VietNamNet Bridge – Fans of singer Le Cat Trong Ly, 26, can follow her singing journey across Viet Nam through an online music documentary on www.phim.soha.vn

In the spotlight: Singer Le Cat Trong Ly and her team being filmed for an online music documentary, which has already gotten over 13,000 views. — Photo sohaphim. vcmedia.vn

The documentary Ly's Journey, produced by Ly herself, reviews her 2011 tour entitled Vui (Happy).

The 70-minute documentary, which was not available in cinemas or on DVD, is shown for a fee of VND3,000 per view, Ly said.

That way of viewing was affordable, she said. DVDs would have cost VND60,000 each and the film was not meant to be a money-spinner for film distributors.

"I don't want students, soldiers and poor audiences to have to spend a lot of money to view the film."

Ly's one-month tour was shot by nine cameramen. Because there was no script, it took two years to complete. The film is narrated by Ly.

Said film director Nguyen Hiep: "The music documentary is not special in the world but it would be the first one produced in Viet Nam. Ly's Journey is truthful and vivid."

Audiences will also go behind the scenes at concerts held in HCM City, Da Nang, Quy Nhon and Ha Noi.

Through the film, Ly said, she wanted to convey a message to her fans. "Youth can have journey like me. It may not be a music journey but one of literature, poetry, photography or painting," she said. "Friends should go together, visiting different lands, enriching their life experiences and enjoyment."

During the 3,000km journey over one month and 10 days, Ly left her footprint in every corner of the country. She enjoyed precious moments singing at a pagoda in Hue City with small audiences; singing for ethnic people in the northern provinces of Yen Bai's Mu Cang Chai and Lao Cai's Sa Pa, and singing to farmers in rice fields in the central provinces of Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri and Quang Binh.

"I had a chance to share this so-called ‘musical gift' with everybody I met during the journey. It is simply that I can sing and I do sing. And they listen. It makes me happy."

Born in 1987, Ly has been known for singing at bars in HCM City and Da Nang. She has won numerous music prizes in national contests.

In 2010, she had three consecutive live shows at L'Espace, Ha Noi, and tickets sold out. In 2011, she released her self-titled debut studio album of 10 tracks, the year of the Vui tour. The tour ended with two extra nights at L'Espace which were called Vui Them (Added Joy).

Uploading to a website would be a new way for independent films to be circulated, said Le Manh Quan, a representative from the website.

"It is great to introduce the film to Vietnamese film lovers. Ly is a talented singer who is a very strong character."

Source: VNS