UNESCO-listed Quan Ho folk music introduced in India-Vietnam film

The film made its streaming debut on July 24 via WAVES OTT, the digital platform operated by India's public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, following its recognition as Best International Feature Film at the 8th Haryana International Film Festival earlier this year.

The premiere ceremony brought together Indian government officials, representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in India, filmmakers, actors, artists and international media representatives.

Cinema celebrates Vietnam's cultural heritage

Produced by India Book of Records, Love Garden tells a cross-cultural love story, drawing inspiration from Quan Ho folk songs, a traditional musical genre inscribed by UNESCO in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Rather than simply featuring Quan Ho as background music, the film places the centuries-old art form at the heart of its narrative, using it to highlight shared cultural values between Vietnam and India.

One of the film's most distinctive features is that Indian performers themselves sing traditional Quan Ho melodies, introducing the Vietnamese folk tradition to international audiences through an intercultural artistic collaboration.

Professor Chu Bao Que, who conceived the original idea, served as artistic adviser and also appeared in the film, said the project was intended to promote Quan Ho internationally while conveying universal values of compassion, loyalty and friendship.

"Although Vietnam and India have different cultural traditions, both cherish humanity and mutual understanding," he said. "I wanted Indian actors to sing Quan Ho because I believe cinema can help preserve and introduce Vietnam's cultural heritage to audiences around the world."

He described the project as an opportunity not only to celebrate Quan Ho but also to strengthen appreciation of Vietnam's cultural identity globally.

Strengthening Vietnam–India cultural ties

According to producer Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury, Editor-in-Chief of India Book of Records, the film features several well-known Bollywood actors to present cultural traditions from both countries and highlight the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and India.

He expressed hope that the success of Love Garden would encourage broader cooperation in culture, arts and education between the two countries.

Set across India's Madhya Pradesh state and Vietnam's capital Hanoi, the story follows a young woman whose journey is shaped by music and cultural exchange.

Throughout the film, Quan Ho serves as both an artistic motif and a symbolic bridge connecting two ancient civilizations through themes of love, mutual respect and friendship.

From international recognition to global audiences

Before its streaming release, Love Garden received the Best International Feature Film award at the 8th Haryana International Film Festival in March 2026.

Festival organisers praised the production for successfully integrating Vietnamese cultural heritage into an international cinematic narrative, using Quan Ho as both an artistic highlight and a vehicle for intercultural dialogue.

Its release on India's national streaming platform significantly expands the film's international reach, bringing one of Vietnam's UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritages to digital audiences worldwide.

Beyond its cinematic achievements, Love Garden is expected to further demonstrate how culture can serve as an effective bridge between nations, strengthening people-to-people exchanges and deepening the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and India.

Free film week opens across Vietnam to honour war heroes

VOV.VN - Vietnam has launched a nationwide free film week marking the 79th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day, with all commercial cinema chains participating for the first time to bring historical films to wider audiences.