Vietnamese live entertainment show wins Stevie Award

The live entertainment show “The Quintessence of Tonkin” recently won the Gold Stevie Award for Innovation in Media, Visual Communications & Entertainment, beating projects from all over Asia.

The Quintessence of Tonkin, run by Tuan Chau Hanoi JSC, impressed the judges of the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards 2018 with images of peaceful landscapes and its depiction of the unique heritage of the northern region as well as Vietnamese history and culture from a contemporary perspective, which it portrayed with the help of hundreds of performers, an interactive stage, and state-of-the-art technology.

The Silver prizes for this category went to Traditional become Modernism - Korea traditional theatre Miyaljeon by Seoul’s Dure Art, “Hoi An Memories” show at the Hoi An Theme Park in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam, and Toonation, a project by the Republic of Korea’s Toothlife Co. Ltd.

The Bronze went to Hong Kong’s HGC Global Communications for their Launch of New eSports Online Platform project.

The Quintessence of Tonkin highlights various elements of Vietnamese culture, such as folk singing, folk games, the worship of Mother Goddesses, and the daily life of farmers, portrayed in contemporary and innovative ways.

The 60-minute show is held everyday between 7.30 pm. and 8.30 pm. at Baara Land, Quoc Oai District, 25km west of Hanoi’s centre.

The venue is near the Thay Pagoda, one of the oldest Buddhist pagodas in the country and a pilgrimage site during the lunar new year festival season.

The spectacle draws inspiration from the pagoda’s spiritual history, with its story focusing on the founding of the pagoda by the venerable monk Tu Dao Hanh and the ancient union between religion and monarchy. A visit to the Thay Pagoda can be combined with a trip to see The Quintessence of Tonkin, contextualising both experiences.  

The show’s stage was built between the auditorium and the small hill where Thay Pagoda rests, so audiences can watch the show with the pagoda as a backdrop.

The stage is permanently submerged under a thin layer of water, and is large enough to accommodate all 250 performers at any one time.

The water allows for a creative portrayal of the area’s cultural heritage, in the form of water puppetry and dragon boat racing, among others.

While performance art technicians were sourced to come up with a world class sound and lighting system, the show reflects the peaceful sounds of rural Vietnam, such as those that come from wooden drums, brass gongs, night crickets, and flowing water.

The project also blends different elements of traditional music styles, including quan ho (love duets) and ca tru (ceremonial singing), both of which are now recognised by UNESCO as examples of intangible world heritage.

The Stevie Awards are the world’s premier business awards, with the aim of recognising achievements in the workplace worldwide.

The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are one of seven Stevie Awards competitions. The others are the International Business Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the American Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.

The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are open to all organisations in the 22 nations in the Asia-Pacific region.

A number of Vietnamese companies also won in the Stevie awards this year, including the Hanoi Small and Medium Enterprise Association, which won the Silver Stevie Award for Innovative Management in Non-Profit Organisations or NGOs and the Bronze Stevie Award for Innovation in Non-Profit/NGO Events.

DHL Express Vietnam from HCM City won the Gold Stevie Award for Excellence in Innovation in Business Product & Service Industries with More than 100 Employees and the Gold Stevie Award for the Innovative Use of Technology in Customer Service. VNPT Vinaphone Corporation from Hanoi won the Silver Stevie Award in the same category.

VNPT Vinaphone Corporation in Hanoi also won the Gold Stevie Award for Excellence in Innovation in Health Care Industries with More than 100 Employees and a Bronze Stevie Award for Innovation in Brand Renovation / Re-Branding.

Viettel Group also won the silver award for Innovation in Living, Learning, and Working Environments

VNS

Other News

Vietnam secure berth at FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 for first time

Vietnam secure berth at FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 for first time

Vietnam national U17 football team secured a place at the FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 for the first time after defeating United Arab Emirates national U17 football team 3-2 on in the final Group C match of the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 in Saudi Arabia on early May 14 (Vietnam time).

Vietnam’s most beautiful railway station twins with French counterpart

Vietnam’s most beautiful railway station twins with French counterpart

A twinning agreement between Da Lat Railway Station in Vietnam and Trouville-Deauville Railway Station in France was signed at the French Embassy in Vietnam on May 7, creating new opportunities for cooperation in station management and operations, as well as cultural and tourism promotion between the two sides.

Hanoi gains two more craft villages in World Crafts Cities network

Hanoi gains two more craft villages in World Crafts Cities network

The recognition of Chuyen My and Son Dong craft villages as members of the World Crafts Cities network represents international acknowledgement of the cultural value, artisanal techniques, creativity and sustainable vitality of Vietnam’s traditional craft villages, he said.

Thang Long - Hanoi Festival 2026 to return in September

Thang Long - Hanoi Festival 2026 to return in September

Co-hosted by the municipal People’s Committee, the Department of Culture and Sports, and domestic and foreign agencies, the whole spectacle is meant to honour the city’s millennia-old heritage while reafffirming its strategy of establishing culture as a development engine.

Spreading Vietnamese cultural identity in digital space

Spreading Vietnamese cultural identity in digital space

In the context of deep international integration, cultural identity serves as both a “shield” against assimilation and a defining marker of a nation’s image. Protecting and promoting uniquely Vietnamese cultural values has therefore become a pressing task, particularly in an increasingly complex digital environment.

ITE HCMC 2026 to promote Vietnam’s tourism on global map

ITE HCMC 2026 to promote Vietnam’s tourism on global map

With its large scale, the ITE HCMC 2026 aims to promote tourism cooperation between Vietnam and priority markets such as Northeast Asia, Western Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, and Oceania while also boosting visitor arrivals from the Indian market

Vietnamese puppetry seeks renewal amid preservation challenges

Vietnamese puppetry seeks renewal amid preservation challenges

Although widely regarded as a cultural “speciality” attracting tourists, Vietnamese puppetry is facing multiple challenges in preservation and development, requiring renewed efforts to both safeguard its identity and adapt to contemporary cultural currents.

Project on digital transformation in cultural sector approved

Project on digital transformation in cultural sector approved

By 2030, the project targets the establishment of shared digital platforms across 100% of cultural sectors. All digitised cultural heritage will be standardised under the national data framework and shared in accordance with regulations, while 80% of public digital heritage assets are expected to receive digital identifiers to clarify ownership and management, encouraging organisations and individuals to do the same and support market development.

Vietnam eyes becoming region’s leading tourism destination

Vietnam eyes becoming region’s leading tourism destination

Vietnam has in recent years undergone a notable transformation in its tourism development strategy, placing a strong emphasis on nature-based and eco-tourism. This shift is not merely aligned with global trends, but represents a necessary step towards safeguarding valuable natural resources, while appealing to a growing segment of environmentally conscious travellers.