NZ Ambassador performs Vietnamese song as farewell gift

New Zealand Ambassador to Viet Nam Haike Manning sings Hay yeu nhau di (Let’s Fall in Love) by the late great Vietnamese composer Trinh Cong Son. - Photo tienphong.vn

In the video, he sings Hay yeu nhau di (Let’s Fall in Love) by the late great Vietnamese composer Trinh Cong Son.

Ambassador Manning departs Viet Nam in two weeks, after a four year term in Ha Noi.

“This song is my big ‘thank you’ to all of the staff at the Embassy and to all of our friends, partners, alumni and students in Viet Nam who made our time here so memorable,” said the ambassador.

The music video was prepared in collaboration with singer Thanh Bui and his talented team at SOUL Production and the students at SOUL Music & Performing Arts Academy. Ambassador Manning also worked closely with the family of Trinh Cong Son in the production of the video.

This is the first time Ambassador Manning has sung a full song in Vietnamese.

“I wanted to sing a Trinh Cong Son song because I know how influential and important he is to modern Vietnamese music and to the people of Viet Nam.

“I chose Hay yeu nhau di after some thought, because while it is melancholic, it also talks of love and tolerance across time and across cultures. Musically, Trinh Cong Son’s songs are very poetic, and the more I listen, the more I understand his extraordinary talent,” he said.

Thanh Bui, who worked closely with Ambassador Manning on the project, said, “It was a real honour for the SOUL Production team and our SOUL students to work on this song with Ambassador Manning. It reminded me how so much beauty can come from having an open heart and open mind across cultures.”

Ambassador Manning added that this video is expected to portray his love and respect for Viet Nam, which he has considered his home for the past four years.

“My son has grown up speaking fluent Vietnamese, and we have great memories of our time here. We look forward to staying connected with this great country in the future.”

For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/nzembassyvietnam.