Reliving the immortal songs of Truong Son
The program opened with an emotional conversation between host Thuy Linh and People’s Artist Lan Huong, a veteran actress who grew up amid the smoke and fire of war. She holds a special place in the hearts of the audience thanks to her iconic roles in films about Vietnam’s resistance era.
In the show, People’s Artist Lan Huong shared her indelible childhood memories of carefully writing down the lyrics of revolutionary songs into her notebooks and memorizing each melody. For her, Truong Son is not just a toponym but a symbol of emotion and the setting for her role as a soldier at the Vietnam National Drama Theatre. There were even times when she was mistaken for a real soldier while walking down the street.
As both a guest and a member of the advisory board that selected the 80 revolutionary songs featured in the series, People’s Artist Lan Huong talked about the enduring vitality of revolutionary music in her own heart, and her belief in the younger generation. No matter how many years have passed, she said that every time she listens to immortal songs like “The Girl Who Opens the Way” or “Truong Son East – Truong Son West”, the emotions remain as raw and powerful as ever. “Music is not only for remembering the war, but also for helping us cherish the peace we have today”, she reflected during this week’s Melody of Connection.
As an artist forged by the fire of war, she emphasized that preserving historical memory should not be confined to dry textbook pages but should be given new life through creativity. Old songs, when given contemporary arrangements, become more relatable and can touch the hearts of younger audiences.
Young generations carry the national spirit forward through artistic creativity
The program features many beloved songs about the Truong Son Mountains, including Red Leaf, Song Beside the Hammock, and Your Truck Crosses the Truong Son Road. A particular highlight is the performance of Truong Son East – Truong Son West by students from the Hanoi Open University.
Master Phan Minh Tuan, Deputy Head of the Department of Political and Student Affairs at Hanoi Open University, appeared to express his pride and emotion at seeing his students arrange and perform the song. To him, this is how young people express their love for the homeland through music, creatively and freshly. People’s Artist Lan Huong was also profoundly moved by the students’ proactive spirit, serious dedication, and heartfelt love for revolutionary art—a natural continuation between the past and the present.
Melody of Connection – Proud Vietnam is a special series by Vietnam Television commemorating the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day on September 2 (1945–2025), honoring cultural and historical values through music.
The show is not just a music program but a symphony of emotions, memories, and aspirations. Through songs and conversations, it awakens patriotism from the simplest of things: a childhood story, an old melody, or the bright eyes of today’s youth.
Tune in to Melody of Connection at 10:10 pm on Sunday, August 3, 2025, on VTV1.
