Amid the vibrant atmosphere of the “Shine Your Star” music gala organised by USTH on the evening of 15 November 2025, one of the most electrifying moments of the event was the collaboration between a four-member band from the USTH M&M Not Chocobeans Club and Minh Toc & Lam, the celebrated “he plays, she sings” duo, well known within Vietnam’s indie music scene. Sharing the stage with their idols for the very first time, the members of M&M Not Chocobeans seized the opportunity to give their all and immerse themselves in the music.
The four performers were Ho Ngoc Gia Khanh on bass guitar, Nguyen Dang Nhat Anh and Cao Duc Tuan on keyboards, and Pham Hoang Anh on drums. All are active members of the USTH M&M Not Chocobeans Club, which brings together music enthusiasts from across the USTH student community.
Ho Ngoc Gia Khanh said: “Both Minh Toc and Lam are artists and idols whom we admire deeply. Therefore, when we learned that the University would be inviting them to perform at the ‘Music Night’, we were incredibly excited, as it meant we would finally have the chance to meet them and enjoy their performance in person.”
In particular, the group came up with the bold idea of creating a collaborative performance between the members of USTH M&M Not Chocobeans and Minh Toc & Lam right on the concert stage.
Without any direct means of contact, the group decided to take a chance and reached out to Minh Toc via Facebook, expressing their wish to provide instrumental accompaniment for the duo’s performance at USTH. “When we sent the message, we honestly did not have high expectations. But what happened next left us overjoyed. Minh Toc replied and even agreed to our proposal. Despite his busy schedule, he remained patient, friendly and open-minded, doing everything possible to help us deliver the best performance we could,” Gia Khanh shared.
After receiving approval from Minh Toc and Lam, as well as from the organisers, the group immediately set about rehearsing accompaniment for two songs, Chon Sa Mac and Nhung Giai Dieu Khac 2. Both tracks are popular hits among young audiences, characterised by the gentle, ethereal sound and distinctive musical identity of the Vietnamese indie duo.
Having played and rehearsed together for a long time, the group already shared a natural chemistry. After only two days of intensive practice, they completed their first full arrangement and sent it to Minh Toc for feedback.
“Drawing on his experience as a professional music producer, Minh Toc offered us a wealth of valuable advice, from timing and transitional nuances to the way emotions should be built up during the climactic sections,” the group recalled.
The afternoon of 15 November marked the first occasion on which Minh Toc and Lam met the group in person. Nevertheless, the two sides quickly established a strong rapport. The band grasped the spirit of the performance after only a few rehearsals. Minh Toc and Lam shared their stage experience, offering guidance on sustaining the emotional flow of the performance, handling transitions, engaging with the audience and energising the stage.
“Thanks to the advice and encouragement from Minh Toc and Lam, we felt far more confident. We were able to improvise, become completely immersed in the emotions and give everything we had during the performance. We are truly grateful to Minh Toc and Lam for giving us the opportunity to collaborate, share the stage with them and experience what has undoubtedly become one of the most unforgettable nights of our student lives.”
The group also extended their gratitude to fellow members of the USTH M&M Not Chocobeans Club, who had quietly supported and assisted them throughout the entire process, from rehearsals to the final moments before going on stage, especially Bui Vu Khanh Huyen, Vu Minh Quan, Ha Gia Linh and Nhu Huong Thao Nguyen. The group also expressed their appreciation to Ms Phan Anh from the Student Affairs Office and to Quang Minh, the Music Director, for their technical and sound support, which helped ensure the highest possible production quality and delivered a truly complete musical experience for the audience.
Although the “Shine Your Star” concert has come to an end, for the members of the USTH M&M Not Chocobeans Club, every note and every moment spent on stage stands as a testament to the belief that anyone who dares to pursue their passion can shine and leave a unique mark on their own journey. Most importantly, they expressed their heartfelt appreciation to the talented young artists Minh Toc and Lam, not only for their professionalism and distinctive musical style, but also for the warmth, openness and inspiration they brought to everyone around them. As the curtain falls on Newbie Festival 2025, all that remains is to look forward to the surprises that Newbie Festival 2026 may have in store.
