In November and December 2006 Norwegian and Vietnamese musicians held one concert in Hanoi and one in Ho Chi Minh City together. The cooperation concerts were very successful. The cooperation was organised by ULTIMA festival, and supported by the Embassy.
10/01/2007 :: Norway and Vietnam started in 2006 a music exchange project. The main purpose of the project is to strengthen the cultural cooperation between Norway and Vietnam. In November and December 2006 Vietnamese and Norwegian musicians held two concerts together in Hanoi and in Ho Chi Minh City. In Hanoi the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra, and in Ho Chi Minh City the Ho Chi Minh City Music Conservatory, played together with the Norwegian flutist Ingela Øien and soprano Siri Torjesen. The Norwegian conductor Halldis Rønning conducted the concert in Hanoi, and she was the first female conducter in the Hanoi Opera House.
The concerts held in 2006 was part of a project between ULTIMA Festival, the Embassy and music institutions in Vietnam. The Concerts in November and December was also held due to the 35th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Norway and Vietnam. The music exchange program is planned to continue in the future.