A woman with a passion for Vietnamese Calligraphy

A French woman with a deep interest in Vietnamese poetry and music has decided to stay in Vietnam and spend her elder years learning Calligraphy.

Ginette Lam is married to a Vietnamese man and has 5 children.

One year ago, Ginette made her first trip to visit the renowned Vietnamese poet Han Mac Tu’s grave in Quy Nhon city in the central province of Binh Dinh.

She met painter Dzu Kha, who has used a “fire-pen,” a kind of pen whose nib is a light that can burn wood to create letters, for 30 years, in order to write the Calligraphy of Han Mac Tu’s poems. The woman was fascinated by the unique art.

Since then, Ginnette has decided to stay in Quy Nhon and become Kha’s student.

"Ginette is my oldest student, but she has an amazing passion and great patience. Her faith, dynamic and open-hearted personality are admirable,” Kha told Tuoi Tre.

Ginette had learned about Calligraphy during previous trips to her husband’s homeland, and the woman considers the meeting with Dzu Kha a chance of fate that links her with the land of Quy Nhon.

“I’ve come to Vietnam many times and, and I have spent three Tet holidays here,” Ginette said.

“Your country has beauty that can hypnotize any visitor,” she added.

Her small rental house near the poet’s grave is decorated with calligraphy versions of Han Mac Tu’s poems written with a “fire-pen”.

The woman, who can also fluently read poems in Vietnamese, said Trinh Cong Son’s music and Vietnamese traditional music gave her great inspiration.

“Writing Calligraphy requires a high amount of concentration. Listening to those kinds of music helps me to stay focused.” she added.

Every day Ginette, the woman who loves Vietnam as if it were her second homeland, tries to finish a Calligraphy painting with the fire-pen.

“Every time I start a Calligraphy painting, all my worries seem to be washed away by the pen,” she said.

Young talented artists to participate in Vietnam-Norway concert

A special concert will be held at the Hanoi Opera House to celebrate the 40-year diplomatic relationship between Vietnam and Norway on November 25-26, attracting outstanding young violists from both countries.

In addition, under the baton of Norwegian conductor Alf Richard Kraggerud, violin soloist Ludvig Gudim, Vietnamese violinist Do Phuong Nhi, and other artists from the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, will perform compositions by J.S. Bach and Johan Svendsen at the event.

Tickets, priced from VND150,000 to VND450,000, are available at the Hanoi Opera House at No.1 Trang Tien Street, or for online purchase at www.ticketvn.com, ticketvn@gmail.com.

First class’ Danang Cham sculpture museum

Danang Museum of Cham Sculpture has been named ‘first class’ by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Constructed by the French from 1915, the museum houses leading rare collections of Champa sculptures. It is the only museum in the country which is opened 365 days a year - from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. On average the popular museum has 500 daily visitors.

The museum has signed an agreement with the Vietnam University of Fine Arts to study and compile a catalogue of Champa items collected after 1975.

It is located at No. 2, 2 Thang 9 Street, Danang City.
 
Hung Yen Museum to host antiques exhibition
 
UNESCO Center for Vietnamese Antique Preservation today collaborates with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to hold an antiques exhibition at Hung Yen Museum.

The exhibition will mark Vietnam’s Antiques Day and it displays a number of items collected by members of Hung Yen Province and the center. Some artifacts include ceramics, bronze vases, pots, drums and jewelry from the 13th to 18th century, with some dating back 2,500 years.

Vietnamese traditional music aired in France
    
A Vietnamese traditional music show was held in Orsay, France on November 21 by OCTAVE, an association for Vietnamese culture and traditional music in Orsay.

The show attracted the participation of 25 Vietnamese non-professional musicians and performers and many French people who are friends of Vietnam. The director of the show was Nguyet Anh, the chairwoman of OCTAVE.

OCTAVE was founded in 2007 with 50 members and conducts various activities including shows and classes for Vietnamese traditional music.

The association has also organised Vietnamese language classes and cooking classes for foreigners. All members are volunteers and all funds are used to assist poor children, pupils and students in Vietnam.

World famous Niels Lan Doky to enchant local audience  
 
World famous jazz pianist Niels Lan Doky, born from a Vietnamese father and a Danish mother, will perform in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

World famous Danish artists together with Vietnamese artists will jointly perform in a two-special-night concert to celebrate 40 years anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Wishing upon the Moon 2011 Concerts, to take place at the Opera House in Hanoi on November 28 and Ho Chi Minh City on November 30, will feature world famous jazz pianist Niels Lan Doky and his trio, and Vietnamese diva Thanh Lam and musician Quoc Trung.

