Mai Thanh Son and Mai Thanh Nam’s interest is shared by their international friends, who perform with them to entertain traditional music lovers.
They occasionally raise money for charity, but most importantly they retain the traditional forms.
Son and Nam live in Go Vap District in the middle of the bustling city.
Their house is a special stilt house where international musicians and students can get together and play the traditional instruments Son has collected.
Since the first time he performed at the 2000 Asian Drum Festival in Busan in the Republic of Korea (RoK), Son has been a regular in international music shows introducing his traditional music to people overseas.
“It left a very deep impression on me because it was not only an inter-national performance, but it was an influential one,” Son recalled.
“I had a good chance to make friends with international musicians and learn lots of things from countries such as India, China and RoK which are eminent in percussion performance.”
“Since then I have got more performing experience and more interest in the traditional arts. I feel like I became more mature after each overseas show, and of course, I have more international friends,” Son said.
In late 2007, Son toured Japan to raise funds for Agent Orange victims.
The charity tour was organized by Kamata Atsunori, from the Japan-Vietnam Peace and Friendship Development Council.
According to Son, Atsunori has organized 12 charity tours for the traditional troupe to perform in Japan.
