Tour to Singapore and Vietnam 2026
Date: 21/08/2026
The Hong Kong Children’s Choir (HKCC) Concert Tour to Singapore and Vietnam 2026 was successfully held from 17-27 July, sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore. Under the leadership of Music Director and Principal Conductor Kathy Fok and accompanist Corina Lin, members of Concert Choir participated in the inaugural "Voices of the World International Choir Festival" in Singapore, sharing the stage with leading choirs from Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Marking its debut in Vietnam, HKCC became the first children’s choir from Hong Kong to hold concerts in the city, performing at Saigon University and the Saigon Opera House to foster local choral development. During the Concert Tour, members took part in 9 performances in total, including feature concerts, gala concerts, exchange concerts and music video recording sessions, drawing an audience of over 3,000 attendees.
Day 1 17/7
Concert Choir members gathered at Hong Kong International Airport to embark on their 11-day musical journey. Upon arrival in Singapore, the group proceeded straight to VOS Enabling Village to film the We are the World music video. Rehearsals followed with pipa soloist Jeremy Wong to prepare for upcoming concerts.
Day 2 18/7
In the morning, members visited Merlion Park and Haji Lane to experience Singapore’s local culture. In the afternoon, they went to Capitol Theatre to watch performances by Thailand Children’s Choir, Voices of Singapore, Toronto Children’s Chorus and New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir. That evening, under Music Director and Principal Conductor Kathy Fok and Accompanist Corina Lin, HKCC took the stage for Gala Concert 2 alongside Voices of Singapore, Gondwana and The Kuala Lumpur Children's Choir. HKCC gave the world premiere of Dr. Darius Lim’s Through Storms and Light, commissioned by HKCC. The concert closed with the mass sing‑along We are the World. Audiences waved mobile‑phone flashlights and sang together with performers and conductors on stage, creating a spectacular scene.
Day 3 19/7
Concert Choir presented Feature Concert 3 at VOS Choral Hub with a repertoire that blends Eastern and Western artistic features. The concert featured the world premieres of two brand‑new works composed by pianist‑accompanist Corina Lin: Let’s Sing Together and What Is Man?. Let’s Sing Together artfully fuses Singapore traditional folk melodies with the classic Hong Kong pop song Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was further enhanced by vibrant choreography designed by Chloe Lee, Dance Coordinator, bringing lively and vivid stage effects. Ms. Elsa Hung, Director, Ms. Teresa Poon, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore, and Ms. Wang Lei, Minister‑Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Singapore, graced the event. Alumni and parents also turned out in support; the venue was full‑house and the audience responded with great enthusiasm. After the performance, members visited Chinatown. In the evening, they resumed filming for the We are the World music video, followed by a get‑together dinner and mass sing‑along with choirs from around the world.
Day 4 20/7
In the morning, the choir toured Singapore’s landmark Gardens by the Bay. In the afternoon, at the historic CHIJMES, HKCC joined Toronto Children’s Chorus, New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir, Vox Brillance (Bedok Green Sec), Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’s School (Pri) and CHIJ Primary (Paya Lebar) Choir for an exchange performance. In the evening’s Feature Concert 6, HKCC, Toronto Children’s Chorus, Voices of Singapore and New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir each presented their own repertoire. To close the Singapore leg, Dr. Darius Lim took the baton to lead HKCC, Toronto Children’s Chorus and Voices of Singapore in the joint performance of Dragon Dance of Shang.
Day 5 21/7
HKCC departed Singapore and flew to Ho Chi Minh City, marking HKCC’s first-ever visit to Vietnam! Upon arrival, members visited historical landmarks including the Saigon Central Post Office and City Hall Square, taking in the European architectural heritage. After a short break, the group enjoyed Hue‑style cuisine in the evening and experienced local customs.
Day 6 22/7
Members travelled to My Tho for a Mekong Delta cultural tour, riding traditional sampans around Thoi Son Island. Back to the city in the afternoon, HKCC took part in the Vietnam‑Hong Kong cultural exchange concert Confluence of voices, co‑organised with Cantus Choir at Thi Nghe Church. HKCC shared the stage with local groups Cantus Choir, Fanciulli Choir and SCYC. Donations from the concert, after covering expenses, was donated to Cantus Choir for its future social‑outreach and community programmes. Each choir delivered distinctive performances to foster friendship and musical exchange. HKCC specially prepared a Vietnamese‑language version of Let’s Sing Together, incorporating the lyric "Tôi yêu Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh" ("I love Ho Chi Minh City") as a tribute to cross‑cultural friendship. The night concluded warmly with the mass sing‑along Heal the World.
Day 7 23/7
Concert Choir visited Saigon University for an exchange concert with students from the Practical Primary School of Saigon University. The choir performed Finale composed by Chan Kai‑young, which captures the growth, dedication and accomplishments throughout the choral path. Though the Singapore‑Vietnam concert tour was drawing near to its end, as implied in the piece: "Though the music fades, bonds and friendships remain." The moving atmosphere of the concert, the warm reception from Vietnamese students and musical friendships forged across places live on through music. At the finale, HKCC member Ivan Poon served as conductor, leading HKCC singers and local primary‑school students in We are the World. The familiar melody transcended geographical boundaries and strengthened bilateral friendship.
Day 8 24/7
After successive intensive performances, the choir took time to recharge and explore local sights. In the morning, members visited Ben Thanh Market, one of Ho Chi Minh City’s largest and oldest traditional markets located in District 1. Mr. Barnabas Fung, Chairman of the HKCC Board of Directors, also flew specially to Vietnam to join the team and support for the upcoming featured concert at Saigon Opera House.
Day 9 25/7
On the evening of 25 July, the highlight of the tour—The Hong Kong Children’s Choir in Concert "Everything Flows" took place at the Saigon Opera House. The concert was sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore with the support of and the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam (HKBAV) and co-presented in collaboration with the Saigon Philharmonic Orchestra. Led by Music Director and Principal Conductor Kathy Fok, showcased a diverse repertoire of Chinese and Western choral works, including Cantonese pieces that showcase Hong Kong’s distinctive musical characteristics beneath the landmark’s classical French dome.
Before the concert, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a reception for around 80 guests, including Ms. Huang Guanrong, Deputy Consul‑General of the People’s Republic of China in Ho Chi Minh City and her delegation; Mr. Barnabas Fung, Chairman of the HKCC Board of Directors; and Mr. Michael Chiu, Chairman of HKBAV, alongside representatives from local government, business, and cultural sectors.
Officiating at the reception, Director of the Singapore ETO Ms. Elsa Hung noted that the inaugural concert marked an important milestone for HKCC and reflected growing people-to-people ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam. She reiterated the government's commitment to promoting Hong Kong as an international cultural exchange hub and building global platforms for young artists through supporting overseas performances.
Day 10 26/7
Due to adverse weather conditions in Hong Kong, the scheduled return flight was cancelled. Extending our stay in Vietnam, members visited the War Remnants Museum, gaining historical insight through an educational field activity.
Day 11 27/7
The 11‑day Singapore‑Vietnam concert tour drew to a successful close as HKCC members returned safely to Hong Kong. This journey not only enriched their real‑world stage experience but also broadened their international horizons and fostered lasting friendship. Sincere thanks go to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore for its generous support for this tour.
Members then began active rehearsals in preparation for the Post‑Tour Concert 2026 on 1 August, to share the fruitful outcomes of this overseas exchange with local audiences.
