Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
Le Hoang Quan, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee; Hua Ngoc Thuan, municipal vice chairman; representatives of departments and organizations; and Youth Union members were present at the opening ceremony of the exhibition on January 17.
The exhibition featuring more than 200 photographs is divided into two displays titled “Communist Party of Vietnam-golden historical pages” and “Ho Chi Minh City-its potential and development”.
In addition, art works of landscapes and key works of Ho Chi Minh City are on display along Dong Khoi Street and at Chi Lang Park in District 1.
The exhibition will run until February 10.
Better late than never
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: part 2 will finally be released in Vietnam this February, six months after opening in theaters worldwide.
A high school netizen who goes by Bella Binh says she shed tears in class last week upon hearing that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: part 2 will finally be released in Vietnam this February, six months after opening in theaters worldwide.
“While others watched the movie online or bought the DVD to watch at home, I kept hoping that one day it would come to my country.
“Now my dream will be fulfilled.”
Megastar and Galaxy, the main distributors of the Harry Potter series in Vietnam from 2001 to 2010, has not provided official explanation regarding the delay. However, it was rumored that the Warner Bros mistrusted Megastar for allegedly altering figures and avoiding independent audits in order to pay a lower copyright fee to the American film giant.
Together with other Warner Bros hits released last year, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: part 2 marks a comeback for the iconic American film company within the Vietnamese market.
According to Megastar, Vietnam’s leading film distributor, a 3D version of Happy Feet 2 will be screened on January 20, followed by Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows on January 27, all leading up to the 8th installment of the Harry Porter series on February 3, which will include both 2D and 3D versions.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: part 2 was released worldwide the week of July 13-17 with the exception of Vietnam and China and became last year’s top moneymaker, racking in US$1.3 billion. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: part 1 opened locally in November, 2010, grossing US$548,000.
Following part 1, other Warner Bros’ blockbusters including The Hangover 2, Unknown, Red Riding Hood, and Green Lantern were not released in Vietnam.
Over the past six months, numerous local fans teamed up to launch an online petition, www.petitiononline.com, urging Vietnamese netizens to gather “a million signatures to ask Warner Bros to screen Harry Porter in Vietnam,” in hopes the studio would change its mind, explaining that Harry Potter has played a tremendous role in their childhoods.
Many of them purchased pirated versions of the film and some even traveled to Singapore or Thailand to watch the latest in the Harry Potter film series, which has earned over $7.7 billion so far.
French electronic artist to perform in Hanoi
Well-known French electronic artist Alex Millan is set to perform at the French cultural centre l'Espace in Hanoi next month, following great success in the capital in 2010 and 2011.
The 30 year-old producer and DJ took part in Hanoi Sound Stuff, an international electronic music festival in 2010, and was highly acclaimed by the Vietnamese public. 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.
After 15 years in the industry, Millan's music wavers between rhythm, melody, and melancholy. With a style marked by his experiences and inspirations, he seduces wide audiences in search of electronic stars.
Tickets for the concert will go on sale at l'Espace, 24 Trang Tien from January 19.
New HCMC theater for traditional music aimed at tourists
A performance of boi singing from the southern Vietnam will be featured at Non La Theater in HCMC.
A special theater dedicated to exposing tourists to traditional Vietnamese folk music, will open in February in Ho Chi Minh City, according to a January 10 press conference.
According to investor Huynh Anh Tuan, director of Idecaf Theater and the successful Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater in HCMC, the two-storey theater is located on an area of 350 square meters inside District 1’s Labor Cultural Palace.
Named Non La (palm-leaf conical hat), the theater includes 250 seats, each of which is made from bamboo and rattan, “to bring the audience into a Vietnamese atmosphere” said the organizer.
In addition, the theater will include a food corner where tourists can order cuisine originating in the north, south and central Vietnam before the show kicks off.
Every 50-minute show will take place at 8:35 p.m. and will feature various forms of traditional folk music, including the royal music of Hue, gongs from the Central Highlands, dragon and lion dances, as well as ca tru and cheo singing from the north.
Brochures for the music program will be presented in eight languages.
According to La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, like other major cities in Vietnam, there are too few music shows for tourists in HCMC and most do not last for more than half a year.
“Most of the shows are boring and not well-prepared,” said Khanh at a press conference in December to launch the city’s 2nd 100 Excitements Campaign, explaining their short lifespan.
Non La Theater, therefore, represents the city’s new effort to promote Vietnamese culture to tourists.
.svg){kind=icon}
