'Keep the land and sky of our homeland, keep what we love'

QTO - Music can go through the years, touch the heart and become the common memory of a land. For more than half a century, "My dear Quang Binh" is still a beloved song in the hearts of many generations of people in Quang Binh and now Quang Tri. It is not only music, but also memory, pride and a bond that connects people through the years. Today, that heritage continues to be cherished, preserved and spread by two children of musician Hoang Van: Music Doctor Le Y Linh and conductor Le Phi Phi. Reporters (PV) of Quang Tri Newspaper, Radio and Television had a conversation with them to better understand the musical journey that extends from memory to the present, towards the future.

- Reporter: Recently, Quang Tri province named a street in the most modern urban area of ​​the province after musician Hoang Van. On this trip back to Quang Tri, how do you feel about walking on the street named after your beloved father?

- Conductor Le Phi Phi: I think the decision to name the street was carefully considered, with the agreement between the provincial leaders and the people. I know that when asking for opinions, the people all respected and wanted to have a street named after Hoang Van. That touched me, because everyone saw my father as a son of Quang Binh , not just a musician from Hanoi. The feeling when walking on that street is really hard to describe, both proud and grateful.

- Dr. Le Y Linh: This is the first time my father has had a street named after him. When we received this news last year, our family was extremely moved and grateful for the affection that the province has given to my father over the years. I think this is a beautiful milestone, a "peak" of understanding and love between my father and the land and people here - those who have been attached to "my hometown Quang Binh" for the past decades.

Dr. Le Y Linh and conductor Le Phi Phi talk with reporters of Quang Tri Newspaper and Radio and Television - Photo: DH

- Reporter: Loving a song, loving a person. People of Quang Binh and now Quang Tri, not only love the song “Quang Binh, my homeland” for more than six decades but also have special respect for musician Hoang Van. During your trips back to this land, how do you feel about the affection of the people here for your father?

- Conductor Le Phi Phi: This is not the first time I have come to Quang Tri, but every time I return, I am filled with pride. I often chat with taxi drivers, saleswomen... and when I ask them "Can you sing Quang Binh, my hometown?", everyone answers "Yes, I can sing everything!". Hearing that, I feel extremely happy and proud. When they know that I am the son of the composer of that song, a feeling of closeness and affection immediately spreads as if we have known each other for a long time.

- Reporter: In your opinion, when administrative place names change, such as when Quang Binh merged and changed its name to Quang Tri, are songs with strong local imprints like "Quang Binh, my hometown" at risk of losing their value?

- Conductor Le Phi Phi: In my opinion, the merger of Quang Binh and Quang Tri is just an administrative change. But with art, it is different. Works of art are not bound by geographical or political borders. No matter when or where, a good song will live forever in the hearts of the public. Therefore, I believe that works like “Quang Binh, my homeland” will never lose their value. They will still live in the hearts of the people, because when a work has touched the heart, it transcends all administrative boundaries.

- Dr. Le Y Linh: When a work has become part of life, becoming the emotions and memories of people, it no longer depends on the place name. “My dear Quang Binh” is an independent work of art, with a vitality that transcends time. People still love it, still sing it, still pass on pride to each other through each melody, that is the most important thing. As for “fading” or “transcending time”, I think, for my father, those are just conventional concepts. His music, as well as the love of the people for it, has itself transcended all limits.

Conductor Le Phi Phi's family and friends during a visit to Quang Tri in August 2025 - Photo: DH

With more than 700 musical works composed between 1951 and 2010, musician Hoang Van’s collection has just been recognized by UNESCO as a World Documentary Heritage. This is the first time a Vietnamese personal music collection has been recognized by UNESCO, deeply reflecting the history, culture and spiritual life of the Vietnamese people through many periods.

- Reporter: Ms. Y Linh! It is known that you are currently the President of the Association for Promotion of Vietnamese Tourism and Culture in Europe, and have had many activities to connect international friends with Quang Tri. So in the coming time, what plans do you have to promote and advertise Quang Tri tourism to the world?

- Dr. Le Y Linh: With many years of experience working in the field of international tourism promotion, I am always willing to share and cooperate with colleagues in the Quang Tri tourism industry. I believe that when we discuss together and find the most suitable and optimal way to "touch" more people, promoting the image of Quang Tri to international friends is completely feasible. I really hope to soon have the opportunity to work with local colleagues to implement specific and practical projects, so that Quang Tri tourism can gradually spread more strongly on the world tourism map.

- Reporter: In the song “Oh my homeland Quang Binh”, musician Hoang Van once wrote: “Keep the land and sky of our homeland, keep what we love...”. To Phi Phi, what does that lyric mean today?

- Conductor Le Phi Phi: “Keeping the land and sky of our homeland” is not only about preserving nature, but also about protecting and cherishing the cultural values, people and identity of the land. If we talk about “the land and sky of Quang Tri”, it is all that nature has bestowed, the cultural heritage, the filial piety and resilience of the people here. We must know how to preserve, cherish and develop. I think, today, the young generation does not only stop at “preserving”, but also “bring that heritage to the world”. This is the era of integration and globalization, so developing and promoting local culture and tourism is a responsibility and also an opportunity to affirm Vietnamese identity in the international arena. Quang Tri is a land with great potential, especially in tourism, history and people. I believe that, if exploited in the right direction, this land can completely surprise, make the whole world proud and cherish.

Dieu Huong (performed)

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/van-hoa/202510/giu-lay-dat-troi-cua-que-huong-ta-giu-lay-nhung-gi-ma-ta-yeu-quy-bc54a77/