Cham Show: Where European spirit meets Vietnamese culture
More than just an artistic performance, the Cham Show reflects the spirit of cross-border cultural cooperation, with values combined of heritage and innovation.
THE HANOI TIMES — The Cham (Touching) Show - a special arts performance combining music and visual storytelling - will be held at the Hanoi Opera House on May 9 to celebrate Europe Day (May 9).
Hosted by the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam, it aims to explore culture through the lens of tradition and innovation, creating a multidimensional dialogue between the European spirit and Vietnamese identity.
Continuing the creative approach of last year's contemporary ballet Do (Poonah) presented by the EU Delegation, the show expands the artistic space where music and culture intertwine in depth, diversity, and reflection. Thoughtfully curated, the performance weaves together classical compositions, romantic melodies, and energetic rock classics, all reinterpreted through a contemporary lens and brought to life with the addition of a dynamic visual design.
Together, they guide the audience through richly layered cultural narratives deeply rooted in Vietnam.
Opera singer Dao To Loan will perform at Cham Show. Photo courtesy of EU Delegation
More than just a performance, the Cham Show embodies the EU's commitment to cultural exchange and long-term partnership grounded in shared values that link heritage and the present. To mark Europe Day on May 9 and 35 years of diplomatic relations between the EU and Vietnam, the show provides a meeting place where cultural differences are not lines of separation but sources of borderless creative inspiration.
According to EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier, in today's volatile world, art remains one of the most enduring forms of connection, transcending language, history, and borders. Cham Show 2025 is a vivid expression of cultural convergence, where Vietnamese stories are told through European artistic language, and European values find new resonance through the cultural lens of Vietnam.
“We are honored to present the richness and emotional depth of European music to Vietnamese audiences, while also celebrating the creativity and talent of Vietnamese artists who are leaving their mark on the global stage. I believe that the program will stand as a memorable milestone in the cultural bridge between the EU and Vietnam," he said.
Inspired by Vietnam's geographic and cultural diversity - from the textured seasons of the North, to the contemplative rhythms of the Central region, to the vibrant energy of the South - the program will reveal the soul of the country through carefully crafted stage visuals where light, movement, and spatial design flow together to tell regionally inspired stories.
Paired with Western music reimagined through Vietnamese voices, the performance unfolds a subtle yet striking dialogue between East and West, tradition and modernity, offering a richly layered, immersive experience.
The show will feature Vietnamese artists and vocalists, including Dao To Loan, Pham Anh Khoa, Hong Duong, Tri Minh, choreographer and Meritorious Artist Phan Luong, flute artist Duy Minh, and others. The music directors of the show are composers Luu Ha An and Vu Huy.
