The Harmony of Heritage: An artistic journey connecting cultural heritage

30 Sep, 2025

On the evening of September 25, 2025, at Hall A.116 of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), the international art program “The Harmony of Heritage - Ban Hoa ca Di san” took place. This was a special highlight within the ArtTech Fusion 2025 event, attracting more than 1,500 students, lecturers, artists, and domestic and international guests.

With this year’s theme “Co-creation for a Wondrous Future,” ArtTech Fusion presented a series of 34 diverse international academic and artistic activities, including 09 Keynote Speeches, 09 Special Sessions, 13 Exhibitions, 02 Workshops, and the signature performance program – The Harmony of Heritage (A Symphony of Heritage).

“The Harmony of Heritage” (A Symphony of Heritage) was crafted as an artistic narrative retracing the journey of a young woman. The program offered a sequence of performances blending traditional values with contemporary creativity, spanning Vietnamese folk music, performances of traditional Indian instruments, European classical symphony, and immersive interactive audio-visual showcases. The acts guided the audience through time and space, from the echoes of the past to a future where art and technology pulse in unison.

Guests and audience at the event

Panoramic view of the performance program

The program “The Harmony of Heritage” opened with the performance “Awakening Light - ATF Song,” inspiring art-tech synergy with the traditional anthem of the ArtTech Fusion program.

The opening performance “Awakening Light - ATF Song”

Representing the university leadership, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung – Vice President of UEH – delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the spirit of co-creative art and technology tied to cultural heritage under this year’s theme: “The art night offers us a distinctive and profound experience of the language of art. Art has long been a bridge between generations, cultures, and disciplines. And here, art interweaves with technology to form a new expressive language and a source of inspiration.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung – Vice President of UEH – delivers opening remarks

UEH representatives present commemorative gifts to the artists

The “Map of Culture” ritual featured international representatives from 12 countries: China, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Korea, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hungary, the United States, and Vietnam. Cultural icons appeared in succession on the LED screen, forming a multicolored “digital heritage wall” that expressed a spirit of cross-border co-creation.

Twelve international representatives conduct the Map of Culture ritual at the program

The main performance unfolded as a storytelling form, reenacting the creative journey of a young woman. She faced many challenges, and with each one overcome, she received a value fragment of the heritage gem.

Her first challenge came when, despite strong academic results, she could not yet find an opportunity that fit her. In the act “Trong com,” the father figure appeared to convey a message about connecting with inner strength and cultural roots. The act “Ly Muoi Thuong” introduced the gentle image of the mother, reminding the daughter to overcome trials with love and an enduring bond to homeland. “Ly Ngua O” portrayed the southern region – a place of convergence and generosity – embodying openness and cultural interplay. Through this initial journey, she received the values “Connection - Love - Converging.”

The performance “Trong com” with the father figure and Vietnamese folk culture

The melody of “Ly Muoi Thuong” carries messages of maternal love and the grace of Hue

Her journey continued as she stepped into the wider world, absorbing new values. The sitar of Indian artist Ajay Kapur sounded like an invitation to explore Eastern heritage. A European symphony was performed by the ICO HCMC Orchestra conducted by Craig Haggart, featuring violinists Natsuko Watabe, Vo Phuc Hanh, Victoria Bateman, Cao Hoang Vu; violists Reid Blickenstaff, Phan Gia Khanh; cellists Roy Dadivas, Jihee Lee; and double bassist Achim Yang. The performance illustrated her process of learning and cultural integration. As she ventured into the world, she received two values: “Co-creation” and “Intellectual.”

The sitar of Indian artist Ajay Kapur invites exploration of Eastern heritage

The ICO HCMC Orchestra delivered an elevated, inspiring European symphony performance

Upon returning to Vietnam, the protagonist continued to overcome obstacles, navigating reintegration with her homeland after a long time away. She met artists Tung Monkey and Triple D. The act fused EDM with ethnic motifs, presented on an impressive LED visual stage, creating a modern, vibrant highlight that taught the young woman a lesson in sustainable creativity – a confluence of tradition and modernity. The value she received was “Multi-Culture,” completing the full radiance of the heritage gem.

The collaborative performance by artists Tung Monkey and Triple D brought an energetic, modern atmosphere

The program concluded with the chorus “The Harmony of Heritage,” an affirmation that heritage belongs not only to the past but also serves as a foundation that nurtures creativity for the future. The imagery of the cultural silk ribbon and the heritage gem became a continuous emblem connecting past and future, tradition and modernity, technology and art, heritage and humanity, bringing to a close a night of meaningful, inspiring art.

The heritage gem shines in fullness with six values: Connection - Love - Converging - Co-creation - Intellectual - Multi-Culture

“The Harmony of Heritage – A Symphony of Heritage” affirmed the role of heritage in the context of globalization. Each act was not merely a reenactment of traditional values, but a demonstration of the ability to connect with contemporary technology to open new creative spaces. The performance program embodied the spirit of integration, co-creation, and the diffusion of a message about a sustainable future.

The chorus “The Harmony of Heritage” brought the program to a close

With the theme “Co-creation for a Wondrous Future,” ATF25 underscored honoring and reimagining cultural heritage as a vital foundation for distinctive ArtTech experiences. ArtTech Fusion 2025 was not only a place connecting artists, scholars, students, and businesses from many countries, but also a forum for academic exchange, creativity, and cross-disciplinary linkage. The program reflected UEH’s commitment to advancing innovation in education, contributing to the national creative ecosystem, and spreading sustainable values to the community.

Some other images from the program: