Sufi melodies forge a cultural bridge between Vietnam and Pakistan
WVR - On the afternoon of 6 October, in Hanoi, the Embassy of Pakistan in Vietnam, in coordination with Hanoi College of Commerce and Tourism, organised a music and cultural exchange programme, Saakin Live in Hanoi: A Musical Journey of Sufi Heritage, introducing the distinctive Sufi melodies of Pakistan to the Vietnamese public.
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The performance was attended by diplomats, guests, and a large number of lecturers and students from Hanoi College of Commerce and Tourism, creating an open, intimate and emotionally engaging space for cultural exchange.
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| Dr Trinh Thi Thu Ha, Principal of Hanoi College of Commerce and Tourism, expressed her sincere thanks to the Embassy of Pakistan and Saakin for bringing Sufi melodies to the college’s students. (Photo: Yen Vi) |
Speaking at the programme, Dr Trinh Thi Thu Ha, Principal of Hanoi College of Commerce and Tourism, said the event took place during Hanoi’s beautiful autumn days, when the capital also became a meeting place for cultures from around the world as part of the second World Culture Festival, with the participation of around 50 countries.
With the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hanoi People’s Committee, the event was a large-scale foreign affairs and cultural activity, helping promote the message of unity in diversity and highlight the role of culture in building peace and fostering greater understanding among peoples.
As the distinctive Sufi melodies of Pakistan rang out in Hanoi, music once again demonstrated its ability to transcend borders, becoming a bridge between cultures and promoting people-to-people diplomacy.
Dr Trinh Thi Thu Ha emphasised that the presence of diplomats and international artists at the programme helped broaden the space for dialogue, enhance understanding and strengthen bonds among countries, while creating further points of connection in the friendship between Vietnam and Pakistan.
According to the representative of Hanoi College of Commerce and Tourism, cultural exchange activities of this kind also help young people broaden their international outlook, gain a deeper understanding of cultural diversity and more clearly appreciate the value of connections among peoples.
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| Ambassador of Pakistan to Vietnam Kohdayar Marri wishes to bring Pakistan’s culture, arts and national image closer to the Vietnamese public. (Photo: Yen Vi) |
Also speaking at the event, Ambassador of Pakistan to Vietnam Kohdayar Marri said that Saakin Live was one of the highlights of a series of activities introducing Pakistani culture in Vietnam.
Through music and cultural exchange activities, Pakistan seeks to share more about its culture, arts, beauty and tourism potential with the Vietnamese public, while creating further opportunities for the two sides to gain a better understanding of each other.
Speaking to The World and Vietnam Report, Ambassador Kohdayar Marri affirmed that following the programme, the Embassy would continue to organise cultural exchange activities more regularly, with programmes tailored to different occasions and audiences.
In addition, the Embassy is implementing a range of activities as part of Halal conferences, economic and tourism exhibitions, food festivals and cultural exhibitions. The Ambassador said the two sides would also promote visits and delegation exchanges between Vietnam and Pakistan, thereby strengthening people-to-people exchanges and bringing the peoples of the two countries closer together.
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| Saakin performs distinctive Sufi melodies, bringing the audience closer to Pakistani music and culture. (Photo: Yen Vi) |
Amid the distinctive cultural colours of Pakistan, audiences at Hanoi College of Commerce and Tourism immersed themselves in Sufi melodies through performances including Sik Mitran, Intebah, Tere Ishq Main and Sakhi Lajpaal Hussain.
The emotive vocals blended with the distinctive sounds of South Asian music, creating an atmosphere that was at once profound and poignant, captivating and full of energy.
The spiritual Sufi songs also brought listeners closer to the spiritual life and cultural depth of Pakistan, where music serves as a means of expressing love, faith and connection.
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| Lecturers and students of Hanoi College of Commerce and Tourism join together in singing Noi vong tay lon for Saakin and the Embassy of Pakistan. (Photo: Yen Vi) |
The programme concluded with a large number of lecturers and students from Hanoi College of Commerce and Tourism joining together to sing Noi vong tay lon as a gift to the members of Saakin and the Embassy of Pakistan.
The moment, as familiar melodies rang out amid the cultural exchange, left a strong emotional impression, serving as a warm greeting from those attending and a symbol of connection and friendship between Vietnam and Pakistan.
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| Members of Saakin pose for a photo with Ambassador of Pakistan to Vietnam Kohdayar Marri and Dr Trinh Thi Thu Ha, Rector of Hanoi College of Commerce and Tourism. (Photo: Trung Anh) |
Speaking to The World and Vietnam Report after the performance, members of Saakin said they hoped Vietnamese audiences would feel the warmth, openness and emotional depth of the Pakistani people through each melody.
For the artists, music is a natural way of telling the story of their homeland, of a Pakistan rich in traditions, culturally diverse and always giving music a special place in its spiritual life.
As a result, the melodies Saakin brought to Vietnam carried a wide range of emotions, from love and joy to longing and hope.
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| The audience enthusiastically joined the band on stage and danced along to the lively melodies. (Photo: Yen Vi) |
Through the distinctive spiritual character of Sufi music, the artists also sought to convey to the audience the energy and emotion they carry from their homeland, allowing each listener to discover a familiar feeling somewhere within sounds that may initially seem distant.
“Music is the common ground that connects these emotions”, the artists said.
The members of Saakin also noted many similarities between traditional Vietnamese and Pakistani music, particularly in their close connection with traditional musical instruments, storytelling and the expression of personal feelings through melody.
Although each culture has its own forms of expression, the emotions evoked by music can still meet at a common point, allowing listeners to feel with their hearts before any explanation is needed.
For Saakin, this is also the special beauty of cultural encounters. A Pakistani melody can ring out on a stage in Hanoi and, from there, find resonance in the hearts of Vietnamese audiences.
The artists also hope that the Hanoi programme will open up more opportunities for encounters and dialogue through music between Vietnam and Pakistan, allowing melodies from the two countries to continue finding each other on journeys to come.
Saakin is a Sufi-style rock band from Pakistan, known for its soulful melodies, spiritual character and evocative sound. The name “Saakin” means “resident” or “still” in Persian and Urdu. The band draws inspiration from the pauses and rests in music, creating a balance between sound and stillness. Saakin’s style combines traditional Sufi songs and classical Persian and Punjabi poetry with contemporary electronic sounds, jazz elements and storytelling through percussion. |
