Ao Dai museum – unique space in Ho Chi Minh City

Ao Dai museum tells the story of the Vietnamese traditional long dress and its changes in the social development process.

Located at Long Thuan garden house, Long Phuoc ward, the museum realises the 10 years long dream of designer-artist Si Hoang.

Visitors to the museum will have a good chance to experience Ao Dai making process, from its design, cutting, sewing, drawing to embroidering.

Exhibit features ancient photos of Viet Nam

Adventure of Baphuon, a documentary film of director Didier Fascio, will be screened at 7:30 pm on December 3. — Photo hanoigrapevine.com

Pictures from the photo collection of the French School of Extreme Orient on ancient Viet Nam will be displayed here on December 3.

The exhibit, entitled Viet Nam's Diversity: Photos of the French School of Extreme Orient, was earlier displayed at the Cernuschi Museum from March 13 to June 29.

The exhibit will take place at L'Espace at 24 Trang Tien Street and at the Viet Nam Museum of National History at 1 Pham Ngu Street from December 3 to 31.

Adventure of Baphuon, a documentary film of director Didier Fascio, will be screened at 7.30pm on December 3. The film features the history of the renovation process at one of the biggest temples of Angkor complex.

VND105 billion approved for Tu Duc Tomb restoration

The People’s Committee of Thua Thien-Hue Province has approved an allocation of VND105 billion (USD5 million) to restore the tomb of King Tu Duc.

The funds, partially from the state budget will go towards restoration of many of the architectural works within the complex, located in Hue.

At the end of 2013, the Hue Ancient Capital Preservation Centre completed the restoration of three of the pavilions namely Xung Khiem Ta, Du Khiem Ta and Khiem Cung Mon, at a cost of VND26 billion.

Tu Duc's Tomb is considered one of the most beautiful architectural works in Hue, but has suffered damage due to weather and war over the years.

Cable cars to connect with Quang Ninh’s pagodas

The Prime Minister has recently approved the building of a cable car system to better serve tourists to Ngoa Van and Ho Thien pagodas of the Tran dynasty historical relic in Dong Trieu district, the northern province of Quang Ninh.

It is a part of the master plan to reserve and develop the Tran dynasty historical relic complex, which covers 2,206 hectares.

Listed as a national cultural and historical vestige since 1962, the Tran dynasty relic site houses the Kings’ graves, temples, shrines, pagodas and towers, representing the special architectural style of the dynasty (1225-1400).

Ngoa Van Pagoda is located on Bao Dai Mountain in a height of 500 meters where King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong, the third king of the Tran dynasty and the founder of Truc Lam Zen Monastery, attained Nirvana. The King abdicated the throne when he was 35 and spent the rest of his life on Yen Tu Mountain practising and propagating Buddhism.

Meanwhile, Ho Thien Pagoda is situated on Tru Phong Mountain where Phap Loa Dong Kien Cuong, the second progenitor of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism, led his religious life.

Heritage photo exhibition kicks off

An exhibition in Can Tho city running from November 19-25 showcases the best 100 photographs of 73 photographers from 2014 Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards opened on the occasion of the 10th Vietnam National Heritage Day (November 23).

The third edition of the Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards has the theme “The soul of Vietnam” around topics such as nature, tangible heritage, intangible heritage and life.

It has received 4,400 entries, including 2,975 single-photo entries and 254 series-photo entries, from 477 entrants, 138 more than the second event.

Ho Chi Minh City has the lead in the number of entrants (98), followed by Hanoi (69), Hue (31), Danang (30) and Binh Thuan (28).

Le Thanh Hai – Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Heritage magazine – Chief of the Organizing Board, said the contest provides an opportunity for amateur and professional photographers to show their feeling and pride of the fatherland.

The organizing board has announced that after exhibition in Can Tho, they would continue to introduce these photographs in Khanh Hoa, Hanoi, Danang, Quang Nam, Quang Ninh, Vung Tau, An Giang and Tien Giang.

The awards ceremony is set for Ho Chi Minh City on November 23.

Over 600 documents, artifacts donated to Hanoi Museum

Organisations and individuals nationwide donated over 600 documents and artifacts to the Hanoi Museum in response to its appeal to collect exhibits to celebrate the capital’s 60 years of development.

The information was revealed by the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism at a November 18 ceremony to review a three-month campaign to call for document and artifact donations.

Out of the donated items, 259 belonged to Hanoians who lived through the war against the US , while 387 others originated from the subsidy period.

