From paglaicc@hawaii.edu Tue May 17 10:59:38 2005

Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 07:59:04 -1000 (HST)

From: Gino Paglaiccetti <paglaicc@hawaii.edu>

Reply-To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>

To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>

Subject: [Vsg] Ms. Saigon

Cac Ban:

Does anyone happen to know the Vietnamese lyrics/translation to the marriage scene in Ms. Saigon. In the scene, bar girls are singing a very beautiful (and allegedly)) 'Vietnamese' wedding song behind Kim and Chris. In addition, does anyone know if these are traditional lyrics or from the imagination of the producer/writers? I've never had the honor of attending a Vietnamese wedding so I wasn't able to answer those questions from a friend who had just seen that musical.

Cam on

Gino

From jhannah@u.washington.edu Tue May 17 11:46:42 2005

Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 11:43:16 -0700 (PDT)

From: Joe Hannah <jhannah@u.washington.edu>

Reply-To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>

To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>

Subject: Re: [Vsg] Ms. Saigon

Gino,

I can't help you, but I find the query interesting. I have attended dozens of Vietnamese weddings, in Vietnam and in the US, and not once have I heard anyone singing "wedding songs" (except for hymns during Mass in Catholic church weddings). I would be very interested to hear more about "traditional Vietnamese wedding songs."

Joe Hannah

From Thanh_Nguyen@wvmccd.cc.ca.us Tue May 17 14:53:39 2005

Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 14:56:22 -0700

From: Thanh Nguyen <Thanh_Nguyen@wvmccd.cc.ca.us>

Reply-To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>

To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>

Subject: Re: [Vsg] Ms. Saigon

Dear Joe, Gino, and All:

I am afraid that there is no such a thing called "traditional wedding song" both in Vietnam and abroad. Wedding ceremony is traditionally considered a serious social and matter and is almost always performed in front of the new couple's ancestral altars. Nowadays, both in Vietnam and abroad, I have seen these ceremonies performed in other places such as temples. churches, parks, etc. Still, I have not heard anything referred to as "traditional wedding song." Sometimes, during wedding banquet or reception, I heard people sing "Dam Cuoi Ngay Xuan." This song should not, however, be considered as traditional.

Thanh Nguyen