More than 25,000 migrant workers at HCM City's Pou Yuen Company and Tan Tao Industrial Park attended a special performance on Jan. 24 featuring "a happy taste of Tet".

The event, called Mai Vang (Golden Ochna) Gala Welcomes Tet, is part of the HCM City Labour Federation's charity and cultural activities for the holiday.

Dozens of local and foreign organisations and sponsors are involved in the federation's community work.

More than 50 singers, dancers and actors participated in the gala, including the year's winners of the Mai Vang Award, an annual event that honours local performers in different fields of entertainment.

Famous dancer Linh Nga and young members of the dance group Little Stars opened the show by performing Tinh Dat Phuong Nam (The Love of the Southern Land), a traditional dance choreographed by Vuong Linh and Dang Hung.

Pop stars Dam Vinh Hung, Ha Anh Tuan, Thanh Thao and Cam Ly highlighted the show when they performed popular songs, including Buoc Chan Mua Xuan (Spring Steps), Xuan Da Ve (Spring is Coming) and Xuan Que Huong (Homeland Spring).

For their first time before larger audiences, young singers Noo Phuoc Thinh, Cao Thai Son and Dong Nghi left a strong impression by singing and dancing Xuan Ben Em (Spring and You), Hoa Co Mua Xuan (Spring Flowers) and Ngot Ngao (Sweet).

Singer and movie star Ly Hung, 2010 Golden Ochna winner in film, performed a series of folk songs together with martial arts.

For many young workers, this was the first time they had seen these icons on stage.

Doan Van Nghi, who moved from his hometown in Kien Giang Province's Rach Gia City, said: "Hearing traditional tunes on the radio through the voices of skilled artists like Cam Ly keeps my soul at peace."

"Through the gala, my co-workers, who have no chance to return home for Tet, will feel a happy spring because of these entertainment activities," said Nghi, who added he believed music and theatre can improve the intellect and lighten the heart.

Both Nghi and his younger sister decided to stay in their rental rooms on a tiny alley in Binh Tan District this Tet because "we wanted to save more money to support our big family in Rach Gia."

Cu Phat Nghiep, chairman of the Pou Yuen Company's labour union, said his staff spent a month working hard with the organisers and artists to bring migrant workers closer during Tet.

Nguyen Huy Can, chairman of the Labour Federation, said the music programme's organisers hoped to encourage people to pay more attention to the lives of poor, migrant labourers.

"We are here to share our love and support," he added.

The artists will perform in other industrial parks in HCM City as well as in neighbouring provinces during the Tet holiday./.