(VOVworld) – Many Vietnamese who live and work in the Czech Republic perform traditional Vietnamese arts as a way to express the love they feel for their homeland and its traditional culture. Through this activity, they hope to teach the Vietnamese language, customs, and culture to second- and third-generation overseas Vietnamese. We want to share with you the story of several Vietnamese who have been in the Czech Republic for 20 years but have never forgotten the traditional music of Vietnam.

Overseas Vietnamese are always very moved when they hear Trinh Thu Huong perform Vietnamese ceremonial songs.

An art performance of the OV community in the Czech Republic (Photo: Ngoc Mai/Vietnam+)

Huong says she wants to bring traditional Vietnamese culture to the OV community and to foreign friends. Huong shares her feeling: “I sing with all my heart and passion. My only wish is to introduce Ca tru, a form of ceremonial singing, to as many Czech people as possible. People in the Czech Republic are quick to pay attention when they see our performance costumes and our ‘dan day’ – a long-necked three-stringed lute with a trapezoidal body. They listen attentively to my performance and I feel very proud.”

For nearly 20 years Ms Huong and her husband, Nguyen Thanh Son, have been very involved with Vietnamese ceremonial singing and traditional musical instruments.

Ms. Huong says they both studied at the Vietnam National Academy of Music, and recalls: “when we first settled in the Czech Republic, we were merchants. During the Tet holidays and on other festive days, we performed for the Vietnamese community, who seemed to like our voices. Then we stopped being merchants to focus full-time on performing for the OV community.”

Meritorious artist Kim Dung on the stage to recite a poem

Kim Dung, who became well-known for reciting poems on Radio the Voice of Vietnam, moved to the Czech Republic to live with her children after she retired.

Dung says she often performs with Thu Huong and Thanh Son, who specializes in playing the ‘dan day’. Ms. Dung says: “When I recite poems in front of overseas Vietnamese, I feel as if I am spreading Vietnamese culture to warm the hearts of Vietnamese people abroad.”

Huong’s passion for Vietnamese culture has spread to her children, who were born and raised up in the Czech Republic. Although also influenced by western culture, Nguyen Nam Khanh, Huong’s eldest son, understands that Vietnamese culture is part of his roots: “My grandpas and parents are artists who perform Vietnamese music. Vietnamese culture has been instilled into my heart. I’ve composed songs in both Czech and Vietnamese and I’m trying to combine the two cultures harmoniously.”

The music and singing of three generations have touched the audience’s hearts. Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Truong Manh Son, said Huong’s family has connected overseas Vietnamese with these cultural reminders: "Son and Huong have inspired a cultural movement among overseas Vietnamese. They have helped the younger generation learn about Vietnam’s traditional folk singing genres.”

Trinh Thu Huong’s family’s performances of the traditional arts have entertained overseas Vietnamese and promoted Vietnam’s cultural values worldwide.