HA NOI — A concert entitled Thuong (Compassion) will take place at the Ha Noi Opera House tonight to raise funds for Vietnamese children with cancer.

The show will highlight composer Quoc Trung and his ex-wife – pop diva Thanh Lam, among other musical talents.

"We have chosen nearly 20 songs representing a range of periods and composers, including Pham Duy, Trinh Cong Son, Thanh Tung, Do Bao and Luu Ha An," said Trung.

"Despite the differences in words and melodies, all the songs are associated with love and compassion."

Teenager Thien Thanh, daughter of Trung and Lam, will also sing on stage with the hope that her young voice will more easily reach children suffering from cancer.

The show will include moving video clips about the children and nearly 40 of their paintings will be on view in the entrance hall of the opera house. The displayed artworks were selected by painters Le Thiet Cuong and Dao Hai Phong, and they have already been sold for a total sum of VND450 million (US$21,400).

"The small exhibition confirms that beautiful art can come from anywhere, even from the hands of children in incredible pain," said Phong.

Trung said he hoped to organise similar shows in HCM City and Da Nang.

"Valentine's Day celebrates not only romantic love but also love for all humanity, and we can show that to these needy children," said Lam. — VNS