HCM CITY — Dressed in their most beautiful clothes, more than 12,000 migrant workers in Bình Phước Province’s Bắc Đồng Phú Industrial Park attended a special concert last Sunday featuring a message of sharing and happiness. 

Nearly 50 singers, dancers, comedians and pop bands participated in the concert, including pop stars Phương Thanh, Lam Trường and Noo Phước Thịnh.      

The artists performed popular songs and dances in praise of the country and love, such as Thì Thầm Mùa Xuân (Spring Whisper) and Tình Yêu Của Tôi (My Love).

Young cải lương (reformed opera) artists of the Trần Hữu Trang Theatre performed extracts from popular dramas like Lá  Sầu Riêng (Durian Leaf).

This was the first time many of the audience members saw these icons on stage.

Nguyễn Thị Thảo, 22, who moved from her home village in Thanh Hóa Province to work in the city, said that "hearing traditional tunes on the radio through the voices of cải lương performers keeps our soul at peace".

The event is part of a cultural programme, called Festival for Workers, organised by city’s Youth Union in co-operation with its partners, aiming to offer free performances in music and theatre for more than 100,000 migrant labourers in tens of cities and provinces across the country.

"Through the programme, we hope to encourage people to pay more attention to the lives of poor and migrant labourers, who work hard but have no chance to enjoy entertainment," said pop star Phương Thanh.

"We are here to share our music, love and support to you," she added.

The artists will perform in other industrial parks in HCM City as well as in neighbouring Đồng Nai Province this weekend. They will later tour in Nghệ An, Thanh Hóa, Vĩnh Phúc, Bắc Ninh, Quảng Ninh and Hà Nội. VNS