After traveling across Singapore, Sydney, and Vietnam, Sketch A Rose considered the pinnacle of Hà Anh Tuấn’s career, concluded with a spectacular performance at the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, home of the Oscars.
With over 3,400 attendees on October 18, Hà Anh Tuấn demonstrated that Vietnamese music can shine on the world’s biggest entertainment stages through pride, sincerity, and connection.
This Is A Night For Vietnamese Music
The show featured nearly 30 Vietnamese songs, arranged by Hà Anh Tuấn’s core team: Music Director Nguyễn Hữu Vượng, Conductor Trần Nhật Minh, and over 60 musicians from Crystal Band, Saigon Pops Orchestra, and the Cadillac vocal ensemble. American brass musicians based in California also joined the performance.
The concert opened with a nostalgic medley of songs by the late composer Phạm Duy, including “Em bé quê” – “Bà mẹ quê” – “Tình ca”, followed by familiar classics like “Ngày xưa Hoàng Thị” – “Trả lại em yêu” – “Áo anh sứt chỉ đường tà” (lyrics by Hữu Loan), honoring multiple generations of Vietnamese music.
After the opening, Hà Anh Tuấn shared his pride and emotion:
I feel proud to be Vietnamese. Wherever there are Vietnamese audiences, that is home. Tonight is a night for Vietnamese music.
The concert concluded with works by Trịnh Công Sơn, highlighting aspirations for peace and humanity, including a medley of “Bà mẹ Ô Lý” – “Cánh đồng hòa bình” – “Xin cho tôi”, which was met with heartfelt applause.
Bringing Generations Together
Hà Anh Tuấn expressed gratitude to the musicians of previous generations who paved the way, including Tuấn Ngọc, Thu Phương, and Phan Mạnh Quỳnh: three eras, united by a shared Vietnamese spirit.
A Giant Rose On Stage
At each stop: Singapore, Sydney, and Vietnam, Sketch A Rose adapted storytelling with the rose motif.
While Esplanade and Sydney Opera House featured thousands of fabric roses, at Dolby Theatre the team created a giant rose from metal mesh at center stage.
Under moving lights and modern stage effects, the rose became the heart of the show – where music, technology, and emotion converged, creating an unforgettable visual experience.
Over 100 team members, including artists, musicians, and orchestra members from Vietnam, flew to the US to realize this moment.
Thousands of fabric roses were shipped from Vietnam to cover the entire stage.
From sketching to completion, it took over two months. The stage design was rehearsed in Ho Chi Minh City before being shipped to the US to ensure each piece, lighting, and petal matched Hà Anh Tuấn’s musical arrangements.
The Dolby Theatre performance also gathered Vietnamese artists and audiences in the US, including Đoan Trang, Thanh Thảo, Ý Lan, Tuyết Ngân, and Minh Tú (Tam Ca Áo Trắng).
Special guests included H.E. Nguyễn Quốc Dũng – Ambassador of Vietnam to the United States – and his family.
"I am delighted to enjoy a full night of music and emotions from singer Hà Anh Tuấn and Vietnamese artists. I am also touched to see the audience and community showing so much love for our music and artists." – Ambassador Nguyễn Quốc Dũng.
Hà Anh Tuấn’s "friends," his fans, also helped create the “Vietnamese rose” in Hollywood, with hundreds arriving early in áo dài, wearing nón lá, and bringing small gifts to show their love for Hà Anh Tuấn.
As the lights dimmed, many left with sparkling eyes and a sense of awe, having witnessed Vietnamese music on one of the world’s most prestigious stages.
Vietnamese Fashion On The Dolby Stage
Beyond music, Sketch A Rose celebrated Vietnamese culture through fashion.
Hà Anh Tuấn appeared in a black áo dài with hand-knit details by designer Mai Lâm, a gray overcoat and red tuxedo by Peter Do, and THAT OFFICIAL, three Vietnamese brands creating the “musical storyteller” look.
From Faith In The Rose To Acts Of Kindness
The show’s name Sketch A Rose was inspired by the play “Tin ở hoa hồng” by late writer Lưu Quang Vũ. According to Hà Anh Tuấn, it inspires him in music and reminds him to believe in goodness in small things.
After donating $50,000 to help disaster-affected compatriots, Hà Anh Tuấn, on behalf of the Dolby audience, contributed another $100,000 (≈ 2.6 billion VND) to “Cùng Con Đi Tiếp Cuộc Đời”, a program supporting children in difficult circumstances for over four years.
A Promise For “The Rose” – A Perfect Bloom In Đà Lạt, Winter 2025
At the end of the night, Hà Anh Tuấn smiled:
Allow me to present a special edition of Sketch A Rose, called The Rose, this winter in Đà Lạt.
This fleeting promise made thousands of fans cheer, as if the journey was far from over.
Sketch A Rose, after all, is not just a concert, but an ongoing dream of Vietnamese music blooming worldwide.