French DJ Alex Millan performs in Hanoi

Well-known French electronic artist Alex Millan will grace the French Cultural Center (L’Espace) in Hanoi at 8 p.m. on February 12.

The 30-year-old producer and DJ took part in Hanoi Sound Stuff, an international electronic music festival in 2010, and was a big hit. The same year, he released his first album The Collection: Triple. His tracks are also featured on records by Depeche Mode, Daft Punk, Paul Kalkbrenner, Trentemoller and James Zabiela.

Millan’s music wavers between rhythm, melody and melancholy. With a style marked by his experiences and inspirations, he has won fans all around the world.

Admission is VND60,000 with tickets available at the center in 24 Trang Tien Street.
 
Vietnamese student crowned Miss San Diego 2012

Van Pham, an economics student at UC San Diego in La Jolla (US) won the title Miss San Diego 2012 at the Miss San Diego Pageant and Scholarship Association held at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts last Sunday.

Besides her beauty and intelligence, Van impressed the judges with her piano talents at the competition.

The contestants were scored on their personal interview, talent, swimsuit, evening gown and an on stage question. Winners will receive the once in a lifetime opportunity to serve as San Diego’s official hostess.

Van will compete for Miss California 2012 in Fresno this summer, the preliminary to Miss America.

Previously in 2010, Hoang-Kim Cung also won the Miss Texas title by the America’s US Miss Scholarship Program organization.

Hung Kings Temple attracts a million visitors during Tet

More than one million visitors from across the country visited the Hung Kings Temple historical complex in the northern midland province of Phu Tho during the Lunar New Year festival (Tet).

It has become a tradition for the Vietnamese people to express their gratitude to the Hung Kings, the legendary founders of the nation at the beginning of the year.

On the occasion, about 10,000 -15,000 visitors arrived in the site every day to respectfully commemorate the Kings.

According to the site’s Director Nguyen Xuan Cac, some temples such as Ha Temple and Gieng Temple in the complex have been refurbished to provide better services to tourists.

Several other works are expected to be completed soon in order to celebrate Hung Kings Temple Festival in 2012, which falls on March 31 or the 10th day of the third lunar month.

Hue Festival features foreign performers

Twenty-four foreign art troupes from 14 countries will take part in Hue Festival 2012.

Three of the troupes, Carabosse fire performers, Combo Box jazz concert and Ego street festival come from France.

The festival, themed “Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development -The Rendezvous of Historical Cities,” has also attracted Bathiholic from Japan, GuGak from the Republic of Korea, and Max Vandervorst from Belgium.

Artists from East Asia and Latin America will also appear for the first time at the festival.

Hue Festival 2012, which will take place on April 7-15, is within the framework of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

The 13th annual conference of the League of Historical Cities (LHC) will also take place in Hue, attracting representatives from 80 cities in 55 countries.

Hanoi does a HCMC as movie fans flock to cinemas during Tet  
 
Hanoi moviegoers have joined their Ho Chi Minh City counterparts for the first time in thronging cinemas during Tet.

Platinum Cineplex, which used to screen movies until 9 p.m., has extended its show timings to 10:30 p.m. for the last three weeks.

National Cinema Centre has regularly seen full houses for the Vietnamese blockbuster "Thien Menh Anh Hung" (Destiny Hero).

Tickets for the movie continue to be sold on the black market for up to VND 350,000 for a pair, more than double the normal rate.

Megastar Vincom Hanoi, which used to screen a maximum of 14 shows a day, has increased that to 18.