Hanoi (VNA) – The liveentertainment sh𝄹ow “Tinh hoa Bac Bo” (The Quintessence of Tonkin) has receivedtwo entries in the Vietnam Guinness Book of Records.

A ceremony to announce the honour washeld in Hanoi on August 2. The show was recognised for using thelargest water stage in Vietnam (4,300 square metres) and the most cast memberswho are farmers (150 people). The 60-minute show, run by Tuan ChauHa Noi JSC, is held every three days at Baara Land, Quoc Oai district, 25kmwest of Hanoi’s centre. The Quintessence of Tonkin depictspeaceful landscapes and the unique heritage of the northern region as well asVietnamese history and culture from a contemporary perspective, portrayed withthe help of hundreds of performers, an interactive stage and state-of-the-arttechnology. The show highlights various elementsof Vietnamese culture, such as folk singing, folk games, the worship of MotherGoddesses and the daily lives of farmers. The venue is near Thay Pagoda, one ofthe oldest Buddhist pagodas in the country and a pilgrimage site during thelunar new year festival season. The spectacle draws inspiration fromthe pagoda’s history, with its story focusing on the founding of the pagoda bythe venerable monk Tu Dao Hanh and the ancient union between religion andmonarchy. A visit to Thay Pagoda can be combined with a trip to see TheQuintessence of Tonkin, contextualising both experiences. The show’s stage was built betweenthe auditorium and the small hill where Thay Pagoda rests, so audiences canwatch the show with the pagoda as a backdrop. The stage is permanently submergedunder a thin layer of water, and is large enough to accommodate all 250performers at any one time. The water allows a creative portrayalof the area’s cultural heritage, using water puppetry and dragon boat racing,among other forms of performance. The show reflects the peaceful soundsof rural Vietnam, such as those that come from wooden drums, brass gongs, nightcrickets, and flowing water. The project also blends different elements oftraditional music styles, including quan ho (love duets) and ca tru (ceremonialsinging), both of which are recognised by UNESCO as examples of intangibleworld heritage. In June, the show won the Gold StevieAward for Innovation in Media, Visual Communications & Entertainment.-VNA