<.p>The Danang Traditional Art Theater launched “Khai Ha Nhat Tong Yen,” a new experiential tourism program combining cuisine, traditional arts, and historical narrative, on the evening of Sept. 18, 2024, at the Danang Traditional Art Theater. According to Danang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Director Truong Thi Hong Hanh, the product is part of a larger “nighttime banquet cultural heritage” series designed for both domestic and international visitors.
The Dinner Show Model and Heritage Integration
“Khai Ha Nhat Tong Yen” operates on a dinner show model where performing arts, culinary offerings, and hospitality services link into a single, cohesive journey, according to Danang Traditional Art Theater Director Nguyen Thi Huong. Instead of sitting back for a passive viewing experience, audience members sit amid a banquet setting, eating local dishes while following a storyline delivered through music, acting, and dance. Theater Director Nguyen Thi Huong stated that the program was developed to promote cultural values alongside tourism development, offering visitors a distinct product. The approach extends the time tourists interact with local culture, moving from the initial greeting through the meal and performance. According to program guidelines, the heritage serves as the product’s soul, history acts as the source, cuisine provides the connection, and the theater functions as the meeting space between heritage and traveler.
Historical Inspiration from Thoai Ngoc Hau
The central inspiration for the program draws from the life and historical legacy of Nguyen Van Thoai—commonly known as Thoai Ngoc Hau—a prominent administrator born in An Hai, Danang, according to the production details. Thoai Ngoc Hau is recognized historically for opening and organizing waterway traffic networks in southern Vietnam, notably constructing the Vinh Te canal to improve living standards. The production translates these real historical events into a theatrical narrative that explores the themes of enlightenment, overcoming adversity, and a desire for peace and trade. The staging connects Thoai Ngoc Hau’s home region of An Hai with his legacy in the south, framing the opening of canals as a story of exploration, connection, and community building.
Three-Act Structure and Traditional Arts
The 45-minute production is divided into three distinct acts: “Capital Construction and Territorial Establishment,” “Securing Trade Routes Through Waterway Closure,” and “Unification of Peace and Prosperity,” created by Danang Traditional Art Theater artists and the creative team. The first act recalls pioneer hardships and land reclamation; the second act depicts the awakening of new life and community trade following the completion of the waterways; and the final act concludes with harmony and a banquet symbolizing achievement and future faith. Across these three acts, the production incorporates folk songs, Bài Chòi singing, Tuồng opera, drama, traditional dance, and native musical instruments. Folk songs establish daily life atmospheres, Bài Chòi captures central Vietnam sounds, and Tuồng opera contributes symbolic depth, while dance and instruments maintain narrative rhythm.
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