COLOMbO : One of the cultural highlights of the Vietnamese Cultural and Food Festival in Colombo, taking place from September 11 to 20, 2026, is the performance by two Vietnamese artists featuring traditional musical instruments. Their performances offered Sri Lankan audiences and international guests an opportunity to experience the distinctive sounds and rich heritage of Vietnamese traditional music.
The đàn tranh, a traditional Vietnamese zither, performed by artist Thạch Khánh Nhi, accompanied the familiar Vietnamese folk song “Trống Cơm”, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere that evoked the vibrant character of Vietnamese folk culture. Through techniques including bending, vibrating and ornamenting notes with the left hand, combined with flexible and expressive plucking with the right hand, the artist highlighted the đàn tranh’s delicate and refined sound while capturing the playful and graceful character of one of Vietnam’s well-known folk melodies.
Alongside the đàn tranh, the distinctive sound of the T’rưng, performed by artist Đặng Phùng Hà Thu, brought audiences into the cultural space of Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Made from bamboo tubes of different lengths, the instrument produces bright, resonant and rhythmic sounds, evoking the natural landscapes, mountains and forests, as well as the rich cultural traditions of Vietnam’s ethnic communities.
The combination of traditional music and Vietnamese cuisine created a multidimensional cultural experience for festival-goers. Traditional Vietnamese dishes were not only enjoyed through taste but were accompanied by traditional melodies, allowing Sri Lankan audiences and international visitors to gain a deeper appreciation of Vietnam’s cultural diversity and identity.
Through the performances of the two artists, traditional instruments such as the đàn tranh and T’rưng served as “cultural ambassadors,” helping introduce the beauty of Vietnamese traditional music to international audiences. The performances also contributed to promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges, fostering greater mutual understanding and closer bonds between Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
The harmonious combination of cuisine, music and culture created a vibrant and distinctive space for cultural exchange in Colombo. It helped promote the image of Vietnam as a country rich in traditions, welcoming and open to the world, while highlighting the important role of culture and the arts in connecting people and strengthening the friendship between Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
