Two young Vietnamese artists gave a performance of “Dan Tranh” and “Dan Bau” – the two traditional musical instruments – at the US Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York on April 28.

The performance by Nguyen Thanh Thuy, who played the Dan Tranh, and Ngo Tra My, with the Dan Bau, was part of the Asia-Pacific Heritage Month.

The Dan Tranh is one of the most popular and romantic musical instruments in Vietnam . With from 17 to 22 strings, it is the smallest yet versatile member of a family of board-zither-like instruments. The Dan Bau is a Vietnamese monochord, a traditional one-string musical instrument.

Through the show, the two artists introduced the American people to the two most popular traditional musical instruments which are an indispensable part of Vietnam ’s cultural heritage throughout many centuries.

Speaking at the performance, Ambassador Bui The Giang, Deputy Head of Vietnam ’s Mission to the United Nations, thanked American friends and overseas Vietnamese in the US for their efforts to hold this musical event.

The concert coincied with the 35 th anniversary of the US war’s ending and 15 th commemoration of the normalisation of Vietnam-US ties, Giang said. He called on American and Vietnamese people to leave behind the past war heritage, build mutual trust and respect.

After the show, many members of the audience came to see with their own eyes the Dan Tranh and Dan Bau of Vietnam and expressed interest in how the traditional musical equipment can be used to perform contemporary musical pieces.

Earlier on April 26, the two artists also performed in Washington at the Asia Society in New York./.