VietCharm Culture & Dining Show, which debuted earlier this year, was positioned as "the first premium cultural, artistic, and culinary program within the grounds of the Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City (TP HCM)". With two shows daily, the organizers invited audiences to explore heritage through 9 performances and 8 fusion dishes, combining traditional Vietnamese ingredients with new culinary techniques.

Over the past six months, the program has become a prominent multi-sensory banquet experience in TP HCM, attracting tens of thousands of domestic and international tourists and achieving over 100 million interactions and discussions across various digital platforms.

The rebranding of VietCharm into Loaloa Vietnam Culture & Dining Show (Loaloa Show) marks a new chapter in its journey to honor heritage. A representative from the organizing committee stated that the new name draws inspiration from the traditional call "loa loa" used in folk culture to invite people to gather and listen to stories passed down through generations.

"Loaloa Show embodies the timeless spirit of connection between traditional heritage and modern community cultural life", the representative said. The oral tradition of "loa loa" is also considered a rich Vietnamese identity, being familiar to domestic audiences and easy for international tourists to pronounce.

The opening performance of the 'Where Vietnam Comes Alive' program. Photo: Loaloa Show

The opening performance of the 'Where Vietnam Comes Alive' program. Photo: Loaloa Show

Alongside its new identity, Loaloa Show is launching the "Where Vietnam Comes Alive" program daily from 11/8, between 12h-13h30. According to the organizers, the new show recreates a vibrant Vietnam through a flow of festivals and cultural heritage from the three regions, emphasizing contemporary stage language combined with cuisine.

General director Nguyen Huu Thanh, speaking about the new show's material, considers Vietnamese heritage an "infinite source of inspiration", transforming core cultural values into an experiential language that global audiences can appreciate.

"Where Vietnam Comes Alive takes viewers back thousands of years of history - from the Van Lang - Au Lac, Pre-Le, Dinh, Ly to Tran dynasties - to discover the facets that have shaped Vietnamese cultural identity", the director explained.

A scene from the Tich Dien festival in the 'Where Vietnam Comes Alive' program. Photo: Loaloa Show

A scene from the Tich Dien festival in the 'Where Vietnam Comes Alive' program. Photo: Loaloa Show

The show begins with the resonant sounds of Dong Son bronze drums, transporting the audience back in time to explore symbols of ancient Vietnamese civilization. Following the drumbeats is the Xuan Pha dance, a folk performance from Thanh Hoa.

From a festive atmosphere, the stage transitions to the Tich Dien festival, recalling the long-standing spirit of valuing agriculture. The Nghe dance continues the narrative, bringing the familiar mythical creature from traditional art into a visually rich performance, connecting heritage with contemporary expressive language.

According to the director, the program also incorporates various folk elements such as "thay boi xem voi" (the blind men and the elephant), scholar competitions, calligraphy, and "vinh quy bai to" (returning home in glory to honor ancestors), evoking the spirit of learning, scholarly traditions, and the cultural life of old Vietnamese villages. The final act brings audiences familiar melodies like "Ly ngua o" and "Bai ca dat phuong Nam", celebrating the generosity and loyalty of the Vietnamese people.

The performances are choreographed by musician Vu Quoc Viet, choreographer Manh Quyen, Meritorious Artist Hoang Kha, and numerous experienced artisans who serve as consultants to ensure the authenticity of the cultural material when conveyed through modern performance language. Notable contributors include Meritorious Artisan Bui Van Hung - Phung Thi Lien (who dedicated their lives to preserving the ancient Xuan Pha dance), Meritorious Artisan Vu Huy Du (Xam singing), Doctor Tran Hau Yen The (with a series of research publications on the Nghe mythical creature), and Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Ba Chau (who restored Dong Son bronze casting techniques).

At Loaloa Show, audiences enjoy both art and cuisine within the same emotional flow. "Instead of serving meals separately from the program, each dish is brought out according to a specific script, extending the story on stage with exquisite flavors at the dining table", a representative from the organizing committee stated.

Vietnamese cuisine is reimagined while retaining the flavor of local ingredients. Photo: Loaloa Show

Vietnamese cuisine is reimagined while retaining the flavor of local ingredients. Photo: Loaloa Show

Head chef Huynh Ngoc Cong explained that the main spirit of the new menu is not about transforming Vietnamese dishes to "dinner theatre" standards, but rather about applying preparation and presentation techniques to highlight the ingredients, flavors, and culinary memories of the nation.

"The interwoven connection between the stage and the dining table allows the cultural experience to be perceived through taste, atmosphere, and direct audience interaction", the head chef added.

Phu Cat

The two programs of Loaloa Show take place daily at the Independence Palace Convention Center (108 Nguyen Du, Ben Thanh Ward, TP HCM). "Where Vietnam Comes Alive" is from 12h-13h30, and "Dan di san, cham cam xuc" is from 19h-20h30. Ticket prices are 1,6 million and 1,8 million VND. See details here.