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Aug 03, 2018 / 15:34

Quintessence of Tonkin joins Vietnam Guinness Book of Records

The show was recognized by the Vietnam Guinness Book of Records for using the largest water stage in Vietnam (4,300 square meters) under the Thay pagoda mountain in Sai Son commune, Quoc Oai district, Hanoi.

“The Quintessence of Tonkin”, the live entertainment show, received two entries in the Vietnam Guinness Book of Records at a press conference in Hanoi on August 2.
 
Quintessence of Tonkin joins Vietnam Guinness Book of Records. Photo: Dantri.com.vn
Quintessence of Tonkin joins Vietnam Guinness Book of Records. Photo: Dantri.com.vn
The 60-minute show with the most cast members who are farmers (150 people), run by Tuan Chau Hanoi JSC, is held every three days at Baara Land, Quoc Oai district, 25km west of Hanoi’s center.
Through “The Quintessence of Tonkin” show with the help of hundreds of performers, an interactive stage and state-of-the-art technology, Director Hoang Nhat Nam has brought audiences to the peaceful landscapes and the unique heritage of the northern region as wel as Vietnamese history and culture from a contemporary perspective.
The spectacle draws inspiration from the pagoda’s history, with its story focusing on the founding of the pagoda by the venerable monk Tu Dao Hanh and the ancient union between religion and monarchy.
The show has six aspects, namely poetry, buddhism, nostalgia, music and painting, joy and festivities. The theater itself is an engineering masterpiece. A natural lake was transformed into a stage, including a state-of-the-art hydrothermal system that raises the 15-ton Thuy Dinh pagoda from under the water in just under a minute. As the Thay Mountain composes the background of the scenery, the organizing board also had to develop a unique illumination system to light up the hills, 1.5km away, using 40 lamps of 1,500 watts.
The stage is permanently submerged under a thin layer of water, and is large enough to accommodate all 250 performers at any one time. The show reflects the peaceful sounds of rural Vietnam, such as those that come from wooden drums, brass gongs, night crickets, and flowing water. The project also blends different elements of traditional music styles, including quan ho (love duets) and ca tru (ceremonial singing), both of which are recognized by UNESCO as examples of intangible world heritage.
"The Quintessence of Tonkin” show in June won the Gold Stevie Award for Innovation in Media, Visual Communications and Entertainment.