VietNamNet Bridge – A music show gathering dozens of noted artists will be organised here tomorrow (August 9) to raise funds for victims of the recent flood in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Benefit concert: People's Artist Quang Tho will perform a favourite song of his about Quang Ninh and its coal mines. — Photo langgiaitri.vn

Artists such as People's Artist Quang Tho, Anh Tuyet, Uyen Linh and Son Tung, as well as Dinh Manh Ninh, Dang Chau Anh and children's choir Sol Art, will join the show.

Singer Quang Tho will sing his favourite song Toi La Nguoi Tho Mo (I'm a Miner) by composer Hoang Van to praise the locals of Quang Ninh, a land of coal mines.

"It was a great honour for me to be the first person to sing this song when it was composed in October 1964. At the time, I was also a miner," Tho said. "Since then, whenever I sing it, I remember my homeland in Ha Long Bay and the coal mines filled with hard-working people. I will sing it at this show to portray my pride in the land and to empathise with the flood victims."

Young singer Dinh Manh Ninh said he did not hesitate at all in accepting the invitation of the organisers to sing at the show for no charge.

"I witnessed the 2008 flood in Ha Noi, when my daily routine suffered a lot (from the impact)," he said. "The rains in Quang Ninh last week were twice as heavy as the total rainfall seen in Ha Noi in 2008. I was greatly saddened by the images of the victims, who had lost their family members and houses after only one night of rain."

The proceeds from ticket sales and more than VND10 billion (US$476,190) contributed by staff from PetroVietnam, Vietinbank, Electricity of Viet Nam and Viet Nam Television, as well as all donations, will be sent to Quang Ninh and Dien Bien to support families who have been severely hit by the recent floods.

The show will be broadcast live on the VTV1 channel.

Those who wish to contribute to the fund in other ways can send an SMS to 1406. Each SMS will cost VND12,000 (57 US cents).

In the same spirit of sharing, pop singer My Linh and musician Huy Tuan will organise a charity music event on August 10 at the Hanoi Opera House.

The live show, titled Sau Mua Lu (After the Flood), will feature famous Vietnamese singers, including My Linh, Tung Duong, Ngoc Anh and Ngoc Khue, as well as Duong Hong Yen, Thuy Chi and the Brothers band led by Huy Tuan.

The performance will start at 8pm, and tickets cost between VND500,000 ($23.8) and VND1 million ($47.62).

The singers and musicians are hoping for generous public support at the live show.

The heaviest rains to strike the country in the last 40 years, lasting from July 26 to August 3, caused serious floods in Quang Ninh. As many as 17 people lost their lives; 10,000 houses collapsed; and 4,000ha of rice and crops were damaged. The property loss amounted to some VND2,700 trillion ($1.3 billion).

Besides Quang Ninh, various northern provinces, including Dien Bien and Son La, also suffered the impact of heavy rains and floods.

Source: VNS