic music performances at RexHotel, increased greatly in the first quarter of the year.
The ‘Ngoi Nha Nghe Si’ tourism project, whichincludes a visit to an artist’s house to experience ‘Don ca taitu Nam Bo’ (southern folk music), has stirred excitement within thearts community.
Meritorious Artist couple Dinh Linh andTuyet Mai offers the Truc Mai Home Concert on 104 Pham Viet Chanh streetin Binh Thanh district’s ward 19.
Since 2004, Truc Mai Home Concert has become apopular address among many international tourists. Experts describe itas “the first privately owned museum for traditional musicalinstruments”.
Similar to Truc Mai Home Concert, Phuong BaoMusic Centre on 11Bis Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street in district 1 has attractedmany visitors who take a tour and practice Vietnamese traditional musicalinstruments with artists.
Recently, Meritorious Artist Minh Vuong hasrearranged his living space and put up 200 images capturing his art journey,ready to welcome guests.
“I have heard about the new ‘Ngoi Nha NgheSi’ project and would love to reserve this space for promoting the art of cailuong (a form of modern folk opera) to tourists,” he said.
People’s Artist Le Thanh Tung also dedicate hishouse in Hoc Mon district to carry out the new tourism project.
Meritorious Artist Truong Son said his family isready to greet tourists to Thai Hung communal house, where he and many generationsof artists have practiced ‘cai luong’.
In the house, artists and their audiencesexperience an intimate space.
According to Meritorious Artists Dinh Linh andTuyet Mai, visitors will not only enjoy the art performances at Truc Mai HomeConcert but learn how the instruments work.
People’s Artist Phuong Bao has had manyopportunities to travel and perform around the world, and has skills inknowing how to promote her house to visitors.
“For example, with Japanese visitors, mystudents play instruments and perform the melodies of Japanesemusic,” she said, adding that it is important to not only let visitorsexperience the performance itself, but also understand the essence oftraditional Vietnamese music via the melodies of where they arefrom.
“Don’t think about making profits right away,but have a long-term plan as this tourism project is expected to open morestages for artists to perform,” People’s Artist Phuong Bao said.
In addition to connecting artists and tourists,the artist house project also helps inspire and train younger generationsthat have a passion for music.
This can be seen at Truc Mai Home Concert wherethree generations of artists all perform on the same stage.-VNS/VNA
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