HÀ NỘI — Nguyễn Thu Hằng wants to show off the beauty of part of Lào Cai Province the only way she knows how: through music.

The singer released a music video for the song Nhà Em Ở Lưng Đồi (My House Is Half Way Up the Hill) yesterday, set in Y Tý Commune.

The video features the colourful costumes of the Dao ethnic people and children who dance to the sound of bamboo flute, all set in the spectacular landscape of the mountainous region.

The music for the video was composed by Đức Trịnh, and remixed by Dương Trường Giang.

It features the story of a young tourist who comes to Y Tý and witnesses the beauty of the landscape and local people.

Singer Hằng dresses like a local woman (despite not being Dao) and sings about the land and local culture.

The audience may feel like they in a wonderland thanks to the stunning landscape, said art director Xuân Chung.

“Actually, I didn’t have to work hard because the people and landscape are certainly gorgeous,” he said.

“Many people told me that they want to ‘fly’ to Y Tý immediately after watching this video. I think that means it was done successfully.”

Behind the scenes

Hằng hasn’t been to Y Tý before but when she searched for a place to shoot the video, she found many beautiful photos of Y Tý, and she decided it was the perfect spot.

Y Tý is located more than 2,000m above sea level on 2,660m-high Nhìu Cồ San Mountain. The commune is covered by clouds most of the year and the road to Y Tý is a zigzag trail of narrow paths, one side facing the mountain and forest, the other an abyss.

Making the video was a challenge, requiring three trips to Y Tý, and twice the crew couldn’t reach the peak due to a landslide and fog, across treacherous mountain roads.

Hằng confessed she was discouraged but by the third time, the weather had turned for the better.  

“It is true that when I come to Y Tý, it’s like I enter another world, separated from the real world. It’s easy to understand why it’s one of the top trekking spots for adventurers.”

“The pristine beauty of landscape, the innocent smiles of the children, the hospitality of the local people, everything of Y Tý charmed me,” she said.

Hằng said she wanted to bring the poor people of Y Tý Commune’s story to a wider audience through the video.

“Despite living in the remote area with harsh condition, the children are still innocent and lovely, the people are hard-working and kind-hearted. They are all happy. Y Tý is a true land of happiness,” she said.

Hằng was born in 1995 in Hà Nội. She became the youngest winner in the history of Sao Mai (Morning Star) national singing contest in 2015 in the folk music category. Now she is studying at the Việt Nam National Academy of Music. — VNS