Vietnamese woman owns Michael Jackson memorabilias

Vietnamese business woman has become the owner of many memorabilias of the King of pop Michael Jackson, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 50.

The collection was given to Phan Phuong Thanh Thao, chairwoman of Khang Thong Corporation, owner of a project of a five-star hotel and amusement park called "Happyland” in the southern province of Long An, by the legendary singer’s father Joseph Jackson, also an investor in the project.

The memorabilias include a manuscript of the famous song “We are the world” with the seal of the Jackson’s family and the autographs of many renowned singers who sang the song with him like Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper and Stevie Wonder.

The collection also consists of a manuscript of the “Black or White” song written in 1991 in Michael Jackson’s own handwriting, a diamond-studded belt, and a photo book of the singer’s life.

In February this year, Joseph Jackson came to Vietnam to sign the contract for the project.

Thao later made a 4-day visit to Michael Jackson’s villa in the US under the invitation of Joseph Jackson.

According to the late singer’s father, his family presented Michael’s memorabilias to only 12 persons in the world.

Orchestra to commemorate composer’s death

The Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra will perform Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No.9 tonight to commemorate the Austrian composer’s 100th death anniversary.

The orchestra will perform under the baton of Japanese conductor Honna Tetsuji.

Photos about Mahler’s life will also displayed at the concert venue.

Born in 1860 and died in 1911, Gustav Mahler was one of the leading conductors of his generation.

He graduated from the Vienna Conservatory in 1878. In 1897, he was appointed director of the Vienna Court Opera.

In 1881, Mahler conducted his first full-scale opera “Verdi's Il trovatore”.

Late in his life, he was also director of New York's Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic.

The concert will take place at 8pm from November 18 to 19 at the Hanoi Opera House at 1 Trang Tien Street.

Tickets costing from VND150,000 to VND450,000 are available at the venue.

Binh Thuan approves water sports firm

Binh Thuan Province’s authorities have approved Bay Seven Company to develop water sports to serve tourists in Phan Thiet City, which is famous for stunning beaches and surfing.

Located in Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City and owned by Hu Ying Ying and Dommick Stefan Michael, the company will offer training courses on kite surfing, board surfing or windsurfing and there will offer beach sports for visitors to take part in.

The company is expected to come into operation at the end of the year.
 
Shop for a good cause at Consular Club Bazaar

The Consular Club will hold its 18th annual Charity Bazaar from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday at new venue Diamond Place in Phu Nhuan District.

The Charity Bazaar is organized by members of the Consular Club, an organization compromised of members from various diplomatic missions and trade representatives in HCMC.

Visitors can buy numerous products from all over the world ranging from fashion items to food for a good cause. Furthermore, visitors can also purchase tickets for the popular Grand Raffle for VND50,000 each to win some amazing prizes some of which are worth more than US$1,000 including airline tickets, resort stays, spa packages and much more.

And there’s no need to wait until Christmas to see Santa Claus because he will be right there at the event to take pictures with children and adults.  

All the proceeds from the bazaar are spent on charitable projects supported by the club including scholarships, medical care, improved rainwater purification and flood relief to the poor. All Consular Club members volunteer their time to work towards improving the quality of life for disadvantaged people in Vietnam

The organizers expect this year’s bazaar to attract crowds of expatriates and Vietnamese that should exceed the 1,900 attendees from last year’s event.

Entry tickets are priced at VND80,000 for adults. Children under 10 accompanied by an adult enter free of charge.

For further information or tickets, contact the Consular Club at CharityBazaarHCMC@gmail.com. Diamond Place is located at 15A Ho Van Hue Street, Phu Nhuan District, HCMC.
 
Disconnection and connection exhibition in Hanoi

Photographer Tran Viet Van opened his eighth exhibition under the theme of Dut doan va ket noi (Disconnection and connection) on Tuesday at Exhibition House 45 Trang Tien Street, Hanoi.

It showcases 40 pictures sized from 60x80 cm to 90x120 cm via three collections featuring three different themes. All subjects inform viewers of emotional stories of people and life, including Bayon, Hoi tho (Breathing) and Ky uc (Memory).

In Bayon, Van connects portraits of the Cambodian people such as monks, tuk tuk drivers, vendors and teachers with stone statues at Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom. “I put the Bayon statues beside pictures of Cambodian people to work out a connection between the past and present as well as any link with the future,” he said.

Hoi tho is a picture of monks practicing meditation at Truc Lam Tay Thien Zen Monastery in Tam Dao and Ky uc conveys the message which calls for people to keep the internal harmony and balance in their soul.

Viet Van has won a number of awards in recent years and he has held a number of exhibitions, namely Hai gio (Two hours), Mot ngay, va …(One day, and…), Dao va Doi (Religion and Life), Ton tai hay khong ton tai (To be or not to be). The exhibition runs until Saturday.