Vietnam: Hanoi Youth Use Acoustic Music to Bring Gospel to Parishes and Migrant Communities

A 15-member Catholic youth music group in northern Vietnam is using acoustic performances, prayer gatherings and charitable activities to bring sacred music to parish communities and people on the margins.

The Acoustic Sacred Music Group (TCA), based in the Archdiocese of Hanoi, was established in 2019 with just two members. It has since grown into a team of young people with different professional skills, including singers, songwriters, instrumentalists, event hosts, and sound and visual technicians.

Led by Dom Pham Minh Thuan, with spiritual guidance from Fr. Phero Ta Van Tuan, the group serves at Masses, provides music for parish events and accompanies Catholic youth gatherings. It also organizes acoustic music nights in central and outlying areas of northern Vietnam, seeking to make sacred music accessible to wider communities.

One of its initiatives is the album series Walking with God, released in two volumes. The project combines sacred music with charitable outreach, reflecting the group's aim of connecting musical ministry with service to others.

In November 2026, TCA organizes several programs across the Archdiocese of Hanoi. A November 7 music night, titled “Praying for Parents,” was held at Tu Chau Parish. The group is also scheduled to serve at the Youth Day of the Ecclesiastical Province of Hanoi on November 13 and 14.

Other scheduled performances include “Offering to God the Day of Exile,” a prayer gathering for migrants at Thai Ha Parish on November 18, and “Exalting the Holy Cross” at Co Nhue Parish on November 20. Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, is a major center of Catholic life in the country's north, with parishes serving both established communities and people who have moved to the city for work and study.

Thuan said the group's growth had exceeded his expectations.

“I never thought there would be a time when acoustic sacred music would be so deeply loved and welcomed, or bring such value to the community,” he said. He credited God's grace, the support of priests and members, and the encouragement of audiences for sustaining the group's mission.

He added that performing in outlying communities had strengthened his commitment to sharing the Gospel through music.

Fr. Tuan described acoustic music as a way to bring people closer to Scripture and Christian values through simple melodies and sincere lyrics.

“The acoustic guitar strings and unpretentious, simple melodies help bridge distances, gently introducing the Word of God and moral sentiments into the innermost depths of everyone's heart,” he said.

He said the group's ministry went beyond musical performances, helping people find moments of prayer, peace and deeper engagement with their faith.

“Always keep that burning zeal and simple, humble modesty. That is how you together proclaim the Gospel,” he told the members.

Through parish services, youth gatherings and outreach to migrant and outlying communities, TCA continues to use music as a means of evangelization, bringing people together in prayer and sharing the Christian message through its young members' talents.