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They will join artists from other countries to enthral audiences at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Hue Festival – a renowned international cultural event.
In addition to the opening ceremony, the Australian dancers will also perform throughout the festival, , according to the Australian Consulate General in HCM City.
After the former imperial city of Hue, they will stop over in Danang city and give a performance at Danang University of Technology on April 13.
They will fly to HCM City to entertain local people at the Municipal Youth Theatre on April 16.
Established in 1993, the group has performed in more than 40 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and America.
They took out first prize in the Dance category at the World Culture Opens in the Republic of Korea in 2004.
Music night in support of Hanoi child patients
A night of live music and entertainment will take place at the Australian Embassy in Hanoi on March 30 to raise funds for seriously ill children across Vietnam.
These children are from the poorest families, and without support they cannot afford life-saving medical treatment.
Visitors to the event will have a chance to enjoy delicious food and wine, music and great prizes with Australian and Vietnamese flavors.
The event, due to last from 5pm to 10.30 pm, will be organized by the Australian Charity for the Children of Vietnam, a grass-roots charity working with disadvantaged children in Hanoi, many of whom are blind and seriously ill.
The proceeds of the event will provide medical care and support to seriously ill children in Vietnam.
Ancient tea tray of great poet found in Ha Tinh
An ancient tea tray said to be used by the great 18-19th century poet Nguyen Du has been found at a local’s house in Nghi Xuan, Ha Tinh.
After spending a long time tracing the item, the staff of the Management Board of Nguyen Du Relic Sites has claimed that they had identified the valuable tea tray used by the writer at the private residence of Nguyen Duc Minh in Hai Thuy, Xuan Hai commune.
Minh is a 6th generation descendant of Nguyen Du.
The black wooden tray, which has an oval shape and a 33x50-centimeter area, is 5-centimeter thick and weighs 2-kilograms. The tray has a lotus flower, grass and a small crab carved into it.
Minh says the tray belonged to a wooden tea set with a tea pot and cups that Nguyen Duy frequently used. For various reasons, the pot and cups were lost, Minh said.
Nguyen Du (1765–1820) is one of the most celebrated Vietnamese poets who wrote in chu Nom, the ancient writing script of Vietnam, which was based on Chinese Kanji.
Besides his most well-known work, “The Tale of Kiều”, a work documenting the life of Kieu, a young, beautiful and talented woman who had to sell herself to save her father, Nguyen Du also wrote many other literary works in Chinese.
VN joins Bangladesh Francophone week
The Embassies of Vietnam, Switzerland, Egypt and Morocco co-hosted the annual Francophone week 2012 in the Bangladeshi capital city of Dhaka from March 15-24, to celebrate International Francophone Day (March 20).
During the event, a wide range of cultural and artistic activities staged by Francophone member countries were introduced to the public at the Francophone Cultural Centre and major universities in the capital city.
Speaking in Dhaka, a representative from the Vietnamese Embassy said as a responsible and dynamic member of the international community, Vietnam wants to further promote cooperation with member Francophone countries.
On the occasion, publications on Vietnamese country and people were also introduced and a Vietnamese movie entitled “Dung dot” (Don’t burn”) was screened in the country.
Exhibition held in France to fund AO victims
An exhibition of paintings entitled “The Love of Colour” by late French painter Suzy Cohen opened in Paris, France on March 17 to raise funds for Vietnamese children with disabilities and victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin.
Suzy Cohen’s paintings are an original, harmonious combination of pointillist dots and colours, which express the beauty of people and landscapes or a still-life.
The Chairwoman of the Association for Vietnamese AO/Dioxin Children in France (Vietnam les Enfants de la Dioxine), Vo Thi Loan, said the association has launched many charitable programmes after it was established in 2001 to support Vietnamese AO victims.
Since 2008, the proceeds from the association’s activities have provided 231 families in 21 provinces and cities across Vietnam with interest free loans of VND7 million per family through provincial chapters of the Vietnamese Association of Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin (VAVA) and the Vietnam Red Cross.
