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| The performance drew a large crowd of Khe Tre residents |
The idea of “Ngan Ngo” (A Thousand Reveries) took shape one day over coffee in Khe Tre, when brothers Hoang Tien Nghia and Hoang Tien Hieu of Hon Viet (Vietnamese Soul) Event Company caught sight of nha rong (a communal stilt house) at the heart of the village. Against the mountain’s blue sky, the stilt house appeared as a symbol of unity and community. At that moment, the idea of holding a music night right there suddenly lit up in the minds of the two brothers.
From the idea, the young organizers held “Ngan Ngo” night concert in Khe Tre late last September. The night was made all the more special because the two brothers, Nghia and Hieu, are natives of Khe Tre. Having performed on many stages in Hue - from coffee shops and events to professional venues - it was their first time performing in their native land.
They carried all the instruments, sound gear, and stage props from Hue. The team of 12 - nine musicians and three singers, the youngest born in 2008 and the oldest in 1996 - loaded their equipment onto a truck and set off on “Hon Viet’s first musical journey into the mountains.”
That day, Khe Tre suddenly looked more sparkling than usual. Guitar notes drifted with the wind, drums joined the chorus of insects, and lights cast a glow on the roof of the communal stilt house. As the Hon Viet team was still setting up their gear, the audience had already begun to gather around. Hearing about a “free concert at the communal stilt house,” people from nearby villages came together. Some rode motorbikes from distant hamlets, others brought their children along, and even elderly villagers with walking sticks came to watch.
Tran Duy Khanh, owner of Cho Phien Café (Market Fair Café) - a local partner of the Hon Viet team - said: “Ngan Ngo” was not just a night of performance, but a starting point for the local community to take a more active role in cultural and artistic activities. The night concert was vibrant yet intimate, filled with songs that inspired love for life and family. I hope there will be more such events so that music can truly find its place in the daily life of Khe Tre’s people.
For Tran Quyen, a Khe Tre resident, “Ngan Ngo” was truly memorable: “I heard about the show on social media and decided to come out of curiosity. I never thought it would feel so lively and so close to my heart. “As a music lover, I hope there will be more such nights - to enjoy and to bring music closer to the people in the highlands.”
At the night concert, 20 songs were performed in turn - from lyrical Vietnamese pieces and contemporary pop songs to lively Western melodies. Every song was thoughtfully chosen to fit the atmosphere and to let audiences, both young and old, immerse themselves in the music.
Inspired by the program’s success, the Hon Viet team plans to organize free performances every three to four months in the mountainous and outlying areas of Hue. The goal is not only to bring music closer to the people but also to share joy and spread the spirit of art to communities with limited access to cultural activities. For them, music should not be confined to city stages. It can echo anywhere - on mountain slopes, by forest streams, or beneath stilted roofs - as long as there are listeners and emotions left to share.
For Hon Viet (Vietnamese Soul), “Ngan Ngo” (A Thousand Reveries) was more than just a performance night. It was a journey of return - where music bridged people with the native land, and where young artists rediscovered themselves. The youth of Hue, fueled by their enthusiasm, turned a small idea into an unforgettable memory - not only for themselves but also for the local community.