In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the first victory of the Vietnam People's Navy and the Northern people (August 2 and 5, 1964 - August 2 and 5, 2024) and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 - December 22, 2024), the Arts Department of Vietnam Television, in cooperation with the General Political Department of the Vietnamese People's Army, the Navy High Command, and the Thang Long Song and Dance Theatre, produced the musical Truong Sa - Shores Within Us.
The film is divided into three musical sections. It features eight well-known songs, newly arranged and thoughtfully curated to reflect the emotions, sentiments, and thoughts of naval soldiers and the women on the home front during different periods.
The first section contains three heartfelt songs: Send the Sea-Bird (music and lyrics: Vo Thien Lan; arrangement: Do Bao), Your Love (music and lyrics: Dinh Dung; arrangement: Huyen Trung), and Mother Tells You (music and lyrics: Xuan Binh; arrangement: Huyen Trung). These songs depict the daily life, love, and simple wishes of naval soldiers. Highlights include scenes from the love story and wedding of naval soldier Nam (Tien Loc) and schoolteacher Hoa (Meritorious Artist Khanh Hoa), and Nam’s son Khoi (Binh An), who also become a marine, saying a poignant goodbye to his pregnant wife Nga (Huyen Thach). The film intertwines images of naval soldiers on duty in Truong Sa with their wives enduring hardships at home, reflecting the constant yearning and longing of the wives waiting for their husbands to return.
The second section features two songs: That Place is Truong Sa (music and lyrics: Xuan Nghia; arrangement: Tran Manh Hung) and The Grateful Candle (music and lyrics: An Hieu; arrangement: Ngo Minh Hoang). The performances of these songs are staged to evoke strong emotions and pride. That Place is Truong Sa is performed with an orchestral arrangement, showing the pride of the modern and elite naval forces. Scenes include the display of the elite and modern Vietnam People's Navy with weapons, warships, missiles, sailboats, submarines, and aircraft, highlighting the steadfast readiness of naval soldiers to protect the nation's sacred sea and island territories. "The Grateful Candle" is particularly impactful, arranged for an orchestra with a solemn and profound spirit, deeply moving and evoking gratitude in the listeners.
The third section includes three songs: Islands Far from the Homeland (music and lyrics: Quynh Hop; arrangement: Minh Dao), Longing for Truong Sa (poetry: Nguyen The Ky - music: Le Duc Hung; arrangement: Pho Nguyen), and a medley of Love of the Sea - Hello Truong Sa (music and lyrics: Tran Quang Huy & Luu Ha An; arrangement: Pho Nguyen). These songs have a bright and proud musical quality. Notably, Longing for Truong Sa, Love of the Sea, and Hello Truong Sa incorporate EDM elements, making them more accessible and appealing to younger audiences.
