"As a first-generation Vietnamese American, my journey from Saigon to the U.S. has always been driven by a need to create, to remember, and to reclaim.

For over a decade, I worked as an art director and designer, shaping stories through visuals, but film has given me a way to speak from the soul.

Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon is more than a creative leap; it’s a calling. A love letter. A rebellion. I’m here to tell the story only I can tell: to revive a legacy nearly erased by war, time, and silence.

My grandfather’s music lives in my blood, and through this film, I’m bringing it back into the light where it belongs. This is about memory as power, identity as resistance, and art as the bridge between generations. Because it was never truly lost, only waiting to be remembered." - Khoa Ha

https://www.yvan.film/

Y Vân (1926–1990) was a legendary Vietnamese songwriter and musician known for shaping modern Vietnamese music with hits like "Lòng Mẹ" (Mother's Heart) and "Sài Gòn." His work, characterized by romantic and nostalgic melodies, remains a cornerstone of Vietnamese musical heritage. His legacy is explored in the 2025 documentary, Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon.

Key Aspects of Y Vân:

Iconic Composer: Known for his profound, emotional songwriting, with "Lòng Mẹ" being one of his most recognized songs.

Cultural Legacy: Many of his songs are considered classics in Vietnamese collective memory, often evoking nostalgia for Saigon.

Composer of "Sài Gòn": He composed the iconic song "Sài Gòn," which is synonymous with the city's musical identity.

Y Vân's music remains deeply woven into the cultural fabric of Vietnamese listeners, both domestically and in the diaspora.