For the first set, Doky, born from a Danish mother and Vietnamese father, will perform "Return To Denmark," "Poem For A Dolphin," "Contemplation From A Mountain Top," "Home Sweet Home," "Piano Interlude," "The Miracle Of You," "Rough Edges," and "Hope."

The second set will be a collaboration between the Niels Lan Doky Trio and Quoc Trung & The Road To Infinity with Thanh Lam.

Doky, the pianist, record producer and composer, will end the concert with "Story Of Earth And Water" and "Misty Dawn."

He attended the Berklee College of Music in the early 1980s and has worked as a professional musician since he was 13. He has worked with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, John Scofield, Gino Vannelli and others, and has performed for many prominent world figures, including Pope Jean-Paul II and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.

Doky, 48, has received a Ridderkorset af Dannebrogordenen Award from Denmark's royal family, and has been appointed a Member of the Music Committee under the Danish Arts Council by the Danish Culture Minister.

In Hanoi: tickets will be priced from VND800,000 to VND2,500,000. Contact Ms. Duyen at telephone: 09 8 249 0505. The Hanoi Opera House is located on 01 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District.

In HCMC: A limited number of free tickets can be picked up from November 21 at the Danish Economic and Commercial Office, 505, Centec Tower, 5th floor, 72-74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 3.

Tickets will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis, and it will not be possible to call and reserve tickets. The HCMC Opera House is located on 07 Lam Son Square, Dist. 1.

Viet-kieu artists remember local road traffic victims  
 
Actress Kathy Uyen and singer Thanh Bui paid a visit to Truong Van Thanh Primary School in Ho Chi Minh City in honor of World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims on November 20.

Uyen and Bui distributed informational packets about Vietnam’s frightening road situations to school representatives before joining the students in their classrooms.

Approximately 50 students were split up into five groups to encourage interactive and candid group discussions about how to reduce the number of road traffic accidents.   

The group with the best idea to combat road traffic casualties was awarded a prize.

The event, organized by Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIP Foundation), aims to enhance student’s awareness of road safety issues through discussions; remembrance activities including prayers and releasing birds;and through interviews with artists, students and local authorities.

The AIP Foundation is a US-based nonprofit organization that uses public-private partnerships, public awareness education, and school-based programs to reduce the rate of traffic injuries and fatalities in developing countries.

“With events taking place around the world for this Remembrance Day, I am thrilled to continue being a Goodwill Ambassador for AIP Foundation’s meaningful activities,” Bui said.

“As a road safety Goodwill Ambassador, I strongly believe that public awareness can effectively minimize the loss and pain that families such as these ones are experiencing,” Uyen added.

Vietnam is one of more than 100 countries worldwide dedicating November 20 to those who have died and have been severely injured by road traffic accidents.

World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims was created in 1993 by the organization Road Peace. The day was endorsed by the United Nations in 2005. It is now observed annually around the world on the third Sunday of every November.

Vietnamese female artists exhibit works in Singapore  

"Touch of Vietnam 4," an exhibition featuring four well-established female artists in Vietnamese modern and contemporary fine arts will open in Singapore on December 1.

The first Vietnamese painting exhibition ever held in Singapore by Galerie K Moeller – Vietnamese Art, it presents artworks in different styles and different techniques of using oil and acrylic on canvas by the artists, aged from 47 to 75.

The four female artists, including Nguyen Thi Tam, Dang Thi Duong, Tran Thuy Linh, and Cao Thi Duoc, have participated in numerous local and international exhibitions. Their works have been collected worldwide and some are permanently displayed at National Museum of Fine Arts in Vietnam.

Senior artist Nguyen Thi Tam, notably, has her paintings collected by Museum of the Vatican.

In June 2012, at the helm of Ho Chi Minh City’s Women Artist Club, these four artists will be the key persons playing host to over 200 international female artists in Vietnam at "Her Presence in Colours X," an international women’s biennial art event that travels around the world.

GALERIE K MOELLER – Vietnamese Art, located in Singapore is an organization which aims to promote Vietnamese modern and contemporary arts outside of Vietnam.

