Hoi An to host Japan cultural exchange

The ninth Viet Nam-Japan Cultural Exchange Days will take place on August 20-21 in Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam.

During the two-day event, cultural and sporting activities will take place including a calligraphy exhibition on haiku (traditional Japanese poetry), traditional craft and origami as well as a stick pushing competition, boat racing and conferences on environmental education, solid waste recycling and tourism.

The event, held annually in Hoi An since 2003, aims at popularising the World Cultural Heritage site to local and international tourists, especially the Japanese.

Documentary looks at Ben Tre coconuts

A documentary film on Ben Tre coconuts will be shot at the beginning of September, said the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Director Tran Ngoc Tam.

Three 30-minute episodes will reflect local cultural and economic activities relating to the coconut tree. It is expected to be completed before the third coconut festival in January next year.

Czech contestant won't represent Viet Nam

Miss Viet Nam Europe 2010 Nguyen Thu May has not been allowed to represent the nation at the Miss Supranational pageant which is taking place in Poland.

Pham Dinh Thang, deputy director of Department of Performing Arts under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: "There is no precedent for such a thing. As far as I know, May has Czech nationality, not Vietnamese, so the department cannot grant her a permit."

Nguyen Thuy Nga, director of the Vietnamese Elite Model Management Company, said that the organising board of Miss Supranational had sent an invitation to the company but they had refused, and instead recommended a number of other candidates including Thu May. She added that they had only found out about May's participation in the contest through the press.

May's image is still on the contest's official website as the Vietnamese representative.

Celebrities’ dirty linen washed in public

A media company has begun to offer information about the personal lives of singers, actors, and other celebrities over the telephone for a mere VND2,000 (1 cent).

Octopus Switchboard Center, run by VNNPlus Media Joint Stock Company, claims the stars know that whatever they said in VNNPlus’ studio will be used in this interactive service. But many celebrities deny they were informed about this.

The artists about whom recorded information is available including singers Hoang Thuy Linh, Bang Cuong, Ngo Kien Huy, Manh Quan, Khong Tu Quynh, and Quynh Nga. A person calling the number will be asked for the code of the pre-set questions. There are 500 questions for which answers are offered.

A call costs just VND2,000.

Nguyen Tuan Dung, head of VNNPlus’ media department, said it is to satisfy listeners’ curiosity and bring artists close to their fans.

“All artists know that their answers recorded at VNNPlus’ studio will be used for an interactive program with listeners,” he said.

If an artist does not want a particular piece of information divulged, it would be deleted, he said.

Singer Quang Ha said the company informed him about it.

“About using my answers for commercial purposes, the company said it will discuss with me later.”

But many of the other celebrities said they had no idea about it.

“I did not know anything about this business,” singer Linh said with surprise.

Most of my interviews with the media are recorded. Maybe they have taken my answers from interviews and are using it for commercial purposes. It’s a shock knowing this.”

Quan also claimed to know nothing about it. “They violate others’ privacy by using artists’ secrets commercially without permission.”

Huy and Quynh too said they had not received any offers regarding answering listeners on the telephone.

British art fund calls for applications

The British Council Arts Fund with grants worth US$ 42,000 is calling for applications from Vietnamese artists, curators and art producers.

The fund, which aims to enhance collaborative art practice between Vietnam and the UK, raised the money last October by selling artworks donated by the Ford Foundation and local artists such as Nguyen Manh Hung, Ly Tran Quynh Giang, Pham Huy Thong and Jamie Maxtone-Graham.

The fund will receive the first round of applications as of September 15. More information can be found at http://www.britishcouncil.org/vietnam-arts-bcaf.htm.

Fifth Ha Giang Sports and Cultural Festival opens

The fifth sports and cultural festival for ethnic minority groups opened in the northernmost mountainous province of Ha Giang on August 17.

11 local sports teams and 11 art troupes have registered to take part in different programmes including shows of traditional costumes of ethnic groups, folk songs, and games.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Sen Chin Ly, deputy chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, who is also head of the organizing board said that the fifth Ha Giang sports and cultural festival is a major event aimed at highlighting the cultural traditions and ethnic solidarity movements in the province.

The event also provides an opportunity for them to enhance the spirit of mutual understanding and assistance.

The festival will close on August 20.

