Former home of influential composer opens to tourists

Writers and artists in Hue City opened late musician Trinh Cong Son’s apartment for tourists on the occasion of his 12th death anniversary on April 1.

A photo of Trinh Cong Son taken in the corridor of the apartment

Gac Trinh or Trinh Garret was on the second floor of an apartment block on Hue City’s Nguyen Truong To Street. It was upgraded by writers and artists in Hue who were friends or admirers of Trinh Cong Son.

Trinh Cong Son composed his first works there when living in Hue in the 1960s. The apartment then became the living place of writer Hoang Phu Ngoc Tuong’s family, one of Trinh Cong Son’s friends.

A view of Trinh Garret through a window

With the help of several music lovers, writers and artists, the apartment now displays several items related to Trinh Cong Son, including Trinh Cong Son portraits by painters Dinh Cuong, Buu Chi and Hoang Dang Nhuan, a publication on Trinh Cong Son music donated by his family to Nguyen Chi Tri and several photos of Trinh Cong Son with his friends.

A very heavy wooden chair where Trinh Cong Son, Dinh Cuong and Buu Chi stood on to paint a picture was also displayed at the garret.

A chair evokes memories of Trinh Cong Son and his two close friends

Trinh Garret will be a place for Trinh Cong Son lovers to enjoy his music and commemorate the late musician. It would be a venue for photo exhibitions and the launching of new works by writers and artists as well.

Writers and artists in Hue will care for the apartment and provide reception services to visitors.

Writer Hoa Dang Thanh Ngoc, editor-in-chief of Song Huong or Huong River Magazine, said they would call for people to provide more mementos of Trinh Cong Son’s life to make the garret an attractive destination for tourists in the time to come.