Concert 'What Remains': A Symphony of Memory and Aspiration in a New Era

On the afternoon of National Day September 2 this year, the area around Hoan Kiem Lake seemed to be dressed in a brilliant coat. On the ancient streets of Hanoi , red flags with yellow stars fluttered in the autumn wind, fresh flowers adorned everywhere, and streams of people flocked to the center of the capital to join in the joy of celebrating the 80th anniversary of National Day. That atmosphere evoked a Hanoi that was both ancient and modern, both sacred and bustling, where historical memories met with contemporary life.

In the heart of the capital, the Hoan Kiem Theater has become a meeting place for music and memories. Here, the national concert " What remains forever" takes place - an event that has become a spiritual convergence point, where every September, the capital's audience and the public across the country await.

Over the years, What Remains Forever has not only been an annual art program, but has become an important cultural event - a moment for music to speak for history, for the hearts of every Vietnamese person to beat together in national pride.

The most special and sacred thing is that every year the program is held at exactly 2:00 p.m. on September 2nd - the moment exactly 80 years ago, at the historic Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. When the music Tien Quan Ca - the heroic song that later became the National Anthem - rang out to open the program, the entire audience stood up, joining in the rhythm with an extremely emotional mood.

I sat in the auditorium, but it felt like I was standing in the middle of Ba Dinh Square in the autumn of 1945. I was truly filled with emotions. Each note was not just a sound, but also the breath of history, a call from the past to the present. The music at that moment was like a bridge connecting eight decades so that people today could directly feel the spirit of their ancestors.

Listening to those melodies again, I sympathize more with the statement of journalist Nguyen Ba - Editor-in-Chief of VietNamNet Newspaper: "Each melody that resonates in Dieu Con Mai is like a slice of history, a story about the beautiful country, an affirmation of a resilient, great and bright future Vietnam". Indeed, Dieu Con Mai is not only art but also a witness of history, the immortal voice of national memory.

This year's program is a musical journey that takes the audience through the beloved lands of the Fatherland: from Hanoi, Hue, the Central Highlands to Saigon. Each performance is not just a performance but also a slice of memory, a story about the lands that have left footprints of the liberation army, about the pages of history that have made Vietnam's strength.

Singer Tung Duong with "Dak Krong River in Spring". Photo: Dang Vu Trung Kien

I was particularly impressed with the reunion of many generations of artists. Singers Hong Nhung, Tung Duong, Meritorious Artist Lan Anh - faces that have been associated with the program since the beginning, stood on the same stage with young talents such as Ha An Huy, Luong Khanh Nhi. That combination is like a sturdy tree spreading new branches full of vitality. Tradition is passed on to the younger generation so that it can be continued, renewed, and shined with the breath of the times.

There were moments that made me silent. When Song Lo resounded with the unique combination of piano and symphony orchestra, I felt like I could see the whole river of history flowing through my mind, where immortal feats were written. When Tung Duong sang S ong Dak Krong mua xuan ve , the sound of the Central Highlands mountains and forests suddenly rushed back, reminding me of the arduous days of the liberation army. Those melodies were both sacred and familiar, both heroic and full of emotion.

And in the closing moments, when the whole audience sang along to As if Uncle Ho were here on the day of great victory , I clearly felt the miraculous power of resonance. That was the power that helped our nation overcome two long resistance wars and it is also the power that will help the country rise up in today's new era.

At this national concert, I was also impressed when I heard Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Ba share: "If Dieu Con forever preserves the national soul through melodies with internationalized language, then political journalism - including VietNamNet - preserves the national soul through each word, through the honest reflection of Vietnam's innovation in the new era, with the aspiration to build a humane, happy and prosperous society."

There, I saw a beautiful meeting of music and journalism. One side is the language of melody, touching the heart; the other side is the language of words, inscribing intelligence and reason. Both share the mission of preserving the national soul, conveying the country's aspirations to rise. In that flow, as Mr. Nguyen Ba affirmed, difficulties will be resolved by aspirations and policies are not only management tools but also catalysts for innovation and creativity.

Pianist Luong Khanh Nhi. Photo: Trong Tung.

That message makes me think more about the present. We are entering a pivotal period of modern history - the era of strong growth. Major decisions are being implemented: rearranging the administrative map, from 63 provinces and cities to 34 units; streamlining the apparatus, organizing the government according to a two-level model; reforming institutions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of governance. It is not just a change in boundaries and structure but a fundamental transformation for the country to enter a new era with a stronger, more streamlined and more effective appearance.

In the space of What Remains Forever , I feel a strange harmony. Just like the program firmly maintains the time of 2:00 p.m. on September 2nd as an unchanging cultural ritual, our country today also firmly follows the path of innovation, integration and rearrangement to rise up. Historical memory is not only for remembrance but also to give strength for new steps.

As the Editor-in-Chief of VietNamNet affirmed: The National Concert Forever 2025 will portray the image of Vietnam: A nation that lasts thanks to memories; A nation that grows strong thanks to aspirations; A culture that shines thanks to the companionship of art, journalism and people's trust.

Artists sing "As if Uncle Ho were here on the day of great victory". Photo: Trong Tung.

That is also the image of our country today: eternal thanks to memories, strong thanks to aspirations and shining thanks to cultural soft power - where art and journalism accompany the people in their aspirations to rise up.

When I walked out of the Hoan Kiem Theater, amidst the bustling crowd of people and flags on the street, the echoes of those melodies still echoed in my heart. They were not only beautiful sounds but also a sacred reminder that what remains forever is patriotism, national pride and the strong aspiration of the Fatherland to rise up in the new era.

What remains does not end with a concert. It opens a new chapter of faith - faith in the power of memory, in the desire for innovation and creativity, in the strong journey of the Vietnamese people on the path to building a strong, prosperous, humane and livable nation in the 21st century.

The remaining values of What Remains 2025: Excellence, innovation, openness and humility "The four values remaining after the program of the National Concert 'What Remains' can only be summarized in four words: excellence, innovation, openness and humility", Master of Cultural Management Nguyen Dinh Thanh affirmed.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/hoa-nhac-dieu-con-mai-ban-giao-huong-cua-ky-uc-va-khat-vong-trong-ky-nguyen-moi-2438678.html