They included a set of seals used by Dong Da district’s Trading Office from 1958 to 1986, photographs taken of Hanoi from above by US spy planes, and a collection of stamps showing the number of US military aircraft shot down by Hanoi’s armed forces and citizens.

Also at the ceremony, the department continued to welcome more donations to the museum from individuals and organisations in 2015.

Vietnam, Peru celebrate two decades of relations

Vietnam and Peru are marking the 20th anniversary of their good diplomatic ties and to commemorate the event, the Peruvian embassy in Hanoi has organized a culinary week and film screening.

The Peru culinary week has been set for November 18-24 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City featuring the cuisine of Peruvian Chef Maria Rosa and cooking demos along with Quinoa salad and two popular drinks of Peru, Pisco Sour and Algarronina.

Within the week-long event, a gala dinner themed ‘Quinoa taste – Peru’ isplanned, aiming to review the Vietnam-Peru cooperation in politics, diplomacy, economy and culture in 2014.

A Peru film week, the first of its kind, will screen five Peruvian films at the Cinematheque on 22A Hai Ba Trung Street in Hanoi from December 5-7.

Toyota Vietnam awards music scholarships

Eighty-five young Vietnamese students received music scholarships valued at VND4 million each in Ho Chi Minh City on November 17 to help them develop their skills as musicians, in the latest round of awards presented by Toyota Vietnam.

Awarded to young people from the Vietnam National Academy of Music, Hue Academy of Music, Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music, Tay Bac Culture and Arts College, and Viet Bac Culture and Arts College this year’s scholarships are worth VND340 million in total.

The awards are aimed at enabling each student to be given an extensive programme of music tuition and support that they would not otherwise be able to afford. It brings the total number of students nationwide to have benefited from it to 560.

Toyota Vietnam has since the awards were established in 2009 sponsored a series of fundraising concerts, such as the Toyota Classics and Toyota Concert Tour, and all the ticket proceeds have been dedicated to this meaningful scholarship programme.

Korean troupe to perform in Vietnam

Audiences will have the opportunity to enjoy traditional Korean music and dance performancesthis coming December 1 performed by the dance troupe, Mulmatdol, at the Sai Gon Opera House in Ho Chi Minh City.

The concert to be hosted on December 1 in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) isorganised under the theme “ArirangSaiGon”and directedbyKorean choreographer Chun Yoo Oh.

Arirang is a Korean folk song genre with more than 3,000 difference versions throughouttheworld.Monochord artist Le Hoai Phuong will also participate in the event.

Ticket prices range from VND80, 000 to 400,000.

Hau Giang set for cultural, tourism festival

The southern province of Hau Giang will organise its sixth Cultural, Sports and Tourism festival on November 27.

The two-day event will feature a street show of various traditional martial arts and dances performed by 1,000 professionals from 10 neighbouring provinces. The highlights will include songs and dances of the Khmer ethnic group who make up nearly 1.3 million people in the Mekong Delta.

Organised by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and its partners, this year's festival will also feature folk games, art performances, and sporting contests.

The organisers have worked with authorities in neighbouring provinces to offer a range of tours to visitors coming to the festival.

They hope the annual festival will come to epitomise traditional values, reflect the local spirit, and celebrate life.

Stalactites discovered in Phong Nha-Ke Bang

Ever-seen stalactites in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang world natural heritage site in the central province of Quang Binh have just been found by British Royal Cave Research Association’s tour guides, according to Nguyen Chau A, director of the International Travel Company Oxalis on November 11.

The stalagmites have been seen in the upper of the Va cave. It is a very ancient, rare and precious stalactite which is presumed to have been formed in the Precambrian period, about 600 million years ago, said Jonathan Sims, a member of the British Royal Cave Research Association.

According to the British Royal Cave Research Association’s tour guides, the Va cave is home to exquisite and unique bamboo shoot-shaped stalagmites. The bamboo shoot-shaped stones are 2m high, while the others which have been found in Thailand are under 20cm.

The Va cave has a length of one kilometer and a dome of 500 square meters.

400 visitors book tour to world largest cave

Four hundreds visitors from many countries have booked an adventure tour to the world largest cave Son Doong in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park next year after two days the tour was opened by Oxalis Travel Company in the north central province of Quang Binh.

The 400 visitors include 150 Americans, 90 Australians and 80 Vietnamese. The rest people come from Asian and European nations.

Explorers from the British Caving Association and local doctors are working on an online question system to ensure that the visitors are fit to attend the six day walking tour to explore Son Doong Cave, said Oxalis Company’s director Nguyen A Chau.

