Road No 9 Singing Festival wraps up in central Quang Tri province

An art performance at the event (Photo: VNA)

Close to 700 artists from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia were brought together at the Road No 9 Singing Festival which closed in the central province of Quang Tri on July 25.

The performances featured the themes of revolutionary struggles and cause of national construction and defence as well as praised the patriotism and beauty of Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodian culture, land and people.

Nguyen Quang Vinh, acting Director of the Department of Performing Art under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said more than 100 musical performances were staged during the six-day event.

The festival created a professional creative art environment for artists nationwide to continue performing new songs about the aforesaid themes, he added.

The event was co-organised by the Department of Performing Art, Vietnam Musicians’ Association, Vietnam Dance Association, and Quang Tri provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

At the closing ceremony, the organising board presented gold medals to an art troupe from the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, the Vietnam Military Music, Song and Dance Theatre, and Vietnam National Music, Song and Dance Theatre.

The best opera award was presented to the Vietnam National Opera & Ballet while the silver medals went to art troupes from the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum and the host Quang Tri.

The most outstanding performances staged at the event were honoured with 15 gold and 19 silver medals.

The organising board also presented campaign medals to Vietnamese, Lao and Cambodian art troupes.

National Road No 9 is a symbol of friendship between the three countries. Stretching along the Truong Son Mountain Range and the Ho Chi Minh trail, it was an important route for moving supplies, equipment and troops from the north to the south of Vietnam during the resistance war against the US.

Many battles took place in the area as the US wanted to destroy the road. The victory of the Road No 9 campaign significantly contributed to the southern liberation and unification of Vietnam.

Every three years, the Department of Performing Arts holds the festival to strengthen solidarity between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and pay tribute to fallen soldiers of the three countries.

VNA