At the “Living Heritage – Legacy for the Future” exhibition, Musician Quoc Trung amused the audience as he spoke about the “wrong notes” in his former marriage with diva Thanh Lam.
The exhibition, held on the morning of November 15 in Ho Chi Minh City, gathered many distinguished figures from the Vietnamese music scene. Among them, the appearance of “Jazz Knight” Niels Lan Doky drew special attention. Carrying both Vietnamese and Danish heritage, he returned to Vietnam and met the public again after 20 years abroad.

Speaking at the event, Niels Lan Doky shared that he felt honored and proud to accompany the “Living Heritage – Legacy for the Future” project. To him, it is a meaningful initiative that spreads positivity and highlights the strength of Vietnamese spiritual heritage in the modern era.

The artist said that while listening to Vietnamese colleagues speak on stage — though he didn’t fully understand the language — he felt unexpectedly moved. The sounds reminded him of his childhood, when his family lived in Denmark but frequently welcomed Vietnamese friends who came to visit his father, a Hanoian.

“I often sat beside them and listened to my father speaking Vietnamese. Even though I didn’t understand the words, the feeling was familiar. It has been a long time since I experienced that. It made me feel warm and at ease,” he shared.

“Jazz Knight” Niels Lan Doky at the exhibition. (Photo: Organizing committee)

Not only sharing about his emotions on returning to Vietnam, Niels Lan Doky also offered an interesting perspective on creativity. He believes that even a wrong note is still a note — what matters is what comes next. For him, art is not only about perfection but also about embracing risks and turning mistakes into creative opportunities.

Responding to this, Musician Quoc Trung expressed a similar viewpoint. “In life, we always try to choose the ‘right note,’ meaning wise decisions. But in music, sometimes a wrong note opens new doors.”
He added humorously that while artists may enjoy stable careers, their marriages don’t always follow the same pattern — citing himself and singer Thanh Lam as an example.

Musician Quoc Trung (center) sharing humorous reflections about his marriage with Thanh Lam. (Photo: Organizing committee)

“Back then, when Thanh Lam and I separated, many people felt regret. But actually, it opened new opportunities. She found happiness with her doctor husband, and I… discovered many other wonderful women,” he joked.

Hearing Musician Quoc Trung’s comment, diva Thanh Lam — seated in the audience — burst into laughter, lightening the mood of the entire exhibition hall.
The “Living Heritage – Legacy for the Future” exhibition offered a multi-layered experience, from fine arts and calligraphy to multimedia platforms. More than an exhibition, it was a journey that reconstructed the philosophies, experiences, and inspirations of Vietnamese individuals with international influence across medicine, finance, culture, and the arts.

Diva Thanh Lam and Diva Ha Tran in the audience. (Photo: Organizing committee)

The event also marked the launch of the e-book *“The Universal Within – Vũ trụ của TÂM”*, featuring outstanding Vietnamese figures around the world. Among them are Associate Professor – Doctor – Physician Phan Toan Thang, a pioneer in stem cell research; Sir Niels Lan Doky, the world-renowned jazz artist; and Author Xuan Phuong — filmmaker, former war correspondent, painter, and writer.

Source: Dantri