Can Tho tries to lure more guests

Can Tho authorities have asked the Ministry of Transport to allow more domestic and international air flights to the Mekong Delta city so that its airport can be better used.

But according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam (CAAV), demand for air travel in the region is not high despite incentives.

At present only two carriers fly to Can Tho. Vietnam Airlines operates 14 weekly flights on the Ha Noi – Can Tho route and seven on the Can Tho–Phu Quoc route.

Vietjet Air flies Ha Noi–Can Tho seven times a week and thrice on the Da Nang–Can Tho sector.

In the past few years Vietnam Airlines has operated charter flights between Taiwan and Can Tho during the Lunar New Year.

The CAAV said though relevant authorities had created favourable conditions for the operation of Can Tho Airport, demand was not as high as expected by carriers.

A music show has put the last note to a string of activities held at the Vietnamese culture centre in Paris to celebrate the 2014 Vietnam Year in France.

The Vietnam Year in France has reaped a success beyond expectation thanks to the persistent efforts of partners of both countries, to which the centre has played an important role, said Honourary President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association Madame Helene Luc at the show.

She called on the centre staff to make more contributions to popularising the Vietnamese culture in France and vice versa.

Since its establishment in 2008, the centre has served as a primary venue for the Vietnamese community in France to introduce their culture to French friends and tighten the relationship between the two countries, said Director Le Hong Chuong.

The centre has opened classes to teach Vietnamese, national music instrument, and martial arts, and organised cultural events in many localities in France.

New director of the centre Nguyen Thanh Vuong pledged to diversify activities to better serve the spiritual needs of overseas Vietnamese and turn the centre into a common house for both Vietnamese and international friends of Vietnam.

Hanoi event promotes regional specialties

Hanoi will host the first annual programme to promote regional specialities from November 28 to December 2.

The large-scale event will gather specialities from 40 cities and provinces, including processed seafood, candy, tea and coffee, fresh fruits and spices, according to director of the Hanoi Trade Promotion Centre Nguyen Thi Mai Anh.

Visitors can taste a variety of produce items renowned for their quality. Some scarce items will only be available in limited quantity.

The Hanoi Department of Trade and Industry initiated the programme with the goal of expanding markets for these unique regional products.

"In recent years, localities have made tireless efforts to promote their products but failed to do it thoroughly," Deputy Director of the Department Tran Thi Phuong Lan said. "Consequently, the specialities haven't caught on among consumers in other areas."

A conference on enhancing value and developing trademarks will take place on November 29, as will an activity to connect enterprises in Hanoi and other cities and provinces.

Thousands of visitors are expected to turn up at the Royal City Trade Centre in Thanh Xuan District to browse the 150 bamboo stalls, divided into geographic sections. For example, the Da Lat section will offer visitors a taste of Central Highlands culture and cuisine.

Economic counsellors from foreign diplomatic delegations have been invited to join the event, many representing key markets around the world, Anh said. The event will also see the participation of representatives of foreign enterprises, restaurants and hotels, distributors, producers and processors.

Hanoi: Restoration of Tram Gian Pagoda completed

A project to restore the ancient Tram Gian (hundred compartment) Pagoda in Hanoi’s Chuong My district was completed after two years of construction, the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on November 18.

Under the 14.6 billion VND (674,346 USD) project, almost all works in the pagoda were restored in line with their original structure and architecture.

During the restoration process, a number of workshops were held among designers, constructors, scientists, pagoda representatives and local authorities to seek the best solutions to the pagoda.

Tram Gian Pagoda, founded in 1185 during the reign of King Ly Cao Tong, is also known as Quang Nghiem, Tien Lu or Nui.

It includes the Gia Ngu house which overlooks a lotus pond and is used to accommodate the saintly palanquin from which the water puppet performance is viewed. Its second structure comprises blue marble steps and a two-storey bell-tower, built in 1693.

The tower, known as the oldest in Vietnam , includes eight elegantly curved corner roofs and banisters on four sides competed with cloud and floral motives. Its columns are carved with intricate lotus shapes as well as wood panels in the shapes of dragons, flowers, leaves, clouds and the sky. Below the roof hangs a copper bell cast in 1794, which is 1.4m in height and 0.6m in diameter.

The pagoda preserves a collection of 153 Buddha statues, mostly of wood except for some made of terra cotta and ceramics. The most precious among them are the Tuyet Son Buddha, carved out of black jack-tree wood, and the statue of Admiral Dang Tien Dong, a military mandarin of the Tay Son insurgent troop, who contributed to the renovation of the pagoda after his victory against Qing in 1789.