“Secret Garden Live in Vietnam” Music Night: Nostalgia of Dreams
On the evening of October 18, 2025, the exquisite melodies from the music night “Secret Garden Live in Vietnam” transported nearly 4,000 audience members at the National Convention Center (Hanoi) into a musical space that was luxurious, world-class, dreamy, and filled with nostalgia.
The concert marks the third artistic milestone of the international charity music project “Good Morning Vietnam,” initiated and organized annually by Nhan Dan Newspaper in collaboration with IB Group Vietnam. This follows the resounding success of two previous events: “Kenny G Live in Vietnam” (November 2023) and “Bond Live in Vietnam” (October 2024), contributing to bringing the pinnacle of world music to Vietnam while spreading humanitarian values, as all ticket proceeds are dedicated to charitable goals.
Founded 30 years ago, Secret Garden is considered a monument of the New Age and Neo-Classical genres, featuring the renowned duo: Rolf Løvland (Norwegian composer and pianist) and Fionnuala Sherry (Irish violinist). Together throughout their musical journey, they have brought their melodic and romantic compositions to numerous countries worldwide.
Following a short film produced by Secret Garden themselves—capturing the group’s most memorable images, milestones, and memories over the past 30 years—the concert officially commenced with the free-spirited and expansive overture of ‘Windancer.’
Subsequently, the duo extended a warm greeting to the Vietnamese audience. From that moment, Rolf Lovland’s piano and Fionnuala Sherry’s violin guided listeners into a Nordic-inspired musical garden, where gentle melodies resonated like the intimate whispers of music-loving souls.
Within that space, music enthusiasts were treated to the group’s classic masterpieces, ranging from ‘Nocturne’ to ‘Songs from a Secret Garden’—the iconic, lingering, and profound composition that has graced numerous world-renowned films and programs.
The artists duo shared: ‘We have always tried to avoid being pigeonholed into strictly defined genres. Secret Garden’s music is uniquely our own; it always begins with simple melodies and tells a story that, for the most part, requires no words.’
This sentiment rang true as one experienced the performances in ‘Secret Garden Live in Vietnam’ firsthand, where the richness and diversity of colors and emotions became even more palpable. There were compositions filled with bright, spirited energy such as ‘Liberty,’ ‘The Reel,’ and ‘Stepping Up’; yet there were also melodies imbued with a calm, introspective nature like ‘Sleepsong,’ ‘Thank You,’ and ‘Hymn to Hope.’ Ultimately, what lingers in the hearts of the audience is the sense of serenity and inner peace that Secret Garden’s music leaves behind.
Over 20 works were performed throughout the program, revolving around three overarching themes: Nature & Landscapes; Human Relationships; and Culture. These can be considered the most representative ‘slices’ of the seamless fusion between Classical, Nordic-Celtic folk, and New Age elements in Secret Garden’s music, delivering a beauty that is both ethereal and pure, yet profound and lyrical.
True to the promise of creating one of the most iconic stages in Secret Garden’s touring career, Director Pham Hoang Nam crafted a breakthrough artistic space, elevating the musical performances to a sublime level.
The LED screens integrated advanced visual artistry projection technology, making the performance stage appear shimmering and ethereal, expanded in both width and depth to paint a visually stunning musical picture. Along with graphics deeply connected to the melodies, the appearance of famous Vietnamese landmarks and traditional motifs on the screen also contributed to a performance space imbued with Vietnamese spirit—minimalist yet rich in emotional power.
The program concluded with the melody of “You Raise Me Up” – a masterpiece that has touched millions of hearts worldwide and has been covered by numerous global singers and bands, creating a magnificent and emotional finale for the night.
“Secret Garden Live in Vietnam” carries a message of love for music, compassion, and the cultural connection between Vietnam and the world. The concert also serves as the opening point for the 30th-anniversary world tour of the two legendary artists. Following their schedule in Vietnam, Secret Garden will continue their tour in major cities across China.
