Art exchange honours war veterans

An art exchange program was held in Hanoi on July 22 to honour war veterans who have overcome daily hardship to lead stable lives and contribute to society.

In response to Party appeals for national salvation, millions of Vietnamese people joined the army during the past two resistance wars against foreign aggressors in the 20th century.

They devoted their youthfulness to the revolution, and many laid down their lives on the battlefields to defend national independence and freedom.

When peace was restored, those who survived the wars, including invalids, returned to their home towns to build steady lives and support their compatriots in difficulty.

Addressing the program, Phung Khac Dang, Vice President of the Vietnam War Veterans Association (VWVA), stressed that the Party and State have introduced many policies, and encouraged people from all social strata to care for war invalids, families of martyrs, and other social policy beneficiaries materially and spiritually.  

He said the exchange is a practical activity to promote the annual campaign “Paying Debt of Gratitude” to war veterans, war invalids, and families of social beneficiaries in difficulty.

The audience heard stories by war veterans who have excelled in their daily lives, business and charitable activity. Among them were Lieutenant General Tran Hanh, president of the VWVA, and Labour Hero Le Van Kiem, who is head of the Board of Directors of the Long Thanh Golf Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company.

Participants were treated to a number of songs in praise of the silent sacrifices by war veterans.

The VWVA presented 200 gifts, worth VND1 million each, to war veterans and families of martyrs in special circumstances.

The program was jointly organized by the Vietnam War Veteran Association and Radio the Voice of Vietnam.  

Phan Thuan An honored for protecting national sovereignty

Phan Thuan An, a researcher of cultural history, received a certificate of merit from Thua Thien-Hue Province authorities on July 21, for his contribution in helping protect the national sovereignty of the high seas and islands.

Phan Thuan An, now retired, has many writings in his possession that affirm the national sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelago islands and the sea, that are rich with the country’s natural resources.

He presented to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs two official documents affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, that belong to the Nguyen Dynasty era and are signed by King Bao Dai.

Phan Thuan An was honored with the “National Blue Sea” award at a ceremony in Hue.

Danish gymnastics troupe to tour nation

Danish gymnastics team Fjeldsted-Harndrup GFH will hold nine shows around the country from Friday until August 5, introducing a range of modern and traditional gymnastic genres to the Vietnamese people.

The volunteer troupe will feature the combination of traditional Danish gymnastics mixed with dance, modern rhythmical performance, folk dance and classic trampoline and tumbling. Throughout these performances, which are very entertaining and beautiful, the team is putting a huge effort into giving the Vietnamese people a Danish cultural exhibition experience.

GFH, which is based on the small island of Fyn, is a gymnastics association for anyone to join - children, young people and elderly people. The group visiting Vietnam is a Youth Team consisting of 37 gymnasts aged 18-24. These gymnasts are very skilled and some aspire to the National Danish Performance Team.

The team performs on a voluntary basis and has already had great success touring its home country, including a performance for the Danish Royal Family. Now they are ready to move on from a local and national audience and show their skills on an international stage, starting in Vietnam.

The duration of each performance is 50 minutes, and there will be 10 performances taking place in Sapa, Lao Cai, Hue, Danang, Hoi An and Nha Trang. Admission is free.

Master painter Nguyen Phan Chanh 120th birthday honoured

Vietnamese master painter Nguyen Phan Chanh (1892 - 2012) was honoured for his contributions to the development of modern fine art at a ceremony in Hanoi commemorating his 120th birth anniversary on July 20.

The event, held jointly by the Vietnam Fine Arts Association and the Ha Tinh provincial People’s Committee, was attended by representatives from the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) Commission for Communication and Education and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, as well as artists and scholars from across the country. Politburo member and Head of the CPVCC Commission for Organisation To Huy Rua sent a congratulatory basket of flowers.

Born in Tien Bat village, Trung Tiet commune, Thach Ha district, in the central province of Ha Tinh, Nguyen Phan Chanh was among the first students at the Indochina College of Fine Arts (now Hanoi University of Fine Arts). He was one of the greatest Vietnamese painters of the 20th century, pioneering his own style and techniques for painting on silk. His art celebrates peace, beauty and everyday life. He was also a member of many social organisations and served as a National Assembly deputy during its third tenure. He passed away on November 22, 1984 in Hanoi.

Nguyen Phan Chanh left a huge legacy of work including 170 silk paintings and 52 sketches and has gained recognition and popularity both inside and outside Veitnam. In 1996, he was honoured with the Ho Chi Minh Award for Literature and the Arts (Phase I) for his silk works paintings ‘Choi O An Quan’ (Playing a Traditional Folk Game), ‘Co Gai Rua Rau’ (Girl Washing Vegetables), ‘Em Cho Chim An’ (Feeding Birds), all painted in 1931; ‘Co Hang Xen’ (Vendor Girl) produced in 1957; ‘Bat Nuoc Giai Lao’ (A Bowl of Water at Break-time) done in 1962; and ‘Sau Gio Truc Chien’ (After War Shift) from 1967.

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