The association has supported 254 families with AO victims who live in difficult circumstances and have also granted scholarships to 328 schoolchildren.
Money raised by from the association has also been used to provide humanitarian operations for 22 children with spinal cord injuries and heart disease.
Da Nang’s Dragon Bridge to be lit up with LEDs
The Rong (Dragon) Brigde spanning the Han River in the central port city of Da Nang will be lit up with LED lights as an impressive gateway to connect the city’s international airport and beaches.
Philips Electronics Vietnam Ltd. Company has just submitted the project of lighting up Rong (Dragon) Brigde at an estimated cost of VND30 billion ($1.4 million) to Da Nang authorities for consideration and approval.
Under the project, around 15,000 LED lights will provide effects on demand for the city’s political and cultural events taking place on the bridge. The company has also proposed to make the dragon bridge ‘breathe fire’.
Under the proposal, LPG gas or DO would be used to fuel the dragon. According to experts, the ‘fire-breathing dragon’ will cost VND5 million ($240) to VND7.7 million ($370) per night, depending on the types of fuel.
The “Dragon’ is expected to ‘breath fire’ at 10:00pm every Saturday and Sunday when the bridge is completed on March, 2013 to mark the city’s 38th anniversary of its liberation.
The 670m long and 37.5m wide bridge, which has six lanes for traffic, will be the sixth to span the Han River and is so named because its design resembles a dragon, a creature with cultural significance in the country. The head span of the dragon's head will measure 72m and tail span 64m.
UK-based architecture firms Louis Berger Group and Ammann & Whitney have been selected to design the bridge, roadways, and the public plazas and squares on each side.
The project aims to develop the city’s urban transport system and relieve congestion on the Han River Bridge as well.
Indian art troupe to perform in Vietnam
The Odissi art troupe from India will perform in Hanoi on April 5 and Haiphong on April 6.
The 26-member troupe will present unique Odissi dances along with songs and poems by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
They will also introduce traditional Indian costumes from the 19th century worn by the Tagore family. The traveling performance aims to honour the Tagore family for their contributions to emancipating women and establishing modern Indian fashion.
Australia helps promote rights of bisexual people in Vietnam
The Australian government will provide nearly AUD100, 000 to help Vietnam carry out a project in support of lesbians and gay, bisexual and transgender people.
The project, which will be administered by the Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE), aims to reduce discrimination against these groups through community education.
The project will directly reach almost 20,000 students, and 200 lesbians and gays, bisexual and transgender people and their parents and friends in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
It will use art-based activities such as contemporary plays and exhibitions to raise awareness about the rights of lesbians and gays, bisexual and transgender people.
Under the project, training will be held to improve local officers’ understanding of the challenges these groups face, and help reduce discrimination. The project will also improve access to legal advice for people from these groups who are victims of discrimination.
“Lesbians and gays, bisexual and transgender people are part of society, and their legal needs and rights should be respected,” said Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Allaster Cox.
Nha Trang hosts Vietnam-Russian contemporary art exhibition
Russia’s Winter, an oil painting by Russian artist Olga Nickittchik, is on display at an exhibition in south-central Vietnam.
The coastal resort town of Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province is hosting an exhibition featuring more than 50 oil paintings by 10 Vietnamese and Russian artists March 17 to 23.
The exhibition, which will take place at the Nha Trang Cultural Center on April 2 Street, is titled “Shake Hands.”
Seven Russian painters -- Lydia Kozmina, Oleg Podskochin, Makeev Eugene, Eugene Pihtovnikov, Masha Kholmocorola, Olga Nickittchik and Marina Pihtovnikova -- will share the art space with three Vietnamese artists -- Le Van Duy, Bui Van Quang and Le Tri -- who are working in Nha Trang.
French ensemble to present Baroque concert in Hanoi
The Stradivaria band will present a Baroque concert in Hanoi on April 10.
A Baroque concert of traditional works by the Stradivaria band will take place at 8 p.m. on April 10 at L’Espace, Hanoi.
