On the evening of March 27th, 2026, at Nguyen Van Dao Hall, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the Final Night of “Foreign Language Specialized School Colors 2026” took place in a vibrant and emotional atmosphere, attracting a large number of students, parents, teachers, and guests. Not merely a performance program, the event continued to affirm its position as one of the typical cultural–academic activities of the Foreign Language Specialized School, where language, art, and an integrative mindset intersect in a dynamic whole.

Attending the program were Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Anh Tuan – Vice Director of the Hanoi Department of Science and Technology; Mr Hoa Ngoc Son – Vice Rector of the University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi; and representatives of the leadership of functional divisions and training faculties of the University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. From the Foreign Language Specialized School, there were Mr Nguyen Phu Chien – Rector; Ms Do Thi Ngoc Chi and Ms Mai Thi Loan – Vice Rector of the School, along with all teachers, parents, and students.

As for the judging panel, in addition to teachers representing different language divisions, this year’s program also featured the participation of Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Lan Trung – President of the Linguistics Association of Vietnam, an alumnus of the first cohort of the Foreign Language Specialized School, and President of the Alumni Network of the University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, who took part in evaluation and scoring. Notably, the guest judge was director and People’s Artist Tran Luc, who has made significant contributions to Vietnamese theatre and cinema serving as a special judge of the program. His presence not only brought in-depth professional perspectives but also served as a great source of inspiration for all participating students.

Founded in 2004 under the name “Language Gala Night,” “Foreign Language Specialized School Colors” has become a distinctive “trademark” of the School. In a specialized educational environment, where seven foreign languages, namely English, Russian, French, Chinese, German, Japanese, and Korean, are taught; the program is not only an artistic playground but also a space for students to demonstrate their language competence in cultural depth. Through this, learning foreign languages goes beyond being merely an academic subject, becoming a means of communication, creativity, and connection with the world.

Building on that foundation, “Foreign Language Specialized School Colors 2026” presented a stage where language was no longer merely grammatical structures or isolated vocabulary, but was “embodied” through music, drama, movement, and emotion. The 17 performances featured in the final night were seventeen cultural slices, recreating artistic spaces stretching from East to West.

“Khi Quan Tien Co” (10E1 and 10E2) led the audience into a Chinese cultural space through the combination of powerful martial arts and graceful fan dance, clearly expressing the philosophy of harmony between strength and softness. In contrast to that intense energy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (11A3 and 11A7) opened up a fantastical world of English literature, where entangled romances and magic intertwined within a richly poetic musical setting.

Going beyond literature, the program also explored cultural depth through the lens of history and aesthetics. The performance on the emergence of a French fashion icon recreated the revolutionary spirit of Coco Chanel, in which beauty was liberated from rigid norms to become a symbol of freedom and individuality with an outstanding performance by students from classes 11C and 11G3. Meanwhile, with “Chuyen tinh,” class 10A9 offered a fresh approach to the story of Romeo and Juliet, placing the classic work in a modern school setting, creating an intersection between the classical and the contemporary.

The cultural journey continued to be expanded by class 10D1 with “The Flow of Japanese Fashion,” where traditional kimono and modern trends coexisted, reflecting the distinctive spirit of harmony in Japanese culture. Following that, “Korean Harmony,” presented by classes 10H and 11H, brought a vivid portrayal of the connection between past and present, as heritage elements such as the folk song Arirang and the Ganggangsullae dance were placed alongside vibrant K-pop rhythms, creating a continuous cultural flow.

On another level of depth, with “The Speckled Band,” classes 10A5 and 10A6 brought the audience back to Victorian England with the dramatic detective atmosphere of Sherlock Holmes, while also raising social issues such as violence and the pursuit of justice. Meanwhile, “Echoria – Echo der Zeit,” performed by classes 10G1 and 10G2, explored historical and philosophical dimensions, as humans confront the changes of time while still striving toward connection and peace.

