Vietnamese culture centre to be established in India

Vietnam and India are preparing to establish a Vietnamese cultural centre in India to promote cultural exchanges and advertise the country’s image.

The announcement was made at a session between the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and a Vietnamese delegation from the Communist Review (Tap chi Cong san) led by Editor-in-Chief Vu Van Phuc, which was on a working visit to India from September 5-12.

During the visit, the delegation worked with India’s Ministries of External Affairs and Culture, as well as some Indian press agencies.  

Past cultural exchanges were reviewed, particularly the projects in which the Indians sent experts to help Vietnam preserve the My Son relics in Quang Nam province and India’s cooperation in helping digitalize Vietnam’s National Library. The promotion of cultural exchanges between the two countries in the 2011-2013 period was also discussed.

The Vietnamese delegation also exchanged experiences with Indian press agencies on issues related to professional skills, organizational structure, advertising and publishing in Vietnam’s ongoing process of international integration.  

Vietnam Fashion Fair 2011 scheduled for late December

Vietnam Fashion Fair 2011 will be held at the Giang Vo Exhibition Centre in Hanoi from December 19-25.

With a total of 400 booths, the fair will gather hundreds of Vietnam’s famous trade names in the fields of garment and textile, footwear, cosmetics, jewelry and beauty services.

The 7-day event, which is expected to attract ten of thousands of visitors, will provide a chance for businesses to advertise their products and seek investment and cooperation partners.

During the fair, there will be a dozen of fashion shows displaying the latest collections, consultancy and make-up guidance.     

The fair, held traditionally on the occasion of Christmas’s Eve and New Year, is organized by the Vietnam Exhibition and Fair Centre (VEFAC) in coordination with the Vietnam National Textile Garment Group (VINATEX), the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association (LEFASO) and the Vietnam Gold Traders Association (VGTA).

Research on Southwest resistance wars honoured

Historical research entitled ‘Lich Su Tay Nam Bo Khang Chien’ (History of the Resistance Wars in the Southwest) received the 6th Tran Van Giau award, worth VND 180 million (around US$9,000) in Ho Chi Minh City on September 10.

The three-volume work provides a comprehensive view of the national resistance wars against French colonialism and US imperialism from 1945 to 1975 as related to politics, economics, the military and culture. It also reflects the Southwestern battlefield and the fighting spirit of the people and army in the Southernmost regions.

Compiling the work began in 1995 and finished in 2010. It includes contributions and input from many war veterans and historical witnesses who were directly involved in the two wars.

The Tran Van Giau Award is given to valuable research on history and the history of ideology in Southern and South Central Coastal Vietnam.

Harmony of heaven and man in show

‘Heaven, Earth and Man II’ by artist Pham Huy Hung opened last Friday at the HCMC Museum of Fine Arts.

The exhibition features 50 paintings, 30 lacquers and 20 oil-on-canvas works. The exhibition is a dialogue between materials, nature and humans. Philosophic concept is filled in the pieces, “the beauty of soul, the nobility of heart always surpasses over sorrow, loss and misery of human beings,” said the artist.

Patterns of Ngoc Lu Drum and Dong Son Culture have inspired the artists to fulfill the works. “Through the ups and downs of time and history with many changes of culture, land, people and society, meanings and beauty of traditional cultural features can be lost. Dong Son Bronze Drum is a particular example. So there is no reason for me not to depict those patterns in my works,” added Hung.

The show runs until September 24 at the museum, 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street in HCMC’s District 1.

It’s a dream coming true to perform here: artist

Vietnamese choreographer Le Ngoc Van, who is living and working in the UK, will return to Vietnam as part of the renowned English National Ballet to perform in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City this month.

The ballet “Vue de l’Autre” choreographed by Van will be one of the major attractions for local audiences besides other highlights including performances of “Trois Gnossiennes”, excerpts from “Suite en Blanc” and the “Black Swan Pas de Deux”.

The English National Ballet will perform at Hanoi Opera House on September 14 before moving to HCMC Opera House 2 days later.

The trip arranged by the British Council Vietnam and sponsored by the UK-based Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited presents the first visit by the prestigious ballet troupe to Vietnam.

The troupe will also deliver a training course for the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Vietnam College of Dance in Hanoi on September 13 and the HCM City Ballet and Symphony Orchestra and the HCM City College of Dance on September 16.

Writing “The fourth time returning Vietnam within a year! New record!” on his Tweeter, Van expresses his excitement to be back to Vietnam. “I am so excited. My dream to return to Vietnam to perform has just come true”.

The artist also hopes to work with Vietnamese artists.

“The Vietnam National Opera and Ballet Theatre and the HCM City Ballet and Symphony Orchestra have invited me to perform with them in Vietnam. Still, I cannot take the chance due to the busy schedules in the UK and other countries. This return, I hope, will leave a good impression on Vietnamese audiences and colleague”, Van said.

Craig Hassal, director of the troupe told Tuoi Tre that he chose Van’s “Vue de l’autre” for performance in Vietnam because it is not only a choreography by a Vietnamese artist but also has got positive response from audiences since its release in March at London Coliseum Theater.

Van was born in Hanoi then moved to France with his family in 1996. He graduated from the National Superior Conservatory of Music and Dance in Lyon in 1998.

In the same year, Van started his career as a ballet dancer by signing his first contract with the Marseille Ballet Symphony Orchestra.

In 2003, Le Ngoc Van has become the only Vietnamese in the English National Ballet troupe.

Established in 1950, the troupe is one of the world’s great ballet companies. It includes around 70 talented artists from 22 countries.

Japanese and local artists join in multimedia dance

Japanese and local artists in Ho Chi Minh City will get involved in a multi-media dance and theatre project at District 5’s Le Thanh Theater starting 7.30pm on September 15 and 16.

The show, which includes two performances A flower and Chronicles of a soundless dream is held by the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam and the Arabesque Dance Company.

A flower, directed by Off-Nibroll including visual director Keisuke Takahashi and choreographer Mikuni Yanaihara, was inspired by the the earthquake and tsunami disaster that happened Northeast Japan six months ago. Chronicles of a soundless dream tells the story of a young dancer in Tokyo who re-imagines life in Japan in the past through powerful choreographed movements and mesmerizing sounds as described by his grandmother.

Off-Nibroll and Tiffany Chung were first brought together by Theatre Works Singapore for its 2007 edition of the Flying Circus Project. They later held together an exhibition and performance titled Fukawaga Shokudo (Fukawaga Dining Room), which was supported by Art Matters New York and Fukagawa Tokyo Modan Kan Gallery in Japan early 2011.

This multi-media dance and theatre project is their second collaboration in which off-Nibroll’s and Tiffany Chung’s performance works will be presented to the Vietnamese audience for the first time. Their energetic and thought-provoking performances bring together contemporary dancers from Japan and Vietnam on one stage, to further explore the concept of human struggle, endurance, life, death and everything in between.

The show will be conducted at Le Thanh Theater, 25 Phan Phu Tien, District 5.

Free tickets can be picked up from now at Galerie Quynh, 65 De Tham, District 1.

PV