Bringing Korean Classical Music to Da Lat

According to Nguyen Trung Hien, Director of the Pho Ben Doi Da Lat Arts Innovation Center, the program is the result of cooperation between the Center, the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, Art Avenue Company (South Korea), and the Korea–Southeast Asia Cultural Exchange Organization, under the patronage of Daegu Metropolitan City.

Seven members of the Daegu International Symphony Orchestra will travel to Da Lat as part of Korea’s annual cultural exchange program. Each year, the initiative sends artists on tour across Southeast Asia and other parts of Asia to foster artistic exchange and cultural connectivity between South Korea and countries worldwide.

Joining the Korean musicians will be five leading Vietnamese pianists and violinists from the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music, including renowned pianist Nguyen Duc Anh.

Nguyen Duc Anh studied at the Vietnam National Academy of Music in Hanoi before graduating from the Freiburg University of Music in Germany. He has won numerous prestigious piano performance awards and has appeared as a soloist with major orchestras in Vietnam and abroad, including the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra and the Daegu International Symphony Orchestra. He currently serves as Head of the Piano Department at the Soul Institute of Arts in Ho Chi Minh City and has played an active role in connecting partners to bring the Daegu orchestra to Da Lat.

According to Mr.Hien, inviting members of the Daegu International Symphony Orchestra to perform in Da Lat marks a new milestone in efforts to position the city as a destination for classical music with internationally scaled events.

“The Center is contributing to Da Lat’s implementation of international commitments following its accession to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of music,” Hien emphasized.

Notably, Daegu has also been designated by UNESCO as a Creative City of Music, mirroring Da Lat’s status and opening further opportunities for cooperation and exchange between the two cities.

Mr. Hien added that the Center’s continued introduction of large-scale classical music events to Da Lat has not only enriched local cultural life but also supported tourism development, helped establish recurring artistic products, enhanced visitor experiences, and contributed to the sustainable development of the night-time economy. The initiative also serves as a clear example of effective public–private partnership in the cultural sector. Collaboration among businesses, arts professionals, and local authorities has elevated event quality and strengthened stakeholder engagement in implementing Creative City of Music initiatives in the coming years.

Hosting an international symphony orchestra in Da Lat is expected to further promote the dynamic and vibrant image of Da Lat – Lam Dong, while energizing the local classical music community. The performances will also provide valuable opportunities for young artists, students, and music enthusiasts to interact directly with international musicians, nurturing passion and creative aspirations.

The concert program is expected to feature a diverse repertoire performed by Korean and Vietnamese artists, including Astor Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, Johannes Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 4, and well-known songs such as O Sole Mio, Bésame Mucho, Arirang, and the Vietnamese folk melody Beo Dat May Troi.