The rendition was part of a series of performances by Tony Memmel’s band, alongside Vietnamese singers Muoi, Saabirose, and the Impact Theatre Saigon group at the festival.

“Thank you to our friends here at the U.S. Consulate and Embassy, and the wonderful people of Vietnam for a huge night,” Tony Memmel wrote on his Facebook after the show. 

"This crowd was singing at the top of their lungs!

“We were one of many groups that came together to celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations between our countries."

The U.S.-Vietnam Friendship Festival is a highlight in the series of events marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Following its success in Da Nang in June, the festival is making its way to Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and Hanoi.

It is intended to showcase the diverse cultures of both nations and highlight the spirit of harmony, reconciliation, cooperation, and a forward-looking relationship.

It underscores people-to-people ties as a solid foundation of bilateral relations while creating momentum to deepen and make the Vietnam–U.S. relationship more substantive.

The Ho Chi Minh City festival on September 9 was jointly held by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Vietnam, and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.

It offered a wide range of lively and engaging activities for the public, from music and sports exchanges to traditional folk games of both countries, along with exhibitions showcasing Vietnamese and American culture, cuisine, achievements in bilateral relations, and more.

U.S. Ambassador Marc Knapper emphasized that the festival served as a testament to bilateral cooperation and the strong ties between the two nations.

He noted that Vietnam and the U.S. have grown closer through cultural and educational exchanges, and that this shared journey will continue, driven by common interests, goals, and values.

From a past marked by conflict, the two countries have become comprehensive strategic partners, working together on an equal and mutually beneficial relationship for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and beyond.

For U.S. Consul General Melissa A. Brown, the festival stood as a vivid example of how the two nations can come together to create opportunities for learning, cooperation, and shared joy.

She underlined that such events go beyond government-to-government ties and also reflect the human connections that point toward a brighter shared future.