Trang Phap said she was honored to be invited by the British Embassy to perform at the event. The frigate HMS Richmond, along with 185 officers and sailors, arrived at Nha Rong-Khanh Hoi International Port on the afternoon of 22/9, beginning a 4-day goodwill visit to Vietnam.

Wearing a traditional ao dai, Trang Phap performed "Mai la nguoi Viet Nam", a song she composed and released for National Day on 2/9. The song expresses gratitude to previous generations, a connection to one's roots, and celebrates human connection in everyday life. The lyrics, "If I were born again, I would always be Vietnamese," stem from her pride in witnessing the country's development and experiencing peace.

"I am very happy to have the opportunity to share this song with you," she said after her performance.

The singer also performed "Make You Feel My Love" (Bob Dylan) and "Set Fire to the Rain" (Adele), creating a musical exchange between the two countries. The event used part of the HMS Richmond as a stage, incorporating 3D mapping light projections.

Trang Phap performs against the backdrop of HMS Richmond. Photo: Luke Nguyen

The HMS Richmond's visit coincided with the 15th anniversary of the Vietnam-UK Strategic Partnership, demonstrating a commitment to bilateral diplomatic relations. Attendees included Nguyen Loc Ha, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee (UBND); Matt Western, His Majesty’s Trade Envoy to Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia; Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam; and Commander Richard Kemp, Commanding Officer of HMS Richmond.

After the performance, Trang Phap toured HMS Richmond with Commander Richard Kemp. HMS Richmond is a Type-23 frigate, built in 1992 and commissioned in 1995. The ship is 133 m long, has a full load displacement of 4,900 tons, and a range of 14,000 km. Photo: Luke Nguyen

Trang Phap, 36, whose real name is Nguyen Thuy Trang, graduated from Lyon 2 University (France) with a degree in economics. Her maternal grandfather, Nguyen Khac Huynh, was a member of the Vietnamese delegation that negotiated the 1973 Paris Peace Accords. Her parents worked in diplomacy and linguistics.

She learned to play the piano at the age of 6 and began composing music at 11. She has composed music for several Vietnamese films: "Long Ruoi," "Scandal - Bi mat tham do 1&2," "Gai gia lam chieu 3&5," and "Am muu giay got nhon." In 2024, Trang Phap won an award on the reality show "Chi dep dap gio re song," season one. After 10 years in the music industry, she is recognized for her diverse talents in singing, rapping, composing, and dancing.

Tan Cao

Video: Provided by the subject