Tales of Ancient Vietnam
by Vinh G. Nguyen
Tales of Ancient Vietnam is a play for multigenerational audiences by Vinh G. Nguyen, with music by Emmy-wining composer Vanessa Van Anh Vo (www.vananhvo.com.). It follows the journey of Lan, a second-generation, Vietnamese American, as she discovers her cultural identity and heritage through a series of beloved Vietnamese folktales told by her Ông Bà Nội (grandparents). The imaginative script spotlights an empowering AAPI youth experience, while weaving in Southeast Asian history, culture, and traditions through vibrant music, dance, and puppetry.
The play received its first developmental reading in May 2023 and a staged reading in December 2024. It was commissioned and produced by Chopsticks Alley Art, and was partially funded by Silicon Valley Creates, the City of San Jose's Office of Cultural Affairs, and the California Arts Council. As 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, the play comes at crucial time to celebrate and uplift the thriving generation of the Vietnamese diaspora.
The play received its first developmental reading in May 2023 and a staged reading in December 2024. It was commissioned and produced by Chopsticks Alley Art, and was partially funded by Silicon Valley Creates, the City of San Jose's Office of Cultural Affairs, and the California Arts Council. As 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, the play comes at crucial time to celebrate and uplift the thriving generation of the Vietnamese diaspora.
Workshop Videos
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Workshop Photos
Puppet designer: Simon Trumble
Photographer: Anthony Le
Photographer: Anthony Le
