Hanoi readies to rock to Street Festival

An exciting cultural event for young people titled “For Hanoi-Street Festival” will take place in Dong Da Park on July 21.

A wide range of activities such as skateboard and basketball competitions, performances of break dancing and graffiti art, will lure a large number of young people.

The highlight of the event will be a rock show featuring four local rock bands including ITeu, Go Lim, Re-Cycle and 18+ that will rouse the capital.

The festival offers free admission to all people.

Students to make documentary films for competition

Sink or Swim will be the theme of the Southeast Asian Student Documentary (SEADocs) film competition for students aged 18-28.

SEADocs was launched in Ha Noi by the Goethe Institute to encourage young documentary filmmakers in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam to look at pressing social and environmental issues.

Filmmakers are encouraged to send idea outlines and a motivational essay to organisers by July 27. Those selected will be given US$500 to make a 10-minute documentary based on their submissions.

The three regional winners would be selected by an international jury and receive a cash prize of $500 each, plus the first place winner will receive a grant of up to $5,000 to produce a feature length documentary next year.

Thirty top publishers vie for Viet Nam Book Prize

About 31 publishers will compete for the Viet Nam Book Prize 2012, said the Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Quy Doan and the director of the Viet Nam Publishing Association.

The publishers sent 225 books to the organisation board for two categories of best book and best cover prizes. The competition has been held for eight years consecutively. The award ceremony will be held in November.

National Academy to host first guitar competition

A guitar competition will be held in Ha Noi in October by the Viet Nam National Academy of Music.

The competition will include two rounds with three categories: Under 13, 13-16 and 17-35. The finalists will perform three pieces including one nominated by the judge.

The first prize winners will receive VND10 million ($500) each. Funds for the competition were mobilised from foreign and domestic corporations and enterprises. It is planned to be held biennially.

American expert brings knowledge of coffee, tea

David DeCandia, master tea blender with Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, an American coffee chain, will visit Viet Nam from July 23 to 26.

DeCandia will preside over Tea Appreciation sessions in HCM City (July 23) and Ha Noi (July 25), informing consumers about the heritage and benefits of whole-leaf tea.

DeCandia is responsible for sourcing, developing and providing internal education on tea for the American coffee chain. He has written a lot of articles for the Entrepreneur Tea&Coffee Trade Journal.

DeCandia was a judge at the last World Tea Fair and a spokesman for the Hong Kong Tea Fair.

VNN/VNS/SGGP