Under the direction of violinist Daniel Cuiller, the band, including soprano Anne Magouët, cellist Annabelle Luis, violist Sophie Cerf, and flutist Marie Noëlle Visse, will perform a major work, the Stabat Mater by Italian composer Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736).
Pergolesi is one of the most important early composers of opera buffa (comic opera).
French band Stradivaria has performed on many big stages all over the world and participated in many large scale music projects.
The members of the band change depending on the music pieces, and they have achieved fame for their inspirational music and the quality of music they play.
Tickets, priced from VND 50,000 to 100,000, can be bought at L’Espace, 24 Trang Tien Street.
Children's paintings displayed in France
Fifty paintings by Vietnamese children between the ages of six and 14 will be on display until Sunday at the Galerie Nationale in Tours, France.
Viet Nam Through Children's Eyes, an exhibit organised by the Touraine-Viet Nam Friendship Association and the Viet Nam Culture Centre in France, has already attracted large number of visitors, according to a Viet Nam News Agency correspondent in France.
The paintings depict landscapes and daily life in Viet Nam, images that will help foreign audiences appreciate the children's artistic capacity and their view of the world, said Gerard Domise, Deputy Chairman of Touraine-Viet Nam Friendship Association.
The exhibition, which also travelled to Paris, has helped promote Viet Nam and Vietnamese people to the world as well as enhanced the friendship between the two countries, Domise added.
Calligraphic works by Ngo Ho Anh Khoi hang alongside the paintings. A member of the friendship association, Khoi plans to dedicate all proceeds to charity work in Viet Nam.
Nine in finals of singing contest
The final round of HCM City Television (HTV)'s annual singing contest for people aged 35 and above, Tieng Hat Mai Xanh (Evergreen Singing), will kick off on Friday.
Nine finalists, including three contestants each from three groups – between 35 and 50, between 51 and 65 and above 70 – will perform romantic, folk and revolutionary songs, as well as songs of their own choice at the HTV Theatre every Friday until April 6.
The jury will choose the winners in each group for the grand finale at the Hoa Binh Theatre in District 10 on April 20.
At the last show, audiences will vote for the grand winner after performances by the three final contestants.
The grand winner will receive VND40 million (US$1,900) in prize money, while the winners from each group will get VND20 million each.
HTV will also organise a special concert featuring this year's finalists and last year's winners – 36-year-old Tran Kim Loan from Dong Nai Province and 51-year-old Nguyen Thanh Van from HCM City – at the White Palace in Phu Nhuan District on April 13.
All five shows in the final round will be broadcast live on HTV7.
This year's contest has attracted more than 3,500 participants from all parts of the country.
Danang hosts street art until August
Street art performances will take place twice monthly until August in Danang City.
The information was announced by the event-festival organizing center of the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The program will be held on Bach Dang Street’s pavement in Hai Chau District with different themes to bring audiences new experiences. It will take place on the second and fourth Saturday of every month.
Apart from concerts, there will be football, glass spheres, spinning tops and street skating. The project aims to be a new entertainment venue for local people and foreigners at weekends.
For further information, contact the event-festival organizing center at 78 Le Duan Street, Danang City, tel: 0511 3888 119 or 0511 3888 229.
Jazz trio ‘Smooth’ to perform in Hanoi
The jazz trio ‘Smooth’ will present to music lovers moody pop melodies in the electro and digital style at the French Cultural Centre L’Espace in Hanoi on April 5.
The trio, includes David Darricarrère (singing, guitar, keyboard), Nicolas Berrivin (bass, keyboard) and Christophe Declercq (drum), follows electro funk. They are a combination of great melodies, percussion and digital sound.
The trio has remixed the sound and rhythms from popular works of veteran famous artists to make outstanding works in a creative and attractive way. Therefore, listening to ‘Smooth’ is like seeing an old friend, a great companion, because the songs they play are from our daily imagination, from our happy times or crazy times.
Tickets are priced at VND120,000 and are on sale at L’Espace. Special discount prices for members of L’Espace and for students are available at VND60,000.
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