In the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, a new artistic space has emerged, offering a rare experience: traditional music performed in vivid 3D surround sound, lights harmonised with images of the country and people from the three regions, and the distinct flavours of nine iconic Vietnamese dishes. More than a performance, the show is an impressive journey, leading audiences into the cultural world of Vietnam through unique artistic creativity.
"We spent over five years preparing for this show, aiming to restore traditional music to its rightful place, as a storytelling force, the soul of Vietnamese culture. Every instrument tells a story. Each drum, horn, lithophone, and T'rung was crafted in its original form by ethnic artisans and transported from remote villages to the city," said Nguyen Khac Anh, representative of the production team.
The core of Chao Show is the twelve-part symphonic suite Giang Son Cam Tu, composed exclusively for the show by musician Tran Manh Hung. It is a sonic portrait of Vietnam from north to south, performed by a cast of musicians who serve as conservatory lecturers.
A distinctive feature that sets Chao Show apart from previous art programmes in Vietnam is Immersive Audio 20,4, a cutting-edge 3D surround sound system applied on a domestic stage for the first time. With 20 speakers surrounding the audience and four ceiling-mounted ones, every seat feels like the centre of the stage, immersed in a rich and realistic soundscape.
Ho Thao Linh, one of the performers, shared, "In the early days, the biggest challenge was that each artist had to learn to play eight to ten different traditional instruments. Some I had never even touched before, so I had to self-learn and deeply understand how to capture the spirit of each region, not just playing them, but playing them well, accurately, and soulfully."
After over four months of intense training, the artists have mastered using various traditional instruments.
Cao Ho Nga, who began her journey with traditional music at the age of six and has performed in nearly 20 countries, believes combining music and cuisine allows the audience to engage with Vietnamese culture in every sense.
"In all my years as a performer, this is the first time I've been part of a programme that uses only traditional instruments, without symphonic or modern fusion. The music still preserves its cultural soul, but the presentation is innovative and highly effective. This new model of cultural entertainment could give a much-needed boost to Ho Chi Minh City's tourism sector, which lacks meaningful night-time cultural offerings," she said.
Ta Duy Linh, Director of the Institute for Economic and Tourism Development Research, praised the programme's long-term potential and highlighted the role of the private sector in enriching Vietnam's creative tourism ecosystem.
According to him, while Ho Chi Minh City has strengths in cuisine and shopping, it lacks evening cultural shows to retain tourists. Chao Show, therefore, has the potential to become a "must-see" for international visitors. Beyond artistic value, the show also connects communities, preserves heritage, and creates new career opportunities for artists. "With further improvements in language support, interactivity, and communication, this could become a signature product that places the city firmly on the cultural tourism map of Asia," he said.
Lan, a tourist from Hanoi, expressed her admiration for the programme's creativity, saying it offered a fresh perspective on traditional music and allowed for a deeper appreciation of Vietnamese culture.
"The show truly impressed me. It wasn't just about the music; the fusion of sound, visuals, and cuisine created an entirely new experience. Each dish was unique. I felt as though I was completely immersed in the country's cultural beauty," she said.
Lucia Gomez, a visitor from Spain, shared after the show, "I didn't expect to have such a special experience right in the middle of Saigon. Everything was refined, from the music and lighting to the traditional dishes. I felt like I was touching the soul of Vietnam. For me, this wasn't just a performance, it was a deeply memorable cultural journey."