“Remembering Trịnh” - A Night of Memory and Reflection

The program brought together distinguished singers such as Đức Tuấn, Phương Thanh, Ánh Tuyết, Phi Thúy Hạnh, and Duy Hưng, along with local voices in Hội An who share a deep appreciation for Trịnh’s music. In a contemplative atmosphere, iconic songs by Trịnh Công Sơn, such as “Xin cho tôi”, “Quỳnh Hương”, “Gọi tên bốn mùa”, “Nắng thủy tinh”, and “Mưa hồng” were performed in succession, guiding the audience on a journey through memory, where music is not only heard but deeply felt. The event attracted a large number of residents and visitors. In that shared space, generational boundaries seemed to dissolve, leaving only a sense of harmony as music touched hearts, quietly lingering within each listener in a personal way.

Hội An is widely known as a creative town with strengths in crafts and folk arts. Yet, its cultural life extends far beyond these domains. Music, especially genres with depth such as Trịnh Công Sơn’s compositions, remains ever-present, weaving through street corners, small cafés, and the town’s unhurried rhythm. The love for music among Hội An’s people is not loud or ostentatious, but enduring and refined. It can be found in quiet evenings along the Hoài River, where the sound of an acoustic guitar drifts through the stillness, or in small cafés where music is experienced not only through listening, but through memory and emotion. With its poetic lyrics and philosophical depth, Trịnh’s music seems especially attuned to this setting, where time slows down and reflection finds space.

The “Remembering Trịnh” music night, therefore, is more than a performance; it is part of an ongoing cultural continuum. It demonstrates that alongside preserving and promoting traditional values such as crafts and folk arts, Hội An continues to nurture a vibrant contemporary musical life. The connection between past and present, tradition and creativity, is what shapes the city’s distinctive identity. As Hội An steadily strengthens its role within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, fostering diverse artistic fields, including music, remains an essential direction. Events like “Remembering Trịnh” help expand creative spaces, create opportunities for artists and audiences to connect, and inspire artistic engagement within the community.

In a town where beauty is not only seen in moss-covered rooftops and ancient houses but also felt through cultural depth and collective consciousness, music becomes a gentle yet ever-flowing current. These melodies blend into the fabric of the ancient town like breath itself, accompanying its slow rhythm and transforming each moment into a meaningful emotional experience. From such quiet yet enduring elements, Hội An continues to affirm its identity as a creative town, where heritage is not only preserved but also reimagined through new forms of expression, with music as a vital source of inspiration.

The night may have ended, but its echoes remain, like a gentle reminder that creativity does not always begin with grand ideas but can emerge from familiar melodies that continue to touch the hearts of today and tomorrow.