What happens when legendary folktales, literary works, and historical stories step out of the pages of textbooks… and meet the world of DGS students in 2026?

As a much-anticipated annual activity for the Middle School, The Melody of Culture returned this year for its third season, bringing with it many creative and delightful surprises. On stage, students and teachers encountered a Jade Emperor who knows how to “post locket,” a playful “CEO of the Underworld,” soldiers diligently learning foreign languages through a familiar green owl app, and even moments of… rap battles before heading into battle - along with many other witty and imaginative details that only students could come up with.

These humorous touches did not take away from the original spirit of the stories. Instead, they made folktales, literature, and history feel closer, livelier, and more relatable-while clearly reflecting the creativity of DGS students from Grades 6 to 8.

♦️ Grade 6 brought the folk tradition to life by retelling beloved childhood stories such as Thạch Sanh, The Toad Sues the Jade Emperor, and The Legend of the New Year Bamboo Pole.

♦️ Grade 7 invited the audience into the world of modern Vietnamese literature through “Chí Phèo” by Nam Cao and “The Happiness of a Funeral” from Số Đỏ by Vũ Trọng Phụng.

♦️ Closing the program, Grade 8 recreated the heroic journey of Quang Trung – Nguyễn Huệ and the Tây Sơn movement, from the victory over Siamese forces at the Battle of Rạch Gầm – Xoài Mút (1785) to the lightning-fast campaign that defeated the Qing army at the Battle of Ngọc Hồi – Đống Đa (1789).

For weeks leading up to the performance, hallways echoed with lively debates as students worked together to finalize their scripts. The sound of scissors and craft tools filled the air as they carefully created their own props. What the audience saw on stage was not just a performance, but the result of many long rehearsals - moments where students guided one another on every step, gesture, and line delivery to bring their characters to life.

On stage, there might have been lines that were not perfectly delivered, quick transitions between scenes, or the occasional forgotten line. Yet these very moments created the unique charm of The Melody of Culture. Behind every scene was the students’ effort, teamwork, and pride as they transformed lessons from their textbooks into vivid stories on stage.

The school would like to extend its sincere thanks to the Literature - History - Geography Department for their guidance and dedication in creating such a meaningful platform where students can learn, create, and shine.

The Melody of Culture Season 3 ended with resounding applause and plenty of laughter. We invite parents and students to look back on the memorable moments of the program through the photos below.