Young music producers and their determination to bring Vietnamese music to the global stage
As young music producers with the ambition to bring Vietnamese music to the global stage, the contestants of “Gieo Âm Việt” view the program as a platform to express their national pride through creativity. By exploring and reinterpreting traditional folk elements, they aim to shape a distinctive Vietnamese musical identity within the contemporary music landscape.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of contemporary music, preserving and reimagining Vietnamese folk elements has become a significant challenge for the new generation of music producers. “Gieo Âm Việt,” a contemporary folk music project, was established to create a space for experimentation and learning, supporting young producers in overcoming technical barriers and developing a thoughtful approach to traditional cultural materials.
From more than 30 submissions, the program selected six outstanding producers to embark on a creative journey documented through a reality-style format. Each participant joins “Gieo Âm Việt” with their own story and artistic vision, yet all share the common aspiration of bringing Vietnamese music to new heights.
Trần Hữu Vinh (Vincenz) is experiencing a professional contemporary folk music platform for the first time. Starting from a place of curiosity and unfamiliarity, he demonstrates a strong determination to explore and master Vietnamese folk sound textures, paving the way for a new direction in his personal musical identity.
Hồ Trần Hà Thy (Thy Hồ) brings the distinctive voice of a young female producer driven by a desire to revitalize traditional Vietnamese music with vibrant and dynamic energy. She aims to create works that are contemporary in expression while still preserving the refinement and cultural depth of Vietnamese heritage.
Nguyễn Trọng Duy (YuNo) regards music as a bridge between history and the present. He aspires to retell stories of cultural roots through a more accessible musical language for younger audiences, conveyed through contemporary rhythms, harmonies, and spirit.
Nguyễn Xuân Bắc (XNBC) aims to bring Vietnamese musical elements to the global stage. He sees folk music not only as a cultural heritage, but also as a “strategic material” for building a distinctive identity within the international music landscape.
Lê Mạnh Trung (Chun) holds a deep and personal appreciation for Vietnamese culture. Through various creative experiments, he consistently seeks ways to incorporate folk tonalities into contemporary music, while ensuring the sound remains approachable and easy to listen to.
Nguyễn Trung Minh, who is best known for his ballad-oriented style, aims to infuse contemporary folk elements into the sentimental melodies familiar to his audience. He sees this as an opportunity to expand his musical identity and enrich his storytelling through sound.
The distinctive value of “Gieo Âm Việt” lies not only in its competition format, but also in the opportunity it provides for participants to learn and work directly with traditional music artisans and experienced contemporary folk music producers. This mentorship enables the contestants to understand authentic approaches to folk sound, helping them avoid fragmented or merely ornamental use of cultural elements.
Throughout the filmed reality program, a spirit of curiosity, attentive listening, and continuous learning is consistently demonstrated. Each contestant not only creates music, but also actively explores the cultural depth behind each element – its meaning, its origin, and its place within community life.
Contestant Trọng Duy shared: “Thanks to the hands-on experience with traditional instruments, I realized how much I had misunderstood about them. It completely opened up a new perspective for me.”
Contestant Hồ Trần Hà Thy added: “Being able to directly interact with instruments I had only ever seen on television made me understand, more clearly, that these are truly instruments of our own people, our culture.”
“Gieo Âm Việt,” therefore, is more than just a creative playground. It is a journey of planting seeds, providing tools, and cultivating an environment where the Vietnamese cultural voice can continue to be expressed, adapted, developed, and carried forward to broader horizons.
In the final night, the six contestants will present six entirely new contemporary folk compositions, created throughout their journey with “Gieo Âm Việt.” Each performance is not only a musical outcome but also a reflection of their cultural awareness, their ability to work with folk materials, and their contemporary arranging approach. The finale stage, therefore, promises to showcase the growth of each young producer and how they are shaping a distinctive Vietnamese identity within modern music.
Event Details:
Time: 18:00 – 21:30, November 15, 2025
Venue: FPT University, Ho Chi Minh City
