Vietnamese musician writes song for Hollywood film

What It's All About by Thanh Bui, an Australian-Vietnamese singer-songwriter, has been chosen as the soundtrack for Everyday, a film directed by Richard Levine.

The song was co-written by Bui, Alf Touhey and Van Anh Nguyen, members of an Australian-based band called the Artisans.

Bui, who was born in 1983, said they had been working on the song since 2007, trying to capture the meaning of life when a loved one passes away.

Everyday, starring Liev Schreiber and Helen Hunt, will be screened at the Tribeca Film Festival in April. It premiered in the US in January and was released on DVD earlier this month.

The film, which also co-stars Carla Gugino and Brian Dennehy, is about a family's struggle to survive the unexpected curve-balls that are simply part of real life; ageing and death; commitment and freedom; love and acceptance. It's an uncompromising look at an ordinary family making an extraordinary journey, towards themselves and towards each other.

Lucky Luke comics go on sale

The series familiar to readers around the world depicts the tales of an attractive male cowboy traveller, Lucky Luke, who is always ready to help the needy, enforce justice and help those in dangerous circumstances.

The first book of the series Ga San Tien Thuong (The Bounty Hunter) will be on sale in bookshops around the country this week.

Lucky Luke, created by Belgian artist Morris in 1947, has been translated into 32 languages.

Youth Publisher translated and published a number of Lucky Luke series in 1998-99 with Morris's approval without having to pay royalties to the Belgian artist. After Morris's death in 2001, the publication ceased.

In response to demands from young readers and their parents, First News and Tre Publisher bought the copyright to translate Lucky Luke and will publish two editions of the comic each month.

Ha Noi Nikko calls for Japan donations

The Japanese-owned Hotel Nikko Hanoi has called on all its guests and any other kind-hearted people to make donation to victims of the earthquake in Japan.

Donation boxes have been placed in the hotel lobby and its three restaurants as well as at the fitness centre.

According to the hotel's management board, the money raised would be sent to the Japanese Red Cross Society.

The hotel will also donate part of the revenue from April 1 to support thousands of Japanese who are suffering from problems such as diseases, homelessness, lack of food and other basis living conditions.

Record breaker: DMC World DJ Championship holder, DJ Craze will perform in Ha Noi on Saturday night. — File Photo

The Nicaraguan-American DJ, who plays hip hop, Miami bass, dubstep and drum'n'bass, is the only solo DJ in history to have consecutively claimed the World DMC Champion three times from 1998 to 2000.

His other major awards include the USA DMC Championships, World ITF Scratch Off Championships, ITF Western Hemisphere Scratch Off Championships, Winter Music Conference Scratch Off Champion, East Coast DMC Championships, East Coast Rap Sheet Championships and Zulu Nation Championships.

Craze was voted as "America's Best DJ" by Time magazine in 2001.

The 34-year-old has toured throughout the world, performing in Jamaica, Australia, Japan, Iceland, France, and the country of his birth, Nicaragua.

Craze is also a world-renowned producer, releasing successful drum'n'bass records and hip hop inspired productions.

His performance in Ha Noi is expected to attract about 1,500 audiences.

The show is part of the Heineken Green Planet series of music events, and will start at 8pm at the 18th floor of the Capital Tower building, 109 Tran Hung Dao Street, Ha Noi.

Free tickets can be obtained by registering at www.heinekenmusic.com.vn.

Authorities receive new photos of late PM

Photos of the late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong that have never been published before have been donated to the Quang Ngai Province's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism by his grandson, Pham Van Hop.

The photos will go on display at Quang Ngai General Museum and at a commemorative area for the late leader in Duc Tan Commune, Mo Duc District.

His name, hometown (Thi Pho) and year of birth (1906) are written on the photos, along with his father Pham Van Nga, and his mother Nguyen Thi Tuan. The photos had been kept in storage since he was incarcerated on Con Dao in July 1929.

One of Hop's friends who used to work for a French office took the photos, and presented them to Hop four years ago, after discovering he was the grandson of the late Prime Minister.

National Park site exploited

A seminar titled Saving Ba Vi National Park Together was held at the head office of the Union of Science and Technology Association on Monday. Khoa hoc & Doi song (Science & Life) newspaper organised the event, in wake of the news that gold mining had been taking place, and that there were plans in the pipeline for a golf course and cable car.

According to reports, the digging had made a huge impact on the ecological system of the park as well as the environment in the area. Union vice president Ho Uy Liem said: "Ba Vi is a land of inviolable culture and ecology. In addition to conducting research there, authorities should develop regulations to protect the area."

Ba Vi is not only home to diversified fauna and flora, but also a precious geomorphology and geology resource, and part of Viet Nam's culture.

Records broken at Central Highlands coffee festival

Vietnamese records fell at the third Buon Ma Thuot coffee festival on Tuesday, including biggest coffee festival, biggest effigy of Tay Nguyen, biggest coffee filter and the biggest coffee museum.

On the occasion, the Ministry of Science and Technology awarded the Golden Cup to 26 high quality coffee products, produced by 20 coffee enterprises.

A 10-day sculpture festival themed Zen ended at the Dakruco eco-tourism site on the same day. Eighteen artists from across the country displayed 26 unique works at the festival.

Music shows to hail late composer Trinh Cong Son

Six musical shows will take place from March 18 to April 20 in Ha Noi, Thua Thien-Hue and HCM City to commemorate the 10th anniversary of late composer Trinh Cong Son's death.

The shows will be held at the Ha Noi National University on March 27, Hue's An Dinh Palace on March 30, Binh Quoi Tourist Area in HCM City on April 4, and the HCM City National University on April 7.

The shows are being organised by Son's family and the Thanh Nien Communication Group JSC.

City conservatory to host concerts

The International Choir and Orchestra of HCM City will be performing two concerts on May 27 and 28 at the Conservatory of Music in District 1, featuring the music of Mozart and Vivaldi.

Both of the shows will open with Vivaldi's Gloria at the request of Trish Franklin from the Loreto Viet Nam Australia Program, one of the nominated charities that will benefit from the show.

"Trish has been pestering me for years to sing this piece, so I agreed to do it only if she came and sang it with us," Brian Riedlinger, artistic director of the choir&orchestra, said.

The Coronation Mass, one of the most popular of Mozart's 17 mass works, will also be played.

Other pieces by Elgar, as well as an orchestral piece featuring classical guitar, will also be featured.

Proceeds from the concerts will benefit needy children in Viet Nam through Loreto Viet Nam Australia Program and Poussieres de Vie (Dust of Life).

Ticket, from VND300,000 (US$14) to VND450,000 ($21.5) each, will be available from March 28 for groups and early April for individuals. Contact the choir via the website www.hcmcchoir.com or email tickets@hcmcchoir.com.