What’s the perfect way to enjoy a summer night in Hanoi? How about some live jazz performances?

It’s a gorgeous night out in town. The lake reflects the light, and streets are crowded with people seeking romantic summer night activities. The humid, tropical June nights in Hanoi are full of energy from those who brave the heat. And what could be better than to grab an ice cold glass of beer and to enjoy great music? Live jazz performances would be the ultimate. We are only so blessed to enjoy beautiful jazz.

Jazz is about being in the moment.
Herbie Hancock, jazz pianist

Binh Minh Jazz Club, Heartbeat of Jazz in Hanoi

Every night at nine o’clock, beautiful music starts flowing out of the building standing at 1 Trang Tien. A show is on at Binh Minh Jazz Club, which stands on a small alley in Hanoi French Quarter. Patrons have a drink in their hand, as they take a ride into the world of jazz.
 

Every night at nine o’clock, beautiful music starts flowing out of the building standing at 1 Trang Tien. A show is on at Binh Minh Jazz Club, which stands on a small alley in Hanoi French Quarter. Patrons have a drink in their hand, as they take a ride into the world of jazz.

Binh Minh Jazz Club is run by Quyen Van Minh, the father of Vietnamese jazz. He looks the part of an artist, with his silver, permed hair done in a ponytail. The renowned saxophonist has been helping expand the jazz culture in Vietnam since the early 1990s. He is teaching jazz theories at the National Conservatory of Hanoi, in addition to running his live club. Quyen is an ambitious one. He wants to keep developing a young generation of players who could help elevate Vietnamese jazz to a higher level, and also to create a platform to interact with the public and play quality jazz for people of Hanoi.

You don’t even necessarily have to like jazz music to visit Binh Minh Jazz Club. As music genres go, jazz tends to bring out the true colors of the musicians playing it. If you go to a show at this club, you’ll naturally develop a better understanding of the Vietnamese people and their culture. There are no admissions but you must order a drink.

If you’re so lucky, you may even get to hear Quyen himself perform. And his saxophone playing is so mesmerizing as to be out of this world. His performance is at once soft and powerful, with such incredible warmth and depth. Sometimes, Quyen plays traditional Vietnamese music in jazz style. Even foreigners who have no prior knowledge of the original song would be so touched by Quyen’s performance that some may even have tears in their eyes when it’s all said and done. Quyen doesn’t need lyrics to convey his emotions. It’s precious moments like these when you realize why they say music is a universal language and why jazz is a conversation between the performer and the audience.