City plans beautiful walkway route

A pedestrian walkway along the Sai Gon River, Dong Khoi Street and Nguyen Hue Street to Ben Thanh Market will be built as part of a plan to expand the City center in the near future.

The Thu Thiem new urban area, located in the Thu Thiem peninsula, opposite District 1 across the Saigon River will also be linked and will become a highlight of the city to form the most modern trade and entertainment center in Southern Vietnam.

The HCM City Department of Planning and Architecture is designing the walkway plan with assistance from Spanish experts.

The route is being designed based on the theme, “Bringing the city to the Waterways” showing the city’s special characteristics and its hundred-year old history.

Wide pavements, tree lined avenues, lighting systems and advertisement hoardings will be aesthetically designed, said Huynh Xuan Thu, director of the Exhibition and Communication Center of the HCM City Department of Planning and Architecture.

There will be souvenir shops, cafes, benches and artworks displayed along pavements, he added.

The walking route will not only be for pedestrians, but also for public transport of low frequency, according to the director.

According to Ph.D Nguyen Thi Hau, deputy head of the HCM City Research and Development Institute, the views of the state and the people will be incorporated so that more people can donate capital for the project and also contribute their ideas. The State however will play the main role in planning, building and designing as well as funding the project.

If residents choose to participate in the project, they will receive due acknowledgement for their efforts.

Many local authorities in cities around the world usually encourage residents to decorate the front of their houses in accordance with traffic safety and fire regulations. This strengthens their love for the city.

The state should also call enterprises to take part in the project under the advertising regulations, Hau added.

UNESCO launches logo design contest for My Son temples

UNESCO is looking for a logo to represent the My Son Champa ruins, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, via a design contest August 1 to October 10.

The event, organized by the UNESCO Office in Hanoi and the Management Board of the My Son Relics Complex, is open to both local and foreign organizations.

All entries must be submitted to the management board of the My Son Relics Complex in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, in the central province of Quang Nam.

Nguyen Cong Huong, head of the management board, said creativity will be the most important factor in determining the contest's winner.

Tchaikovsky Night’ heads to capital

Tchaikovsky Night with the participation of conductor Le Phi Phi, cello soloist Ngo Hoang Quan and the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra is sure to thrill audiences on Thursday and Friday in Hanoi.

The performances include Francesca da Rimini written in 1876, Thema and Variations on Rococo and the symphony No.1 Winter Dream Op.13.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) was a composer during the romantic period in Russia. His works covers many styles such as symphony, opera, chamber music and romance.

The concerts will be held at 8 p.m. at Hanoi Opera House, 1 Trang Tien Street.

Tickets are priced at VND150,000, VND250,000, VND350,000 and VND450,000 and are available at the Hanoi Opera House, www.ticketvn.com or ticketvn@fpt.vn or call 0913 489 858 /0983 067 996 for free delivery.

Sony launches photo contest on food, tourism, fashion

Sony is seeking budding young photographers to focus on the three subjects of food, tourism and fashion for the qualifying round of a photo contest.

The competition is available to Vietnamese participants aged 18 years old and above.

But entrants will have to be quick if they want to catch the deadline for the food section as it ends on Aug. 21. The tourism category is open from Aug. 22 to Sept. 11, with the fashion theme open from Sept. 12 to Oct. 2.

Participants have the chance to win Sony products, luxury meals, tours or vouchers with prizes worth a total of US$1,000.

Winners of the final round, to take place on November 9, can net a Sony Alpha NEX camera and a couple of tickets to take part in the New Year’s celebrations with Sony in Singapore.

A full list of winners will be announced on the website of www.sony.com.vn/likelove. The results of food, tourism and fashion categories and final round will be published on August 29, September 19, October 10 and November 9 respectively.

Sao Mai Singing Contest final round presents 27 contestants

Twenty-seven contestants are participating in the final round of the 2011 Sao Mai (Morning Star) National Television Singing Contest taking place from August 14 to September 4 at the Thua Thien - Hue provincial Culture and Information Centre.

The 27 finalists, who were chosen in three regional finals, will perform in pop, folk and chamber music categories.

The chamber music final was held yesterday and was won by Dao To Loan, Vu Thang Loi and Nguyen Khanh Ly.

The folk and pop music finals will take place on August 21 and 28.

The three winners of each category will compete for the top title on September 4, which will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television Channel 3.

PV