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	Vietnamese Intellect in France Gather to Share Life Experience with Young People

An art programme was held in Paris last weekend to mark the 15th founding anniversary of Que huong (Homeland) Choir, the largest and only Vietnamese-languague singing choir overseas, VNA reported.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Phap Dinh Toan Thang; Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Nguyen Thi Van Anh, along with a large number of overseas Vietnamese and French friends, came to celebrate with the members.

From folk music to light music, from classic Vietnamese songs to world-famous works, all were performed generously and majestically by more than 40 members of the Homeland Choir, making the 15th anniversary music night full of impressions and emotions, helping viewers relive beautiful moments in choir's history.

An art performance at the event. Photo: NDO

Born in April 2009, the choir aims to gather Vietnamese people with the same passion for singing and loving revolutionary songs. It now has 250 members of different age groups.

Sharing with VNA's reporter in France about the name "Homeland", Nguyen Thi Ngan Ha, its founder, shared that the choir is an art form that can gather people who like to perform Revolutionary songs and country songs. Although their singing is not professional or perfect, everyone likes it and feels moved when singing those songs. When they sing, everyone thinks about their homeland. "That's also the reason we chose the name Homeland Choir," Ha said.

Initially just a gathering of a group of 15 - 20 people with similar interests, the choir has now witnessed the participation of 5 generations with the number of attendees reaching up to about 250 members. Because the members are international students or overseas Vietnamese, from different professions and ages, each person joins and leaves the Homeland Choir at different times, some stay for 7-8 years, some for longer, 13 years and others 2-3 years. Although there are always fluctuations in personnel due to changes in the number of people going and staying, the choir always maintains a team of about 30 - 40 choristers. In particular, there was a time when the number of people attending the choir reached 80 people, Ha recalled.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang delivers his speech at the event. Photo: NDO

Nguyen Thuy Ha, a choir member for 2 years now, said she is always moved when singing songs about her homeland, Vietnam. According to Thuy Ha, life away from home is not easy and everyone misses their hometown and country, so singing in the choir is also a way to feel less homesick.

As for Ngo Dam Dung, he affirmed that togetherness is necessary between compatriots far away from the Fatherland and that it is the love for music, and the homeland that is the motivation for everyone to gather, raise their voices, and sing together.

Appreciating the Homeland Choir’s contributions to promoting Vietnamese culture at UNESCO, Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh affirmed that it is a typical example of multicultural exchange, helping promote the culture, country, and people of Vietnam to international friends and the Vietnamese community in France.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang emphasized that the songs performed by the Homeland Choir are not simply melodies, they reflect the Vietnamese soul as well as the Vietnamese tradition. By sharing these musical treasures, the Homeland Choir has opened the doors to Vietnamese culture, helping people discover and love the richness of their homeland's heritage.

The art programs of the Homeland Choir have now become events that both Vietnamese and French people who love Vietnam have been waiting for, perfectly demonstrating the power of music to bring people together, connecting generations and cultures.

Vietnamese Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang (R) presents the ambassador’s Certificate of merit to the choir in recognition of its contributions. Photo: VNA

The diplomat especially appreciated the contribution of the founder, Nguyen Thi Ngan Ha, and said that without her determination and passionate dedication, it would be difficult for the public to have such beautiful experiences.

"The dedication and love that Ngan Ha has for Vietnamese music is an inspiration to all of us. I appreciate the fire of passion that she has conveyed to us, along with the energy and connections she can create, all of this has and will contribute to making the cultural life of our community in France more lively," stressed Thang.

He expressed his wish that choir members continue their efforts to preserve and develop Vietnamese culture through music, as well as promote cultural exchange between Vietnam and France.

On this occasion, Vietnamese Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang presented the ambassador’s Certificate of merit to the choir in recognition of its contributions.

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