Exhibition on female-oriented manga opens

An exhibition on Shōjo Manga (manga marketed to young women) entitled ‘Tradition and History: Hideko Mizuno & Moto Hagio’ opened at the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Hanoi on March 21 – April 15.

The exhibition is part of series of events entitled ‘Women & Manga: Connecting with Cultures beyond Japan’, held jointly by the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, Women’s MANGA Research Project and asianbeat of Fukuoka Prefectural Government, in cooperation with Shojo Manga Power Project.

Manga, which is a kind of lingua franca, is now a global phenomenon connecting with cultures beyond Japan. Particularly, Shojo manga, the girls comic genre, has been inspring women to create, while previously comics cultures have targeted boys.

The event also includes a series of workshops and an international conference.

The travelling exhibition has been visiting countries across the world since 2005, including the US, Canada, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina and Japan. Now in Vietnam, the aim of the exhibition is to introduce Shōjo Manga to Hanoi.

The exhibition will displays 60 drawings by Hideko Mizuno, Moto Hagio, Mutsumi Hagiiwa, Foo Swee Chin (FSc).

Professor Fusami Ogi from Chikushi Jogakue University who chairs one of conferences considers the event means of building a cultural bridge between Vietnam and Japan.

‘2012 Italy – Vietnam programme’ launched

The ‘2012 Italy – Vietnam programme’ has been launched at a press conference today in Hanoi to develop stronger connections between the two countries.

The programme aims to promote the image and culture of Italy in Vietnam, foster mutual understanding between the two countries, and facilitate the interaction between cultural institutions, artists and businesses.

According to the Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Lorenzo Angeloni, the 2012 programme will not establish cultural connections but will also contribute to developing economic ties and trade between the two countries.

A variety of activities will be held during the course of the year to present different aspects of Italian culture to the Vietnamese people, including music, fashion, design, cinema, cuisine, and sports.

The programme started today with the contest ‘I am wonderful’ which opened in Hanoi to promote intercultural dialogue between Vietnamese and Italian women.

Some of the Italian companies and brands in Vietnam planning to take part in the programme include Lambretta, Longhi, Hung Yen Knitting & Dyeing Limited Company, Unicredit, Frescobaldi, Danieli, Banca Popolare di Vicenza, Generali, Vietnam – Italy Trading. In addition, many local companies from both the public and private sectors in Vietnam including Vietcombank, LEFASO, Di Lusso Co., the fashion designer Do Trinh Hoai Nam, Mondo Cafe’ & Restaurant, Dezan Shira & Associates, Eviva Tour, Luala, Davines Vietnam and Bes Vietnam will also take part.

Photo contest awards top prizes to … organizer

Frustration has been voiced about the result of “Net dep Can Tho” (The beauty of Can Tho), a photo contest whose prizes were awarded to two local association leaders, one of whom is the very organizer of the said contest.

With the results announced on March 15, To Hoai Vu, incumbent head of the Can Tho Photography Association and Truong Anh Hong, its former deputy head, won a total of 8 out of 11 available prizes of the competition.

The fact that the contest was organized by the very Can Tho Photography Association causes suspicion of partiality.

As head of the association that organizes the contest, Vu is deemed the organizer and not eligible to join, commented many.

Vu earned one First Prize, two Third Prizes and one Consolation Prize while Hong reaped 2 second places and 2 Consolation Prizes.

A photographer in Can Tho who refused to be named said many of his colleagues were disappointed as they thought the two veteran artists should not have joined the contest “so that younger photographers could have more chances as winning a contest like this can help them become members of the Vietnam Photography Association.”

“Many said they would not join next year’s event if nothing changes as they are afraid of not standing a chance there,” he said.

To Hoang Vu, who talked to Tuoi Tre on the phone said he had not heard of any of these comments and that “the contest opens to all professional and amateur photographers and it is eligible for association heads like me and Hong to sign up for it.”

“Net dep Can Tho” drew 27 photographers and 337 pictures to compete this year. After three rounds, the best 11 photos were chosen to receive prizes by a committee of judges from Ho Chi Minh Photography Association including Dong Duc Thanh, Hoang Quoc Tuan and Nguyen Manh Sinh.

Vu opined that there was no such thing as judge’s preference as he claimed they did not know the works belonged to whom when they selected the winners.

“It is very normal for an author to win multiple prizes in a contest like that,” he said.

Sinh, one of the judges told Tuoi Tre that Vu and Hong were very experienced photographers and their works had very high quality and techniques.

Phan Huy, head of Can Tho Union of Writer and Art Association said on Tuesday that Vu and Hong also won many prizes in other contests held by Can Tho Photography Association in previous years, which also had sparked questions.

“In a recent conference of the association, many members said that more chance should have been given to younger photographers. The leaders should not have joined too many contests held by the very organization that they head,” Huy said.

But he added that the contest’s rule allowed association heads like Vu and Anh to join. Alas, the rule was written by Vu and Anh themselves, Huy elaborated.

Nabokov's Lolita appears in Vietnamese translation

The novel Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov, printed in the Vietnamese language, will be on show at a book festival in HCM City.

The 300-page orginial version was translated into Vietnamese by poet and translator Duong Tuong.

Tuong, 80, spent over two years and referred to many sources to provide notes for his translation. The translation had about 500 footnotes which take time and energy to read, Tuong said.

Tuong has translated more than 50 book titles in various languages, including over 20 classic French books, among them The Flanders Road by Nobel Laureate in Literature Claude Simon and Ring Roads and Missing Person by the Prix Goncourt winner Patric Modiano.

The 436-page Vietnamese version was printed by the Nha Nam Publishing House and Writers Association Publishing House. A website of www.lolitavietnam.com has also been launched.

