Saigon Grand Center Sets the Stage for Vietnamese Traditional Music and Dance Celebration

Lạc Hồng Arts Group performing an act on the stage of Saigon Grand Center Theater. Photo courtesy of Nhan Le.

A movement reconnecting with traditional culture swept through the new generation of Vietnamese Americans.

The Lạc Hồng Performing Arts Group kicked off their first large-scale concert, "With Love," on Saturday, June 22, at the Saigon Grand Center in Fountain Valley. The event featured the group's best performers and up-and-coming young artists and groups such as Sonata Music Studio, Thuỷ Vân Dance Company, Chris Alanis, and Joey Hajime Hotta.

Thuỷ Vân Dance Company performing Người Ơi Người Ở Đừng Về. Photo courtesy of Nhan Le.

Founded in 1988 by Professors Châu Nguyễn and Mai Nguyễn in the heart of Little Saigon, CA, the group specializes in presenting traditional Vietnamese instrumental music, vocal music, and dance through performances and educational workshops.

"With Love" celebrated Vietnamese culture with traditional music and dance infused with a modern twist. Set in the golden age, this cultural production unfolded through a vintage radio, where present-day callers shared their coming-of-age stories with a radio host. Each act of the show, written by a group member, aimed to showcase diverse perspectives and identities.

The vintage radio, voiced by Allison Do, narrating the whole show. Photo courtesy of Nhan Le.

Kayla Tran, Youth Ensemble Director, aimed to make Vietnamese traditional art forms more accessible to younger audiences:

"People have never seen traditional Vietnamese music presented like this. It's more personal, with a strong storytelling element. It's about bridging generational gaps and fostering appreciation in a new way."

With love as the central theme, the group aimed to create a show appreciated by diverse audiences regardless of race, language, gender, or age. Kayla shared:

"The goal was to bring everyone together to share their stories. Love is a universal language that transcends differences in race, sexuality, gender, or age. That's why, in this program, even though the narrative is primarily in English with some Vietnamese, everyone can understand and connect with the stories being told."

The Saigon Grand Center provided a special package for the non-profit group, hoping to promote and preserve traditional culture. We are a nonprofit-friendly event venue. The Lạc Hồng Arts team appreciated the center's enthusiasm for showcasing local talent:

"Working with Saigon Grand Center has been fantastic. It's been 10 years since we last collaborated, and it's heartening to see new management maintain the same enthusiasm for promoting local culture. It's been a pleasure,” said Kayla.

Ethan Huỳnh on stage performing the skit he wrote himself, "From, Con." Photo courtesy of Nhan Le.

Ethan Huynh, Youth Ensemble Associate Director of Lạc Hồng Performing Arts Group , who closely collaborated with the Saigon Grand Center sound tech team, expressed gratitude for their support:

"I've worked closely with them on logistics and sound tech. Seeing them in action for another show, I appreciate their professionalism—especially the sound techs, lighting crew, and stage directors ensuring everything runs smoothly."

The success of the show was attributed to the organizers, performers, and supportive audiences. Allison Do, Youth Ensemble Co-Secretary of Lạc Hồng Performing Arts Group, encouraged those interested in preserving Vietnamese culture to take initiative and enjoy the process:

"Don't do things for others' approval. If you want to explore your culture, do it for yourself. Find something for yourself out of it."