Legend of Youth performance brings wartime memories to Hanoi nights
A museum performance in Hanoi is turning history into a living experience for both locals and visitors.
THE HANOI TIMES – The Vietnam Women’s Museum in Hoan Kiem Ward is staging The Legend of Youth (Huyen Thoai Tuoi Thanh Xuan), a cultural show under the theme Live a Worthy Life (Mot Doi Dang Song). The program runs at 6 PM every Saturday and Sunday at 36 Ly Thuong Kiet Street.
The performance recounts the story of ten young female volunteers who died at Dong Loc Junction in 1968. Their sacrifice kept a vital transport route open during the resistance war against the US.
For Tran Ngoc Hung, a 25-year-old Hanoian, the story is deeply personal. “When I visited the site last year, I was overwhelmed. Watching this performance revives the same emotions, pride and profound gratitude for our ancestors’ sacrifices.”
The production combines theater, music, and light with smoke, bomb effects, and lanterns that evoke the battlefield. Traditional songs flow into narration and modern visuals, building toward the moment when the ten women step into darkness, the most powerful scene of the night.
Tickets are available via hotline (024.39.36.5973) or the museum’s website baotangphunu.org.vn.
Ten young female volunteers in the play The Legend of Youth. Photos: ONEVIVU.VN
Since July, the show has drawn hundreds of visitors every weekend, underscoring the rising appeal of cultural programs at museums. Foreign travelers have responded warmly. “The atmosphere is emotional, like stepping into the past,” said Lauren Mortimer, a visitor from Spain. “I could feel the bravery of these young women even without understanding every word.”
Both international guests and local audiences have found meaning in the performance. Anna Müller from Germany remarked, “In Europe, we have war museums, but this kind of storytelling is rare. It keeps the past alive for younger generations and inspires them.”
For Hanoians, the program resonates as a reflection of their own heritage. “I brought my teenage son, and he was deeply moved,” said Nguyen Van Nam, an office worker in Hanoi. “It makes children realize the value of sacrifice beyond textbooks.”
The audience had emotional moments while watching the show. Photos: The Hanoi Times
The performance has become a highlight of Hanoi’s cultural nightlife. Families often combine the visit with evening walks around Hoan Kiem Lake. Local businesses near Ly Thuong Kiet Street report more diners before and after the show, demonstrating its positive impact on tourism.
Museum director Nguyen Thi Bich Van explained the vision. “We want to diversify museum experiences by combining education with art. The show serves as both a remembrance and an inspiration for people to live responsibly. Seasonal specials give it added significance."
The museum will stage an extended version with live music and floral tributes on Vietnamese Women’s Day, which falls on October 20. On December 22, Vietnam People’s Army Day, new stories of female soldiers and youth volunteers will be introduced.
All actresses are amateurs and very young. They perform in an innocent way, expressing their own true emotions.
The program reflects Hanoi’s broader effort to expand creative cultural spaces and strengthen evening tourism. In the first five months of 2025, the city welcomed about 12.77 million visitors, up nearly 11% from the same period last year, showing growing public interest in cultural events of this kind.
For those behind the stage, the project is also about reflection. Stage director Le Minh said the performance pays tribute to history while raising a question for today: “We are honoring history, but also asking what it means to live a worthy life today.”
That question lingers with the audience as the lights fade. Many leave in silence, carrying pride and gratitude. For Hanoi, The Legend of Youth stands as a reminder of sacrifice, courage, and responsibility.
