Photo exhibition celebrates Cambodia-Viet Nam relationship

Heng Samrin, president of the Cambodian National Assembly, and Nguyen Sinh Hung, chairman of the Viet Nam National Assembly, cut the ribbon for the opening of the Cambodia – Viet Nam Traditional Friendship Relations photo exhibition in HCM City yesterday, Aug 23.

The exhibition displays 100 photos which feature 45 years of diplomatic relations between the two ASEAN countries.

The exhibition was held by the Vietnam News Agency in co-ordination with the Viet Nam National Assembly's External Relations Committee and HCM City People's Committee.

Model Jessica Minh Anh attends beauty pageant gala night

Overseas Vietnamese model and global event organizer Jessica Minh Anh will attend the final night of Miss Vietnam 2012 pageant.   

She arrived in Hanoi on August 23 and will fly to Danang on August 24 where she will take part in the grand finale on August 25.

Jessica Minh Anh was recently named “global fashion mover and shaker” by leading fashion magazine Marie Claire in July 2012.

She successfully hosted the J Summer Fashion Show in Paris (France) in July, the world’s highest fashion show on PETRONAS Twin Towers’ Skybridge in Malaysia in March 2012.

Late last year, Minh Anh made history with the first ever fashion phenomenon on England’s iconic Tower Bridge.

British TNT Theatre to perform “King Lear” in Vietnam

British TNT Theatre will perform “King Lear”-a tragedy by William Shakespeare during its tour of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Danang from October 24-November 2.     

The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological pre-Roman Celtic king.

It has been widely adapted for the stage and motion pictures, and the role of Lear has been coveted and played by many of the world's most accomplished actors.

The play was written between 1603 and 1606 and later revised.

This year, “King Lear” has been performed in more than 10 countries over the world. Many pieces of works by William Shakespeare, including “Hamlet”, “Macbeth”, and “Romeo and Juliet” have been staged by British TNT Theatre at major arts festivals around the globe.

In co-ordination with the Centre for Performing Arts, British TNT Theatre has successfully staged many plays “Romeo and Juliet”, “Christmas Carol”, “Macbeth” and “Oliver Twist” in Vietnam.

More reality shows designed for Miss Teen 2012

Miss Teen pageant organizers said they will conduct more reality shows in Vietnam and abroad this year, opening many challenges and opportunities for contestants to develop their talents and creativity.
     
The series will be broadcast on HTV3 channel and VTC channels.

Phan Anh Tuan, Director of website missteen.go.vn, the event organizer, said the contest this year will change in both content and format with the aim of boasting contestants’ beauty and intelligence.   

Winners will have the chance to win valuable prizes such as tours, scholarships, cash, training courses, clothing, cosmetics and taking part in social activities.

The main prize for first place is VND100 million in cash. Second and third place-winners will receive VND60 million and VND40 million, respectively.

Prizes of VND20 million will also be given to contestants who receive the most votes cast by fans via SMS or the contest website during the competition.

Contestants listed among the Top 12 will also be offered a gift to the value of VND10 million from the sponsor.

Candidates must be girls aged 16-19 who meet the conditions on the official website missteen.go.vn. Registrations will close on September 20.

National music and dance festival wraps up

One hundred and forty-three prizes were awarded to outstanding performances and individuals at the closing ceremony for the second phase of the National Professional Music and Dance festival in Dak Lak province on August 21.

The seven gold prizes went to performances by esembles from the Air Defence and Air Force, the People’s Police and Military Zone 5, the Army Music and Dance Theatre, the Sao Bien Folk Music and Dance troupe from Phu Yen and the Folk Music and Dance troupes from Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Dak Lak.

A number of prizes were also given to the best directors, art directors, bands and choreographers.

On the occasion, the Vietnam Association of Dancers (VAD) and Vietnam Association of Musicians (VAM) presented certificates of merit and various awards to 40 outstanding musical performances, groups and individuals.

The Festival featured more than 340 performances by 32 art troupes from across the country.

The National Professional Music and Dance Festival, held once every three years by the VAD, VAM and the Department of Performing Arts under the Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, provides a good opportunity for art troupes and artists to learn from each other’s experiences.

Shipyard may be preserved as museum of labour movement

Participants at a workshop in HCM City on Wednesday on relics commemorating late president Ton Duc Thang (1888-1980) agreed it was necessary to preserve the original architecture of the Ba Son ship-building factory, where the Sai Gon-Cho Lon workers' movement against the colonists was kicked off in 1920.

The relic, located in Ben Nghe Ward in District 1, was also the first workshop associated with the birth of ship building technology in Viet Nam.

Archaeologist Nguyen Thi Hau proposed the culture sector should do serious research on the relic and Ton Duc Thang Museum to set up the first museum on the working class.

The workshop is one among series of events celebrating the 125th birthday anniversary of President Thang from now throughout next year. He led the country from 1969 to 1980.

Tokyo to host “Vietnam-Japan Meeting Programme 2012”

“Vietnam-Japan Meeting Programme 2012”, the ever largest of its kind, will be held in Tokyo, Japan from September 13-17.

This was announced by the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan at a press conference on August 23 in the presence of Matsuda Iwao, co-head of the organizing board of the event and representatives of sponsors, businesses and media agencies.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Doan Xuan Hung, who is also co-head of the organizing board, said the programme will include an art performance, a forum on investment promotion, a seminar on developing human resources and a Vietnamese festival in Yoyogi park.

Hung expressed hope that the programme will help Japanese investors understand more about Vietnam’s land and people.

Matsuda Iwao said participants will have the chance to learn more about Vietnam’s age-old culture and traditional food.

Since 2008, the programme has been held regularly each year, attracting hundreds of thousands of Japanese people and foreigners living in Japan.

The highlight of the programme is cooperation in the fields of culture, tourism, trade, education and training between the two countries.    

Old town serves up delicious street food

The town of Hoi An boasts some amazing street food.

For savoury treats, tourists should try barbecued meat, Quang noodles, and mussels served with dry pancakes each costing a mere VND25,000 ($1). They are sold in a busy area near Cau Bridge along the Hoai River bank.

Tourists are served by enthusiastic young sellers on small tables set up along pavements. People with a sweet tooth should try tofu, green bean baked cake, and lotus sweet pudding priced from VND10,000. Some vendors have notices in English to make it easier for foreigners.

VNN/VOV/ND/VNS