On 15/7, singer Tung Duong released the song "Vietnam - Proudly stepping into the future", composed by Nguyen Van Chung, to commemorate National Day (2/9). Within three days, the song attracted nearly 2 million views on YouTube. Besides praise for its emotional melody and inspiring lyrics, the music video’s visuals, showcasing Ba Dinh Square, the Hanoi Flag Tower, and scenic landscapes across the country, were also highly appreciated.
Around the same time, Trang Phap and rapper Ha Le released their MV "Forever Vietnamese", reaching 1.3 million views. Trang Phap said she had been working on the song for a year, after participating in a reality show about the military. The lyrics express the heartfelt sentiments of a Vietnamese person: "And if I were to be born again/ I vow to forever be Vietnamese/ Whether as a breeze on the river/ Or a ripe rice stalk in the fields".
In the past two weeks, nearly 20 projects inspired by love for the country have been launched on online platforms. These songs span various genres, from pop ballads and rap to EDM and contemporary folk.
In early August, Vo Ha Tram was among the first singers to join the trend. Having previously made a splash with "Continuing the story of peace" (composed by Nguyen Van Chung) for the 30/4 holiday, she returned with "Vow to be Vietnamese", marking her comeback to traditional revolutionary music. She stated that all proceeds from the song on digital platforms would be donated to the Fund for the Poor of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee.
Duyen Quynh released the MV "Vow for peace", paying tribute to the soldiers who safeguard peace day and night. Hoang Bach devoted his energy to the EP "Words from the Vietnamese heart", featuring songs blending EDM, traditional instruments, and children's rhymes. Nguyen Vu launched the community music project "Vietnam - The rising era", a series of music videos celebrating the beauty of 34 provinces and cities after the merger.
Beyond individual artists, many groups of singers have collaborated on projects, spreading national pride. "Made in Vietnam" - a collaboration between DTAP and artists Thanh Hoa, Truc Nhan, and Phuong My Chi - created a strong impact, achieving nearly 3 million views on YouTube in over 20 days.
Impressing with its music, the team also invested heavily in setting and special effects, featuring a North-South train model departing from "Dong Son Station" and arriving at Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi. The highlight is the final scene, with 100 people of different generations and professions, including female Saigon commandos and youth volunteers. Celebrities like Miss H’Hen Nie, traditional opera artist Phuong Loan, and former athlete Anh Vien made guest appearances.
Similarly, "Next life, still Vietnamese" - composed by Tuan Cry (author Bac Bling) - is a collaboration between artists Thu Huyen, Quoc Thien, Quan A.P, Duong Hoang Yen, and Lam Bao Ngoc. The song received praise for its emotional music. However, the visuals were criticized by many viewers for excessive AI use and historical and cultural inaccuracies. On the evening of 8/8, a day after its release, the team apologized, removed the video, and promised to learn from the experience for future projects.
Many singers stated they weren't aiming for hits but simply wished to convey a positive message to the public, especially the youth. Hoang Bach said upon releasing his EP, he wanted to tell listeners: "Start loving your country from the simplest things".
Nguyen Van Chung - a composer with many releases during this period - believes each song plays a unique role in the musical landscape. For him, these songs express gratitude to the previous generation and hope that young people will better understand their ancestors' sacrifices. "I hope everyone receives these songs as a source of positive energy and inspiration during this important national celebration," he said.
Mai Nhat
