Saint Giong Festival to receive UNESCO certificate
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee and the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO will organise a ceremony to grant UNESCO certificate to the saint Giong Festival as a world heritage in Hanoi on January 22.

The saint Giong Festival was the third cultural heritages in Vietnam recognised by UNESCO in 2010 along with the 82 doctorate steles in the Temple of Literature and Thang Long Royal Citadel.

It is an annual traditional festival held in many provinces across the country to commemorate the glorious victory of the legendary saint Giong, one of Vietnam’s Four Immortals, the four chief cult figures in the pantheon of genii worshiped by the ancient Vietnamese people.

The ceremony aims to promote the festival as well as the country and people to international friends and improve public awareness to preserve the priceless cultural value of the heritage.


Tuan Ngoc to belt out pop classics

Vietnamese-American singer Tuan Ngoc's performance at Ha Noi's 2B Pham Ngoc Thach Nightclub tonight, Jan 20, will feature contemporary and pop music, ballads, and romantic songs.
He will sing popular romantic numbers like Ao Lua Ha Dong (Ha Dong Silk Dress), Cay Dan Bo Quen (The Guitar That I Left), Thuong Ve Mien Trung (Love for the Central Region), and Ve Day Nghe Em (Returning) composed by Ngo Thuy Mien, Tran Quang Loc, and Minh Ky.
There will also be Trinh Cong Son favourites like Ha Trang (White Summer).
Ngoc will be supported by a professional band led by Nguyen Quang.
The singer, popular in both Viet Nam and the US, has performed in several countries with large ethnic Vietnamese populations like Canada and France.


Best of Ha Noi show goes south

A collection of works chosen from last month's National Fine Arts Exhibition in Ha Noi is on show in HCM City.
On display are 286 paintings, graphics, sculptures, and installation works created between 2006 and 2010 that reflect contemporary life, history, and traditional culture.
The exhibition, which opened yesterday, Jan 19, at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum, Pho Duc Chinh, District 1, will run until February 12.
Later it will move to Da Nang.


Vietnam’s treasure displayed in RoK

The Republic of Korea’s National Palace Museum is hosting a special exhibition entitled the Treasures of the Vietnamese Nguyen Dynasty to offer insight into the history and culture of Vietnam through a pan-Asian perspective and the shared culture of the two countries.

The exhibition features 165 relics and artefacts dating from the 19th century and photographs and videos of historical places in Hue, the imperial capital of the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945).

The National Palace Museum’s Director, Chang Jong-soo, stressed the cultural similarities between the two countries. He said the event would offer the RoK’s people a rare chance to understand more about the last imperial rulers of Vietnam.

The exhibition lasts until February 16 and will move to Gyeongju city, Gyeongsangbuk province for another display from February 28 to May 15.


Hanoi hosts Asian Children's Festa awards ceremony

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held an awards ceremony for the Mitsubishi Asian Children's Enikki Festa and the logo design contest for the annual summit of the Asian Development Bank in Hanoi on January 19.

After two months of competition, the organising board of the Asian Children's Enikki Festa received more than 19,850 paintings submitted by school children across the country.

The jury panel granted sent 8 paintings winning the A prizes to Japan for an international painting contest, the Mitsubishi Asian Children's Enikki Festa 2010-2011.

The Festa will be an excellent opportunity for Vietnamese children to express their knowledge and feeling about their surrounding areas through their pictures.

The organising board of the logo design contest for the 44th Asian Development Bank (ADB) summit also selected 8 excellent logos from 200 designs by 52 artists nationwide.

The winning logo by designer Pham Tam will be used as an official logo for this year’s ADB annual summit in Vietnam.


VN treasure displayed in S Korea

The South Korean National Palace Museum is hosting a special exhibition entitled the Treasures of the Vietnamese Nguyen Dynasty to offer insight into the history and culture of Viet Nam through a pan-Asian perspective and the shared culture of the two countries.
The exhibition features 165 relics and artefacts dating from the 19th century and photographs and videos of historical places in Hue, the imperial capital of the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945).
The National Palace Museum's director, Chang Jong-soo, stressed the cultural similarities between the two countries. He said the event would offer South Korean people a rare chance to understand more about the last imperial rulers of Viet Nam.
The exhibition lasts until February 16 and will move to Gyeongju City, Gyeongsangbuk Province for another display from February 28 to May 15.

Coastal town targets tourism growth

A workshop on Tuesday discussed the promotion of tourist sites in Quang Yen Town, Yen Hung District, the northern province of Quang Ninh.
Quang Yen Town is a historic urban area, which acted as a military, political and economic centre over several centuries.

Flowers, drinks fest planned for Tet

A festival of Spring Flowers and Drinks will be organised next Tuesday to celebrate Tet (the Lunar New Year).

It will introduce traditional customs and feature arts performances and games for visitors such as the traditional dress show, calligraphy exhibition and a photo exhibition of lotus flowers, the top candidate for the title "Viet Nam National Flower."
The exhibition will also show wines and spirits made by modern and traditional methods, with rewards for the most popular.
The annual event will feature a market-day of the mountainous province of Ha Giang with local specialities, cuisine and festivities of the area's ethnic people such as a pan-pipe, dance and folk duet.
This year's festivities will run at the Ha Noi's Viet Nam Culture and Arts Exhibition Centre, located at 2 Hoa Lu Street, until the end of January.

World-class sommelier to hold class

Evan Goldstein, the eighth and youngest American to pass the prestigious Master Sommelier Examination, will hold a class and a wine-pairing dinner at the Hilton Ha Noi Opera Hotel on tonight, Jan 20.
He will talk on American vineyards, vintage and wines during the events.
Goldstein is president and chief education officer of Full Circle Wine Solutions, a global beverage education firm. He is also one of the most prolific food and wine authors who has contributed to several specialised magazines in various nations.
Entrance to the class and dinner is VND570,000 (US$28) or VND1,750,000 ($87).


Festivities to combine cultures


Activities to celebrate Tet, the Lunar New Year of the Cat, will be held at the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology on February 6-8 with the participation of 90 people from six ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Festivals and games will combine traditional images, sounds and foods of Vietnam's diverse people and regions.

Among them are the Raglai from the central province of Ninh Thuan and the Dao Lo and the Na Mieo from the northern province of Lang Son.

The events will provide a rare glimpse of the Lunar New Year celebrations and folk cultures of the various peoples.


 VNN/VOV/VNS