Seeing dozens of people come together at Ly Thai To Square in downtown ${bigcity_Hanoi:"Hanoi"} on Sunday afternoons have become a normal thing since a group of guitar-players started made such a weekly scenario in the block. With around 20 talented guitar players skillfully show off their music, it is easy for them to draw large crowds. People who gather to sing and clap hands, or simply to listen and appreciate their talents are a mix of young and old, students, bystanders and curious foreigners who take photos of the performers. These talents do not really need to set up a stage or plan for weeks as large concerts are prepared. No amplifiers, lighting systems and ticket booths. They simply come, sit and play, and everyone who loves to play the guitar can join, and anyone who knows how to appreciate good music is welcome to listen. When it rains, they simply move to a nearby octagonal pavilion.

It’s a great way to divert people’s attention from the noise of vehicles around nearby ${attraction_Hoan_Kiem_Lake:”Hoan Kiem Lake”}.

The weekly street performance is an off-line activity of guitar learners in the popular forum hocdan.com.

Tran Tri Hieu, initiator of the website claimed he was inspired with the concept of the travelling performance of composer Tran Tien during 1980s. Though he admits they can’t travel far, taking their music to the streets is a great way to reach out to people and express their flare for music and guitar. According to him, their first street show in Ha Noi attracted only 10 people. In contrast, the second attracted up to 200 guitarists. The music they play range from student songs to patriotic and love songs.

They have groups in Hanoi, ${bigcity_Ho_Chi_Minh_City:”Ho Chi Minh City”}, ${bigcity_Nha_Trang:"Nha Trang"} and Can Tho. Hocdan.com forum now has over 70,000 members consisting of Vietnamese and foreign members. The forum hopes to develop talents to those who have the passion for the instrument among students at college dormitories all over the city. They are planning to hold a national contest for street guitarists. It had already received encouragement from veteran composers like Nguyen Cuong and Truong Qui Hai. The idea was broadcasted to Viet Nam Television and Radio's Voice of Viet Nam. Depending on the response they would receive, a new attraction from the group is bound to happen very soon.