Japanese culture introduced in Kien Giang

A programme to introduce the Japanese culture was held in Rach Gia city, the southern province of Kien Giang on September 10.

The programme, organised by the Japanese Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and the provincial chapter of the Union of Friendship Associations, was aimed at boosting the friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the Vietnamese people, particularly Kien Giang people and the Japanese.

Crowds gathered to watch films and photos on the unique culture, the land and people of Japan.

They shared their sympathy over great losses caused by the twin disasters of earth quake and tsunami to the Japanese people.

On this occasion, the provincial chapter of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association made its debut.

Young artist examines human memories

An installation exhibition in which an artist delves into less than happy human memories opened at the Hanoi Goethe Institute Saturday.

Young artist Truong Que Chi’s “To the place where we want to forget” features video clips playing on 10 TV sets placed in a dark room representing the human mind.

In them, various people, including war veterans, school children, and artists talk about memories, upheavals, and obsessions they want to forget. The sound is distorted to protect their privacy.

“Sometimes we cannot control what we want to forget or remember, but unhappy memories are everyone’s problem.” she said.

Born in 1987 in Ha Noi, Chi graduated from the film faculty of the University of Lyon in France.

At the age of 18, she became well-known for her collection of poems titled “I am growing old.”

In 2007 she won the first prize at the “One thousand years in love of Thang Long” poetry contest in Hanoi.

Her first video exhibition, on at 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, will go on until September 13.

Vietnam-Japan grand music festival to be held in Hanoi

The Vietnam-Japan grand music festival will take place at the Opera House in Hanoi on October 9.

Participating in the event are special Vietnam-Japan ambassador Sugi Ryotaro, singer Godai Natsuko and four Japanese musical bands.

The festival is held to celebrate of the Hanoi Opera House’s 100th anniversary and it will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television and Japan’s NHK World TV.

National conference for young writers held in Tuyen Quang

As many as 112 writers attended the 8th national conference for young writers, being held by the Vietnamese Writers Association and the Tuyen Quang Provincial People’s Committee on September 9-10.  

The conference aims to create new developments in the country’s literature and provide young writers with new material to understand more about the province and its people.

On the first day of the event, the writers discussed their social responsibilities and literature on the fatherland’s sea and islands.

They also joined in cultural exchanges, visited the Tan Trao historical relic sites and presented books to pupils in Kim Binh commune, Chiem Hoa district.

Art photography festival opens in Binh Duong

The 19th art photography festival of the south-eastern region was held in the southern province of Binh Duong on September 9.

The festival has been organised by the Vietnam Photographic Artists’ Association, in collaboration with the Fine Arts & Literature Association and the Binh Duong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

On show are more than 1,800 images by photographers from the eight southern provinces of Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Dong Nai, Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan and Tay Ninh.

The photos showcase the natural beauty and diverse cultures of people in the south-eastern region.

The jury board has selected 153 of the best photos at the exhibition, and awarded first, second, third prizes, as well as a consolation prize, to 10 photos of Binh Duong beauty spots.

The festival will run until September 19.

Next year the 20th anniversary of the festival will be celebrated in Binh Thuan.

UK ballet troupe to perform in Vietnam

A famous UK ballet troupe will pay their first visit to Vietnam to perform and give guidance to Vietnamese dancers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

On September 19, they will present “Vue de l’Autre”, directed by Vietnamese choreographer Le Ngoc Van, who was born in Hanoi and joined the troupe in 2003.

Director of the British Council in Vietnam, Robin Rickard said that the visit of one of the world’s leading ballet troupes to Vietnam represents a historic occasion. As well as giving fabulous performances, they will be able to share their experiences with their Vietnamese partners, he added.

The troupe will also conduct seminars to improve the qualification for dancers of the Vietnam Opera-Ballet Theatre and the Vietnam College of Dance on September 13 and the Ho Chi Minh City Opera, Symphony Orchestra and Ballet Theatre and the Ho Chi Minh City College of Dance on September 16.

