Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Musical Exchange Brings Harmony to One-Time Foes Mike O'Sullivan | Pasadena, California 21 June 2010 American and Vietnamese musicians rehearse Photo: VOA - M. O'Sullivan American and Vietnamese musicians rehearse The largest cultural exchange ever between the United States and Vietnam wrapped up last month in California. Classically trained musicians from Vietnam and the United States performed together in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in March, and again in Los Angeles in April and May. The project was funded by a grant from the U.S. State Department. A Vietnamese musician demonstrates a traditional instrument called the dan bau for students at a school in suburban Los Angeles. Vietnamese musician demonstrates Bau at a California high school Vietnamese musician demonstrates Bau at a California high school She is one of nineteen Vietnamese musicians visiting California for performances and workshops with musicians from the Southwest Chamber Music group. Jeff von der Schmidt is the California group's artistic director. He grew up when the United States was at war with Vietnam in the 1960s and '70s. "And the idea that I'm doing this can still, in fact make me a little teary eyed and make me very emotional, make me very happy about the fact that we're able to write a new chapter in music between our two countries," he said. Vietnamese violinist Nguyen Thu Binh VOA - M. O'Sullivan Vietnamese violinist Nguyen Thu Binh Violinist Nguyen Thu Binh says the exchange has gone well. "So far, I haven't encountered any problems because I think music is a universal language. We have great fun playing together, American music and Vietnamese music." In addition to Western and Vietnamese classics, the performers presented two new compositions by American composers and two by Vietnamese composers, including Vu Nhat Tan from Hanoi says, "There are no borders between us because we just use music, and there are no language (problems), we just use music and sound." Southwest Chamber Music's executive director, Jan Karlin, says the participants communicate with each other through music. "You sit down and you have an immediate rapport.  As you'll see in the rehearsal we're having today, we're all playing together as colleagues, and if more of that went on, I think there'd be less wars in this world." Southwest Chamber Music artistic director Von der Schmidt says the exchange highlights a saying of Confucius that is popular in Asia. "Which is that the greatest happiness is when a friend has travelled to visit you from a far-away land. And so we have felt that with the Vietnamese coming to the United States and all of our players felt that going to Hanoi. So I don't think this is a project that is going to stop," he said. Von der Schmidt says the Vietnamese and Americans have created a musical bridge between their countries. .