The subsequent performances continued to delve deeper into human emotions. The choral piece “You Will Be Found,” performed by classes 10A1 and 10A2, delivered a message of empathy and connection, touching upon the hidden corners of loneliness and the desire to be heard. Meanwhile, “The Broadway to Broadway” (11A4 and 11A6) told a story about the journey of pursuing dreams, where each individual becomes the writer of their own life story.

In the later part of the program, the performances more strongly explored elements of cultural intersection. “Dear Across the Blue” (11A2 and 11A9) recreated transformations in British – American society through the lens of fashion, while “Russian Festival” (10B and 11B) burst with powerful and energetic folk dances. Meanwhile, “La Cadence du Piano” (10A10) presented an engaging dialogue between order and freedom, between London and Paris, through the language of music.

A classical, ancient-style atmosphere returned with “Thanh Hoa Chi Mong,” where a story of love and waiting was told by class 11E1 through the language of dance and Eastern music. Following that, “Schneewittchen – Snow White and the Broken Mirror” (11G1, 11G2, 11G3) offered a new perspective on beauty and human values, going beyond the familiar frameworks of Grimm’s fairy tales.

Concluding the journey, “Nhip buoc Paris, loi chao Viet Nam” (10C) and “Mong du Diep Dao” (10D2) brought the audience back to the spirit of cultural intersection and festivity, where differences were no longer barriers but became materials for connection.

Overall, each performance in “Foreign Language Specialized School Colors 2026” was not merely a show, but a “living lesson” in culture, where language was placed within real-life contexts and emotions. The diversity in both content and form created a distinctive appeal for the program, while clearly reflecting the School’s educational orientation in the context of national policies promoting foreign language teaching and learning toward integration and experiential approaches.

The program’s distinctive appeal lay in the way students “transformed” knowledge into art. On stage, they not only used foreign languages but also demonstrated intercultural thinking, creativity, and multimodal expressive abilities. Language here was no longer merely a learning objective, but became a means to understand and articulate the world. This clearly reflected the School’s educational philosophy: learning foreign languages is to broaden awareness, connect cultures, and develop the capacity for integration.

The atmosphere of the performance night was driven by youthful energy, from the enthusiastic opening act to performances rich in emotional depth. The diversity of genres, from musical theatre, drama, and dance to choral singing and fashion shows, which created a vibrant artistic space where each student could find their own mode of expression. Under the stage lights, they were not merely “language learners,” but truly became artists, storytellers, and more broadly, “cultural ambassadors” of the younger generation.

Director and People’s Artist Tran Luc, representing the judging panel, shared: “Today’s program was highly successful; in each performance, the students were able to showcase the distinctive cultural features of each country. Students of the Foreign Language Specialized School demonstrate creativity and the boldness of youth; everything they find interesting is brought onto the stage, expressing strong individuality and identity – qualities that an artist should possess. I am truly impressed by the innocence and spontaneity of the students; it allows me, as a lecturer at the University of Theatre and Cinema, to learn a great deal from them.”

More than just a festival night, “Foreign Language Specialized School Colors 2026” was the culmination of a process of learning, training, and creativity. It was a space where knowledge, skills, and emotions were connected in a unified whole, clearly reflecting the School’s commitment to holistic education. The program not only contributed to spreading the values of multilingual education but also nurtured pride, confidence, and aspirations for integration among students of the Foreign Language Specialized School.

In the glow of the stage lights and the endless rounds of applause, “Foreign Language Specialized School Colors” once again affirmed the enduring vitality of a program that has become a symbol. There, each language is a color, each performance a world, and all blend together to create a vibrant symphony of youth, culture, and the aspiration to reach out to the global stage.

“Foreign Language Specialized School Colors 2026” was not merely a festive night, but a vivid testament to the School’s educational philosophy: language learning must be associated with culture, and education must aim for holistic development. When language is “staged” and culture is “experienced” through art, learners not only understand the world, but also become part of it.

Tiểu Minh/ĐSTT