Dr. Nguyen Thanh Tung performing with his parents at the night concert
In the freezing weather of late winter, the night concert was really cozy, with the presence of close friends who have attached their memories to Dr. Nguyen Thanh Tung's family.
Upon hearing the news, there was one in A Luoi traveling a distance of more than 70 kilometers, or a female teacher in Bien Hoa, who stopped by Hue on business, also coming to attend the night. There was also another male teacher working on the other side of Tam Giang traveling to the city together with his family to attend Mr. Tung's night concert, and so on.
That was also a warm reunion of vocalists, of friends and teachers, including Ms. Luong Huong Lan from Phu Ho Primary School, where Dr. Tung studied in his childhood; the businessman Tran Minh Duc, his longtime Hue friend, with the companionship of the event organizer Nguyen Lan Vi; GNH-Hue team (Gross National Happiness of Hue) and Thua Thien Hue Entrepreneurs Association, etc.
With the familiar guitar, the audience contemplatively listened to songs composed and performed by Dr. Tung himself.
A few months ago, Dr. Tung shared his joy when 24 out of 38 songs composed by him were copyrighted. And he chose Hue to publish 8 out of 24 such works for the first time (Prism, Rush, Money, Live, 65 years of life, My school Phu Ho, Miniature Hue, Dream) as a special gift for his homeland.
Through deep and sincere experiences due to him having held many positions in and out of the country, each of his songs delivers beautiful messages about love, family and life with close and contemplative lyrics, directing the listener to the clarity of beautiful aspirations.
Regarding the theme of the night concert, Dr. Tung shared: “With my love for Hue, I spent a lot of time completing the project “Miniature Hue” at my house in Ho Chi Minh City.
Over the years, the artwork has served, introduced and spread the value of the complex of Hue Ancient Capital to millions of pupils, students and teachers throughout the country. I also took the pseudonym "Miniature Hue" for the songs. This night concert, therefore, is the return of "Miniature Hue" in the heart of the Ancient Capital, like a confession to Hue with all my heart."
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Dr. Nguyen Thanh Tung performing the song "My school Phu Ho" with his teacher and singer Luong Huong Lan
The night concert was really contemplative with the voice of the octogenarian artist Ngoc Dung, the mother of Dr. Nguyen Thanh Tung. That moment really brought back all the memories of Hue to the artists.
In 1953, a 15-year-old lass in Phu Ho commune (Phu Vang) entered the stage in Thuong Bac park on the banks of the Perfume River so as to attend a provincial singing competition and won the first prize. That event brought her to Hue Radio Station 67 years ago.
That woman, having been far away from Hue with her family for many years, now returns and still keeps the culture of Hue, from her Hue’s voice, the traditional Ao Dai Hue and lyrical songs about Hue.
The night concert "Miniature Hue in the heart of the Ancient Capital" emotionally ended with Dr. Nguyen Thanh Tung performing the song "Ba ke con nghe" with his son, which acts as the message about the cultural continuity of a three-generation family in Hue.
Right after the night concert, from the 6th to 13th of December, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Tung will make trips to A Luoi, Phong Dien, Huong Tra, etc., in order to conduct talks about life skills, enrollment counseling, sex education, etc., and award the “Nurturing Ethics Every Day” scholarship founded by him to students and teachers.
With a little amount of time due to his busy schedule, he still spends 2 days (12th-13th December) talking to entrepreneurs in Hue about "Building an effective business system".
Those are cozy gifts that Dr. Tung has silently given to Hue as a tribute for many years.
Dr. Nguyen Thanh Tung is currently the Director of Ho Chi Minh City’s Knowledge Management Institute (KMi); Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City’s Quality Association; Visiting Lecturers for graduate programs at CFVG French-Vietnamese Training Center, PUF French University, Technology Management Institute - FPT University, and for undergraduate programs for more than 20 universities in the country. He is also a lecturer of the CEO program of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), lecturer of British Council, Institute of Accounting and Business Administration, Institute of Technology and Finance, Vietnam Business Club, Vietnam Human Resources Club, and is the Principal of Tue Duc International College vabis.
Dr. Tung is also known as the author of the famous "Miniature Hue" project, recreating the complex of Hue Ancient Capital at a scale of 1/700 at his house in Ho Chi Minh City.
Story and photos: Kim Oanh - Quang Phong