ILO video reveals how economic crisis affects young job seekers

The International Labour Organisation will launch a video contest for people aged 18-29 to allow them to show how the global job crisis is affecting their lives.

The three winners will be invited to Geneva to attend the ILO Youth Employment Forum from May 23-25, where they will have the opportunity to present their videos.

The forum will gather more than 100 young people who are engaged in promoting work for youth, providing a platform to share their experiences and views on the current employment situation, as well as to discuss successful initiatives that create more and better jobs for youth.

Entries for the video competition must be submitted before April 11. More details can also be obtained from the ILO's Youth Employment Programme at youth@ilo.org.

Movie company to continue backing short films

Movie production company Blue Productions has put its hand up to be the main sponsor of young Vietnamese short-film makers for the next five years.

Company owner, actress Hong Anh, said sponsorship would be available for films made under a specific theme – which would be different each year.

This year's theme is On the Road, which offers young short-film makers a chance to tell their stories on Viet Nam's traffic.

The short-film finalists will be screened in October at various universities in the US, where many Vietnamese students study.

Australian charity raises funds for children

The Australian Charity for the Children of Vietnam will hold its annual fundraising event at the Australian Embassy at 8 Dao Tan Street, Ba Dinh District, on March 30. The event will be an evening of food, music and great prizes.

Guillaume to perform genre twisting tunes
 
French-Australian singer-songwriter Guillaume Soloacoustic will present his music on the small stage of 21oN Club at 49 Yen Phu Street for the next two Fridays, March 23&30.

Guillaume casually twirls lyrics and musical genres with endearing spirit. Some have described him as "an acoustic soloist with an up-beat, melodious, funny, and athletic style that reaches out and grabs the audience like a musical tornado."

The show will start at 9pm and is free entry.

Noi Hanoi's lectures marry poetry to the world

With the goal of exchange across culture, Noi Hanoi's newest spoken word series continues this month with four speakers who will talk about an eclectic mix of topics.

In words and pictures, each lecturer will give a 15-minute presentation on the diverse range of topics: international-style architecture in Israel, travel to sacred sites, using poetry to understand medical care in Kenya, and a Vietnamese artist's new series of paintings.

Noi Hanoi's lectures will take place at 8pm, on Sunday, March 25 at CAMA ATK Bar, 73A Mai Hac De Street. Admission is free. More info at www.noihanoi.com.

Rock gig supports Thai flood victims

Charity event Beautiful Thailand – Rock Out for a Cause will be held at the Hard Rock Cafe in District 1 today to raise money to restore damaged temples and donate bicycles to children in villages affected by last year's floods in Thailand.

The proceeds from the event will be handed over to the Thai Cultural Conservation Club.

Four Thai beauty queens – the Miss Thailand 2007, Miss Tourism Global 2008, Miss Thailand World 2011, and Miss Asia Friendship 2011 – will take part in the event scheduled to take place from 9pm to 11pm.

Sofitel brings Paris to Viet Nam

Sofitel Saigon Plaza will bring a slice of Paris to HCM City with a Lil' Paris party at the Boudoir Lounge today.

French signature cocktails will be offered. The event featuring DJs Soon and Kamel Night will begin at 9pm.

Workshops spotlights contemporary dance

The Arabesque Dance Company will hold workshops on contemporary dance at Le Thanh Theatre in District 5 from March 23 to 25. Moving Breath is a monthly event of the company's Open Stage programme.

Vu Ngoc Khai, an artist and a graduate of the Rotterdam Dance Academy in Netherlands, will talk about contemporary dance on Friday and Saturday. On Sundayg there will be dance performances and discussions.

The admission fee is VND100,000.

International circus performers feature in show

A circus gala featuring performers from the Viet Nam Circus Federation, Ha Noi Circus Troupe, and HCM City Circus Troupe will be held at the September 23 Park from March 30 to April 8.

The show will feature winning performances from international circus festivals in Cuba, Italy and China in the recent past.

Malaysian artwork on show in Vietnam

Two Malaysian painters and five Vietnamese partners will introduce their latest works in an exhibition entitled “Destination” at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum from March 24 to April 1.

Twenty-four pieces will be on show as the result of a cooperative project between Vietnamese and Malaysian painters.

The exhibition will also showcase the two latest works by Yusof Ghani – a painter well known around the world - who first arrives in Hanoi to meet with Vietnamese colleagues.

Overseas Vietnamese pianist wins prestigious prize in Poland

Young overseas Vietnamese pianist Le Thu Quynh has won third prize at the national Konkurs piano competition in Poland.

Quynh, 16, was born in Warszawa, and started to play the piano at the age of five. She is a granddaughter of the late famous composer Van Cao. Her mother and older sister are also talented pianists.

Quynh is currently studying at a gifted music school in Poland. She has performed in many big cities across Poland and a number of foreign countries, including Hungary and Slovakia.

She plans to return to Vietnam together with her sister Le Thanh Thao and Polish, Czech and Russian friends to perform at Hanoi Opera House on December 22 and at Ho Chi Minh City Opera House on December 26.

Musical game show ‘Fever’ comes to Vietnam

The Vietnamese version of French musical game show ‘The Fever’ named ‘Do suc am nhac’ (Music Competition) makes its debut on HTV7 channel at 9:30 p.m. tonight.

The show has huge ratings in the U.K., France, Belgium, Canada, India and Spain.

The game tests contestants’ musical knowledge and also sees them perform on stage. The contestants will be famous artists or celebrities.

The program, which features eight artists (four men and four women) for each episode, will be broadcast every Wednesday on HTV7.

Vietnamese MC Thanh Bach will host the show while famous DJ/producer Neo will also be involved as DJ.