France exhibition highlights Uncle Ho’s life

A photo exhibition entitled “Ho Chi Minh with French” opened in the southern city of Marseille on September 6 to mark 100 years of the day President Ho Chi Minh arrived in the European country.

The exhibition was jointly organised by the Associations of Vietnamese People in France and in Marseille, the Vietnamese Students’ Association in France , the Centre of Vietnamese Information and Documentation and the Vietnam-France Friendship Association.

On display are more than 200 photos and documents, which provide researchers, overseas Vietnamese in France as well as French and international friends with an insight into the life and revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to French Duong Chi Dung recalled President Ho Chi Minh’s path of national salvation and affirmed his great role in building patriotic movements of overseas Vietnamese in France as well as promoting the solidarity between the French and Vietnamese peoples.

The exhibition will last until September 12.

Vietnam attends Moscow International Book Fair

Vietnam showcases more than 100 books, including encyclopedia on Vietnam’s land and people, at the 24th annual book fair and exhibition on September 7.

The fair attracted more than 1,500 organisations, publishers, and authors from 50 countries to introduce more than 200,000 books in Russian and other foreign languages.

Diverse activities such as seminars on printing, meetings between publishers and authors and exchanges with Russian and foreign writers were also held at the Gorki Cultural Park.

Vietnam also actively participated in the fair to promote the country’s image to international friends. Vietnamese ambassador to Russia, Pham Xuan Son and staff members attended the opening ceremony and met with other foreign partners to discuss cultural cooperation.

Nguyen Ngoc Bao, Deputy Head of the Publishing Department under the Ministry of Information and Communications, said Vietnam is keen to learn experience in organizing and promoting international book fairs.

The event will run until September 12.

Vietnam photo exhibition opens in Venezuela

A photo exhibition on Vietnam has opened in Caracas capital, Venezuela to celebrate 66 years of the August Revolution and National Day.

Over 70 photos being displayed showcase Vietnam’s history, the process of renewal and traditional relations between Vietnam and Venezuela.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese ambassador to Venezuela, Tran Thanh Huan, said despite a vast geographical distance, the two countries have much in common in terms of culture.

The exhibition is an opportunity for Venezuelan people to learn more about Vietnam’s history, landscape and people.

The event, under the framework of Vietnamese Culture Week in Venezuela, will run until the end of September.

Exhibition on President Ho Chi Minh and France opens

An exhibition on President Ho Chi Minh and France opened in Marseille city, France on September 6 on the occasion of commemorating the 100th year of Ho Chi Minh’s birthday.

The event has been organised by the Vietnamese Association in France (UGVF), in co-ordination with the Vietnamese Association in Marseille (UGVM), the Vietnamese Association of Students in France (UEVF), the Information and Documentation Centre (CID) and the Vietnam-France Friendship Association (AAFV).

200 photos and documentaries about late President Ho Chi Minh will be on display.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese ambassador to France, Duong Chi Dung, spoke about late President Ho Chi Minh’s way to save the country and confirmed the role of Uncle Ho in building patriotic movements of Overseas Vietnamese in France as well as boosting solidarity between Vietnam and France.

The exhibition will run until September 12.

HCM City gears up for national theatre fest

Several music and dance performances will be held in HCM City on September 9 to celebrate the National Theatre Day.The main event will open at 7:30pm with hundreds of actors from various forms of theatre performing together at the Military Theatre in Tan Binh district.

These include cai luong (renovated opera), tuong (classical theatre), cheo (traditional opera), circus and puppet show artists.

Highlights will include cai luong and drama extracts from popular plays like Thai Hau Duong Van Nga (Queen Mother Duong Van Nga) and No Than (Magic Cross-Bow).

The performances will feature well-known stars like Thoai My, Hoai Linh and My Uyen.

Exhibitions of photographs and instruments that trace the development history of Vietnam's theatre will also included.
Organised by the city's Theatre's Association in co-operation with Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre, the event will be broadcast live on HCM City Television's Channel 1 (HTV1).

Organisers hope that actors, veterans and the young and even their children will perform in front of a makeshift altar in the middle of the stage.

PV