The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO), with funding provided by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, supported the Hong Kong Children's Choir (HKCC) on its 10-day cultural exchange tour across Singapore and Vietnam, which culminated in the HKCC's first-ever full concert in Vietnam at the Saigon Opera House in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) yesterday evening (July 25). Featuring 49 choristers aged between 12 and 16, the tour brought Hong Kong's young artistic talent to the vibrant Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region through a series of concerts, performances, international festivals and exchange activities.

     The finale concert, themed "Everything Flows", was presented in collaboration with the Saigon Philharmonic Orchestra and supported by the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam (HKBAV). Led by the Music Director and Principal Conductor, Kathy Fok, the Choir showcased a repertoire of Chinese and Western choral works, highlighting Hong Kong's vibrant arts and cultural scene while promoting cross-border cultural dialogue through music.

     Prior to the concert, the Singapore ETO hosted a pre-show reception for around 80 guests, including the Deputy Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in HCMC, Ms Huang Guanrong; the Chairman of the HKCC Board of Directors, Mr Barnabas Fung; the Artistic Director of the Saigon Philharmonic Orchestra, Nguyen Bao Anh, and the Chairman of the HKBAV, Mr Michael Chiu, alongside representatives from the Vietnamese Government, local business and cultural sectors, chambers of commerce, and the Hong Kong community in Vietnam.

     Officiating at the reception, the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, said, "We are delighted to support the HKCC on its historic visit to Vietnam. This inaugural concert in HCMC marks an important milestone for the HKCC and reflects the growing cultural and people-to-people ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam. Music is a universal language that brings people together, fosters friendship and deepens mutual understanding."

     She added that "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Singapore ETO have long been committed to promoting Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international arts and cultural exchanges . Through supporting overseas performances and cultural exchanges such as this tour, we seek to create global platforms for Hong Kong's young artists to connect with international audiences while further strengthening Hong Kong's cultural links across the ASEAN region and beyond."

     Beyond the finale concert, the tour in HCMC between July 21 and 26 featured a series of community and education exchanges. The Choir performed a charitable concert at Thi Nghe Parish Church and participated in an exchange concert with students of Saigon University. Through these activities, the young choristers performed alongside their Vietnamese peers to exchange musical experiences and foster cross-cultural friendships through music. 

     The tour first took place in Singapore between July 17 and 21, where the HKCC participated in the inaugural Voices of the World International Choir Festival. Organised by Voices of Singapore (VOS), the festival brought together about 1 200 choristers from eight countries and regions, including renowned ensembles such as the Toronto Children's Chorus from Canada, the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir and Gondwana Choirs from Australia.

     As a highlight event in Singapore, the Singapore ETO collaborated with the HKCC and VOS to stage a feature concert on July 19 at the Enabling Village, an inclusive community space in Singapore, showcasing Hong Kong's choral excellence to about 120 local and international audience members, including representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Singapore. The HKCC also participated in three other festival performances, making full use of the international platform for the young singers to celebrate music and build global connections.

     Founded in 1969, the HKCC is one of Hong Kong's leading children's choirs. It has nurtured generations of young musicians through quality music education and performances. The HKCC has toured extensively around the world and participated in numerous international festivals and cultural exchange programmes while helping consolidate Hong Kong's position as an East-meets-West centre for international arts and cultural exchanges.

Ends/Sunday, July 26, 2026
Issued at HKT 9:00

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