One-day photo contest to be held in capital

Photography enthusiasts over 18-years of age are invited to join a one-day photo contest in Ha Noi on Sunday.

Organised by the site www.xomnhiepanh.com – a website for people interested in photography – the contest will focus on the unique features of the city, such as sidewalk tea shops, street food stalls, local open-air markets and cyclos.

Contestants will have from 7am till 4pm to capture images before submitting their five best photographs to the judges.

The top three photos will be auctioned for charity. The first-prize winner will receive a digital camera.

High schools win top prizes for ‘Sweet Dream' performance

Phan Dinh Phung and Kim Lien High Schools won the first prizes in the final round of the Ha Noi High School English Festival 2010 on Sunday for their outstanding performance titled Sweet Dream.

Organised by the Ha Noi Department of Education and Training and Apollo English, the festival awarded three second prizes to Viet Duc High School for their performance of the English song Stand up for Love, Hoai Duc A High School for their eloquence, and Nguyen Sieu High School for their hip-hop play titled Apologise.

Prizes were also given to other schools joining the festival held at the Youth Theatre in Ngo Thi Nham Street.

Ancient martial arts school under renovation

A VND1-billion (US$50,000) renovation project on the Xien Vo Temple in the ancient capital of Hue has been launched by the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre.

The project, which deals with the temple's main compartment and two wings, is expected to be completed by October.

The building, also called Vo Ban Temple, was used as a martial arts teaching facility for children of high-ranking mandarins under King Minh Mang (1820-40).

Recognised as a provincial historical and architectural vestige in 2006, the temple presents features of a ruong house – a typical wooden house that once dominated the city.

Renovation of old community house complete

A VND3 billion (US$150,000) renovation project on the Dong Mon Communal House in the central northern province of Thanh Hoa has been completed.

Built under the reign of King Le Trung Hung (1570-1623) in Vinh Long District, the temple is the province's oldest communal house and still has nearly all of its original features.

It is a five-compartment complex with sophisticated carving patterns on its pillars, demonstrating the typical architectural style of Vietnamese communal houses.

Charity gala event to help aid children in need

Leading artists will gather to perform at a charity gala on Thursday to raise money for children living at Ha Noi's Phuc Lam Preschool and Nursery.

The show, which is to take place at the capital's historic Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel, is entitled Cay Lieu Khoc Cho Em (Willow Weeps for Me).

As a curtain raiser, Spanish fashion designer Chula will present her latest collection, which features the diamond jewellery of the Ha Noi-based London Diamond Gallery.

Vietnamese diva My Linh and virtuoso pianist Pho An My will share the stage with the hotel's resident French jazz diva Trebeka on the night. Award-winning actress Le Khanh will MC.

The event is organised by the the non-profit charity organisation, Willow Weeps for Me, founded by Trebeka.

Vietnam’s music award 2010

A special art performance took place at the VOV theatre, 58 Quan Su Street, Hanoi on January 11 to celebrate the 11th National Party Congress and announce Vietnam’s music award 2010 was held.

Photo: VOV

The event was organised by the Vietnam Musicians’ Association in coordination with Radio the Voice of Vietnam.

It included three parts such as a music programme in praise of the Party and Uncle Ho, presentation of some awarded songs in 2010 and announcement of Vietnam’s music award 2010.

There are one special prize, 6 first prizes and more than 60 second, third and consolation prizes for winners in the fields of court music, traditional and modern music and music research.

The organising board said it had received many entries, related to Thang Long-Hanoi millennium celebrations.

Singers Day to discuss celebrity responsibilities

The fifth Singers Day will be held on January 17-19 in the northern city of Ha Long.

The day is expected to attract around 200 domestic and overseas Vietnamese singers.

The conference will host a discussion on celebrity culture, their artistic responsibility to the community, artists and internet.

The Noi Vong Tay Lon (Joining Arms) charity gala will take place on January 19 to raise funds for local poor fishing people.

The previous Singers Day was held in Quy Nhon last year.

1,000th anniversary book takes music prize

A book on One-Thousand Year Thang Long - Ha Noi has won the highest prize of the year 2010 by the Viet Nam Musicians' Association.

The book consists of five parts covering court music, ca tru (ceremonial singing), traditional music, modern music and music criticism.

The awards ceremony was held last night at the headquarters of Radio Voice of Viet Nam in Ha Noi.

Viet Nam Orchestra charms in New York

The National Symphony Orchestra of Viet Nam on Saturday performed at a peace concert held at New York City's Carnegie Hall together with artists from Japan, South Korea and the US.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Bui The Giang stressed that the event was a symbol of friendship and closer co-operation between peoples. The event also sent a message of peace and friendship to peoples all over the world, he said.

The concert was conducted by Japanese conductor Honna Tetsuji and featured South Korean teenage talented pianist Isadora Kim.

Photos convey kids' views on social safety

Photographs taken by a group of fourth and fifth grade students to express their views on pedestrian safety are on show at an exhibition at a HCM City primary.

"Photovoice" at the Nguyen Minh Quang Primary School in District 9, which has more than 100 photos taken by eight children, is part of a project to use photographs to promote social change and improve the quality of life in communities.

Express delivery company FedEx and global NGO Safe Kids Worldwide, the sponsors, have already carried out this project in Brazil, Canada, China, India, South Korea, and the Philippines.

In Viet Nam, they launched it together with the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation in October.

They selected students for photography training and pedestrian-safety education who then took the photos.

"The project will help educate children about pedestrian and traffic safety," Mirjam Sidik, executive director of the Foundation, said.

The photos will be sent to several other schools in the city where they will be displayed for three days each.

VNN/VOV/VNS