As a pioneer consultancy, it is working to showcase Vietnamese master art works and introduce established artists, who are ready for international art market while helping young and emerging artists to grow through art fairs, art exhibitions and events.

The exhibition will run until Dec 31st from Monday to Sunday at The Art Loft, Volvo Showroom, 249 Alexandra Road, Singapore 159935.

Music Week to mark 30th anniversary of HCMC Music Association  

A music week is being organized to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh City Music Association (Nov 29), from November 25-29.

As per schedule, music performances will be held at the Lan Anh Music Theater on November 25, the Municipal Children’s House on November 27, the HCMC Theater on November 27 and a ceremony to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the association at the HCMC Opera House on November 29.

The event aims to honor music talent and musical achievements during the last 30 years of the association as well as encourage young musicians and artists to create memorable pieces of music.

The music week is being organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Music Association and HCMC Television.

An Giang to host 5th Khmer Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival  

The 5th Khmer Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival will be held in An Giang Province from December 1-4.

The Festival will include music performances, traditional costume shows, traditional rituals of the Khmer ethnic people, a sports competition, exhibition of books, display of various cultures of ethnic minorities in the country, and photographs of ethnic minority groups from the mountainous regions.

There will be seminars on Science, Integration and Development; the preservation of historical and cultural sites; introduction of cuisine culture of the Southern region and Cambodia.

The festival has a special political significance and is an opportunity to honor and highlight the culture of the Khmer ethnic group and strengthen solidarity and exchange amongst the Khmer community.

Dong Thap commemorates 82nd death anniversary of Uncle Ho’s father  

Authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap commemorated the 82nd death anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's father, Nguyen Sinh Sac, on November 22.  

Local leaders, representatives of various departments and organizations of the Mekong Delta Provinces and Ho Chi Minh City, along with more than 1,000 local residents joined the event.

On the occasion, a series of cultural activities including an exhibition of the islands; a display of 21 pieces of coral stones taken from Truong Sa as evidence of Vietnam's sovereignty over the archipelago; introduction of books and a documentary on Junior Doctor Nguyen Sinh Sac and the late president Ho Chi Minh; a Chinese chess competition, a painting contest, a southern amateur music performance were held during the commemorative ceremony.

Enterprises and sponsors donated hundreds of million of dong to support the Nguyen Sinh Sac Study Encouragement Fund.

According to the provincial People’s Committee, Nguyen Sinh Sac Relics House in Cao Lanh City has attracted a great number of visitors each year. Local authorities expect to receive around 300,000 domestic and international tourists this year.

In related news, the ‘Xua va Nay’ (Past and Present) Magazine offered a statue of the late Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet to Vinh Long Province on his 89th birth anniversary (Nov 23, 1922).

The 80x80 cm statue weighed 200kgs and was designed by sculptor Lam Quang Noi. Artisans in Hue took three months to complete the statue.
 
The sculpture has been displayed in Vung Liem town in Vung Liem District in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long, commemorating late Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet.

International school music programme in Quang Nam

Students from Kim Dong Secondary School in Hoi An City in the central province of Quang Nam will take part in an international music exchange programme with elementary and secondary school students from Japan, South Korean and Sri Lanka tomorrow.

Participants will introduce the culture of their countries through traditional dance and songs over the internet.

The Vietnamese will dance to the rhythm of Cay Da Quan Doc, a folk song about village life in the north of the country.

Eighty climbers to take on roof of Indochina

Eighty international and local climbers will take part in a Fansipan climbing competition from December 17 to 19.

It is part of activities under the Back to the Origin 2011 tourism programme organised by the northern provinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai and Phu Tho.

Participants will be required to conquer the 3,143mpeak in two days. The competitors finishing in the shortest time will win.

Meanwhile, visitors to Sa Pa have an opportunity to participate in cultural activities and traditional games such as khen (panpipe) dancing, mua xoe (traditional dance of Thai ethnic group), swinging, tugs of war and nem con (throwing a ball through a ring).

Cham photo festival opens in Da Nang

An exhibition featuring 252 photos of Cham ethnic festivals is now being held at the Museum of Cham Sculpture in the central coastal city of Da Nang.

They were taken in villages and temples in the central province of Ninh Thuan by Truong Van An, director of the province's museum.

The photos depict the main festivals of Cham people, such as Yuor Yang (praying for rain), Ndam Cuh (cremation ceremony), Kate and Chabun (veneration for the gods).

The exhibition will last until the end of next month.