A film about President Ho’s revolutionary activities in China entitled ‘Vuot Qua Ben Thuong Hai’ (Across Shanghai) made by the Vietnam Writers’ Association Film Studio (VIVAFILM), premiered in Hanoi on December 9.

VIVAFILM Director Nguyen Xuan Hung said the biopic can be seen as the second part of the film ‘Nguyen Ai Quoc O Hong Kong’ (Nguyen Ai Quoc in Hong Kong).

The film will be officially on screens in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City as from December 17.

Based on the script by Vietnamese writers Ha Pham Phu and Le Ngoc Minh and Chinese author Jia Fei, the film, directed by Trieu Tuan of Vietnam and Fan Dong Yu of China, portrays the life of Nguyen Ai Quoc in 1934 when he came from Hong Kong to Shanghai to try to make contact with international revolutionary movement.

The film spotlights the innate traits of a leader of Nguyen Ai Quoc and praises the contributions to the Vietnamese revolutionary cause by Vietnamese patriots in China and the assistance that several historic figures gave to Nguyen in Shanghai.

The film was mainly shot in Hengdian Film Studio in Shanghai, and Nghe An, Quang Binh, Thanh Hoa, Quang Nam provinces of Vietnam. The role of Nguyen Ai Quoc is played by actor Minh Hai.

The State provided 70% of the film’s cost, about VND 11 billion, and the remaining 30% was mobilised by VIVAFILM.

After the film, VIVAFILM has begun shooting two other films also of revolutionary topics to celebrate the 11th National Party Congress in 2011.

18th century coins found in northern Vietnam 

Twenty four kilograms of coins dating back to the 18th century were found at a private residence in Hai Phong City.

The coins were handed over to the city museum this week, said Do Xuan Trung, the vice-director of the museum.

Nguyen Van Bay was reconstructing a small wooden pier over a pond outside his house in Quoc Tuan Commune, An Lao District, when he found the ancient coins.

Trung said that after cleaning and sorting, they found some of the coins had been minted during the reign of China’s Qianlong Emperor while others had been produced by uprising peasants under Vietnam’s Le Dynasty in the 18th century.

The coins were packed in a ruddy wave-patterned jar and hidden in the pond. The zinc-bronze doubloons have taken on a dark, rusty color over the years.

Bay’s family was rewarded by the museum for their discovery and their willingness to hand it over the museum, according to the vice director.

Trung said the city museum has a vast collection of ancient coins but no archeologist to date and uncover the history behind them. The ancient treasures are gathering dust in the museum for lack of expert care. The newly discovered coins face a similar fate.

Australia Day hits HCMC next month 

Australia Day will be celebrated in Ho Chi Minh City January 22, 2011 with plenty of food, beverages, entertainment and charity events.

The community event, hosted by the Australian Chamber of Commerce Vietnam (AusCham), will be held at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), 702 Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard, District 7.

The organizers have called for cash sponsors, donation of raffle prizes and Australian themed items for kids’ showbags.

For more details, contact AusCham event team at events@auschamvn.org or events1@auschamvn.org or call (08) 3 911 0272/73/74 for tickets.

Culture show to fete Vietnam-Indonesia relations 

Vietnam will put on a cultural exhibition entitled Viet Nam duyen dang (Vietnam charming) in Jakata, Indonesia on December 15.

The event coincides with the 55th anniversary of relations between the two countries and the success of Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship this year.

The exhibition will feature traditional Vietnamese dances and musical instruments – many of which have been deemed UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity.

Vietnam will also present a lecture on indigenous culture and people, according to organizers at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Department of International Cooperation.

The program will include performances from each of the ASEAN member countries as well activities aimed at strengthening the group’s solidarity.

Historian awarded for work on Paracel Islands 

A Vietnamese historical researcher has just received the Ministry of Interior’s Campaign Medal for his discovery of documents pertaining to Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracel Islands.

Accordingly, the researcher Phan Thuan An, 70, from Hue Town, unveiled 86 copies of royal records issued by King Bao Dai 1938-1939, issued in Chinese, French and Vietnamese.

The French and Vietnamese copies bear the king’s signature and attest to the nation’s sovereignty over the islands.

These two documents, typed on the official paper used by the royal office, were created on February 3, 1939 and December 27, 1939 to bestow Long tinh (dragon star) Medals on France’s head of Armed Services Louis Pontan, who passed away at the islands; and militia men from the central provinces for their role in quelling a mountainous revolt and building defensive post on the islands.

Festival of ASEAN’s family held in Egypt

Eight ASEAN embassies in Egypt held a festival of ASEAN family day on December 11 with the participation of foreign diplomats from ASEAN countries and their families.

Various activities were arganised such as fundraising for charity, folk games, and traditional musical and cultural performances.

Each embassy presented two dishes of their traditional cuisine. Vietnam prepared “chicken nem” and steamed glutious rice.

Members of ASEAN showed a lot of enthusiasm participating in sport games and cultural events.

The annual festival of ASEAN family day is aimed at promoting friendship and solidarity as well as cultural understanding among the ASEAN’s diplomats and their families.

Golden artichoke flowers on display in Da Nang

A pair of golden artichoke flowers, weighing more than 60 taels, was on display in the central city of Da Nang for two day starting from December 11.

The flowers were made in the real size with 50 petals and can be compared with the royal jewelries in terms of their value and precise beauty. It took 50 PNJ designers and goldsmiths, who also made the crown for the 2008 Miss Universe, more than 1,200 working hours to finish.

Earlier, the flowers were presented at the Vincom City Towers in Hanoi from November 28-30 and the Saigon Tax Trade Centre in Ho Chi Minh City on November 23-24.

The display of the flowers is a chance for people across the country to see them before they are presented to the lucky customers attending the promotion programme of Vfresh, which is running from November 2010 until January 2011 with the total cash prize of VND5 billion.

PV