Meritorious Artist Tuyết Mai shows international tourists how to play a traditional Vietnamese musical instrument at Trúc Mai Home Concert. — Photo courtesy of www.nld.com.vn

HCM CITY — HCM City is piloting a new tourism project called Ngôi Nhà Nghệ Sĩ (Artist's House), with the aim of promoting Vietnamese music to international tourists at the homes of individual artists.

The number of international visitors to the city who look for art shows such as the À ố Show and Golden Dragon Water Puppet, and ethnic music performances at Rex Hotel, increased greatly in the first quarter of the year.

The Ngôi Nhà Nghệ Sĩ tourism project, which includes a visit to an artist’s house to experience Đờn ca tài tử Nam Bộ (southern folk music), has stirred excitement within the arts community.

Meritorious Artist couple Đinh Linh and Tuyết Mai offers the Trúc Mai Home Concert on 104 Phạm Viết Chánh Street in Bình Thạnh District’s Ward 19.

Since 2004, Trúc Mai Home Concert has become a popular address among many international tourists. Experts describe it as “the first privately owned museum for traditional musical instruments”.

Similar to Trúc Mai Home Concert, Phương Bảo Music Centre on 11Bis Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Street in District 1 has attracted many visitors who take a tour and practice Vietnamese traditional musical instruments with artists.

Recently, Meritorious Artist Minh Vương has rearranged his living space and put up 200 images capturing his art journey, ready to welcome guests.

“I have heard about the new Ngôi Nhà Nghệ Sĩ project and would love to reserve this space for promoting the art of cải lương (a form of modern folk opera) to tourists,” he said.

People’s Artist Lê Thanh Tùng also dedicate his house in Hóc Môn District to carry out the new tourism project.

Attractive destination

Meritorious Artist Trường Sơn said his family is ready to greet tourists to Thái Hưng communal house, where he and many generations of artists have practiced cải lương.

In the house, artists and their audiences experience an intimate space.

According to Meritorious Artists Đinh Linh and Tuyết Mai, visitors will not only enjoy the art performances at Trúc Mai Home Concert but learn how the instruments work.

People’s Artist Phương Bảo has had many opportunities to travel and perform around the world, and has skills in knowing how to promote her house to visitors.

“For example, with Japanese visitors, my students play instruments and perform the melodies of Japanese music,” she said, adding that it is important to not only let visitors experience the performance itself, but also understand the essence of traditional Vietnamese music via the melodies of where they are from.

“Don’t think about making profits right away, but have a long-term plan as this tourism project is expected to open more stages for artists to perform,” People’s Artist Phương Bảo said.

In addition to connecting artists and tourists, the artist house project also helps inspire and train younger generations that have a passion for music.

This can be seen at Trúc Mai Home Concert where three generations of artists all perform on the same stage. — VNS