Attending the performance, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn performed with the Thai erhu in Vietnamese traditional dress. The event was attended by more than 1,500 people, including intellectuals, officials of Thailand and the diplomatic corps in Bangkok (Thailand). The delegation of the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand led by Charge d'Affaires of the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand Bui Thi Hue attended the event. "Vietnam at peace" is a 68-verse poem composed by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, telling about her good impressions and feelings about the landscape, country and people of Vietnam. The poem was adapted into 9 songs based on Thai and Vietnamese music, with a total duration of 50 minutes. The musical work “Vietnam at peace” combines many musical forms such as orchestra, choir and dance, performed by nearly 150 musicians, singers and actors of the Sai Yai Chamchuri Band, the Western Orchestra of Chulalongkorn University wearing Vietnamese ao dai and two lecturers of the Hanoi Conservatory of Music performing the monochord and the zither. Many familiar melodies such as: Trong com, Ly ngua o, Beo dat may troi, Co la... were introduced to the audience with the accompaniment of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The poem begins with the content praising the diverse and rich Vietnamese cuisine, with the characteristics of the three regions of the North, Central and South: “We have heard the ancients tell us/ The great Vietnamese kitchen has delicious dishes/ Since ancient times, they have eaten pho/ Vietnamese food is not difficult to make/ People say that Vietnamese dishes have three styles/ We feel that they are all delicious in the North, Central and South”.
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Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn participates in the performance in Ao Dai (pink dress in the middle). (Photo: Embassy of Vietnam in Thailand) |
Next, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn summarized the heroic history of Vietnam, overcoming hardships and difficulties to achieve today's economic success: "Coming to Vietnam, I learned about history/ Many stories of the nation in each period/ The French colonized the country, what a pity/ But independence was won as desired/ Vietnam's economy developed from there/ Agricultural cultivation was possible in many places/ Growing rice, coffee and rubber/ Fruits, vegetables, all kinds of crops.../ Everyone worked enthusiastically/ Diligence helped the country grow strong". The performance also praised the lacquer handicrafts, silk, embroidery, painting and traditional Vietnamese music. Throughout the program, beautiful images of the country, people and cuisine of Vietnam were shown on the stage screen. Folk games and traditional dances are also recreated through carefully prepared, lively scenes with actors in ao dai, conical hats riding bicycles, dancing with lanterns... Through the Princess's delicate perspective, the image of the bamboo dance is expressed humorously: "Once I saw them dance bamboo/ I can dance but it's not the same/ Don't be careless or you'll hurt your foot/ If you're not careful, don't blame each other for not reminding". The last part of the poem is an invitation to visit and explore Vietnam, repeated many times: "There are countless stories that are too numerous to tell/ But difficult to write about because there are too many/ Whenever there is a chance, I will invite you/ Let's go on a trip of peace and joy".
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A performance imbued with Vietnamese culture at the event. (Photo: Chulalongkorn University). |
The performance ended with enthusiastic applause from the entire audience. After the performance, the delegates also visited the booth displaying some gifts that Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn received during her previous visits to Vietnam, such as Vietnamese musical instruments, some items of ethnic minorities in Vietnam, handicrafts, photos or a version of Vietnamese bronze drums. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has visited Vietnam many times and implemented a number of charity and educational projects in Vietnam. Every year, the "Thai Princess Award for Teachers with Many Contributions to Education and the Community" is presented to an outstanding teacher from each member country of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), including Vietnam. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is extremely loved by the Thai people and is also known as the "Angel Princess". Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was born in 1955, the third child of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and the younger sister of the King of Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is very sympathetic to Vietnam and has visited many provinces and cities in Vietnam.
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Representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand presented Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (left) with a Vietnamese embroidered silk scarf at the event. (Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand) |
The Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand has compiled a photo book called “Vietnam through the lens of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn”, which includes 100 beautiful photos of Vietnam. The book includes 60 photos taken by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn during her visits to Vietnam from 1993 to 2015. Other photos are precious documentary photos of the Thai Princess’ meetings with Vietnamese leaders, her contacts with the Vietnamese people, and her visits to many scenic spots, historical and cultural sites in Vietnam.
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