Feature: Fusion of traditional Vietnamese, Chinese musical instruments wows audiences

"It was such an harmonious combination of Vietnamese and Chinese traditional music instruments! The cultural features of each country were highlighted suitably and harmoniously," Nguyen Kim Oanh, an English teacher said after enjoying a performance of Vietnamese and Chinese artists here on Wednesday.

A Chinese-Vietnamese friendship concert was held in Vietnam's capital Hanoi Wednesday night, drawing the participation of artists from the two countries using their traditional music instruments.

"I do not know how long the artists of the two countries practiced together, but their performance was really stunning. I love Chinese music and hope that more programs of this kind will be held in the future," Nguyen Thanh Binh, a 40-year-old Vietnamese audience member told Xinhua.

"It was really a fabulous performance. There was a variety of music and the combination of the Chinese and Vietnamese musicians and singers was wonderful," Paul Lewis from America said.

Performances using the zither, erhu and panpipes from both countries as well as Vietnamese instruments made from bamboo wowed the Vietnamese, Chinese and foreign audiences with their various combinations.

"Art, music and culture are borderless. Through such kind of activity, people can listen to the music of other countries and understand each other through music, as music is the common language," said Dong Quang Vinh, a young Vietnamese music conductor and also director of "Suc Song Moi" bamboo ensemble of Vietnam.

"I love to mix cultural features of different countries and I feel very lucky having a chance to do so with Vietnamese and Chinese music," Vinh, who is art director of the program said, adding that artists of the two countries were very excited with the event and through music, could understand each other despite language differences.

Bai Juan, a Chinese audience member, told Xinhua that she was amazed by the performance of the two countries' artists. "Through the event, I have learnt more about Vietnamese traditional culture, especially the country's bamboo music instruments," Bai said.

Chinese art director of the concert Chen Xiaodong said this was the first collaboration between the two countries' artists playing traditional instruments from their own countries.

"I hope that the concert will contribute to strengthening traditional music as well as cultural exchanges between the two countries."

The event was held as the two countries are celebrating the 65th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties and the 70th anniversary of the victory of the global war against Fascism. Endi