HCM City to host int’l bartender competition

Bartenders from Sweden, Estonia, the Republic of Korea, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Vietnam will compete at the first International Bartender Contest in Ho Chi Minh City on May 5.  

The competition, jointly held by the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association and the Saigontourist Travel Agency, is part of the annual conference for Chairmen of the Asian Bartenders Associations.

The event aims to help famous international hotels, introduce their talented, skilled bartenders as well as promoting tourism in Vietnam.

Dang Thi Thu Thao crowned Miss Mekong Delta 2012

Thao (born 1991) is 172cm tall and weighs 49 kg. On Sunday night she received the crown and VND200 million as prize money. First runner-up Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy from Vinh Long Province received VND80 million and second runner-up Nguyen Thi Phuong Uyen from Ben Tre Province received VND70 million.

The panel of judges also awarded eight other prizes worth VND20 million each for best Ao Dai (traditional Vietnamese costume), best Ao Ba Ba (shirt worn by South Vietnamese people), best body, best answer, best eyes and best style.

Miss Thu Thao was chosen from 20 finalists from provinces in the Mekong Delta. She also participated in the competition for best Ao Ba Ba, Ao Dai, swimwear, own dress of choice and took part in a Q&A session.

The Miss Mekong Delta 2012 competition took place at the Exhibition 2012, highlighting 10 years of achievements in the Mekong Delta, in co-ordination with Hau Giang TV station and HCMC’s Sen Vang Company, and aired live on Hau Giang TV channel.

Thousands visit ‘Festival in the Clouds 2012’ in Sa Pa

Thousands of domestic and foreign tourists flocked to the ‘Festival in the Clouds 2012’ in the mountainous tourist town of Sa Pa, which will be held from April 28-May 4.

On April 29 alone, 5,000 visitors attended the festival, and this year the management committee of the festival expects to welcome over 12,000 visitors.

The festival this year includes many special shows featuring the traditional cultures of ethnic minority groups in Sa Pa such as the Giay, Mong and Zao communities, as well as offer interesting and unique local cuisines and folklore.

Visitors will have a chance to attend the Sa Pa Love Market Night, enjoy local folk songs and dances, play traditional games and try their hand at working as a local farmer for a day.

A highlight of the festival is the special programme ‘One-day farmer in Sa Pa’, where participants have the opportunity to be directly engaged in production activities with the locals, like seeking forest medicinal plants, learning brocade-making and embroidery and practicing ethnic cooking styles.

Le Duc Luan, Chairman of the People’s Committee in Sa Pa District said the area is trying to focus on its ethnic culture and traditions to boost local tourism. So far Sa Pa has organised a Khen (pan-pipe) contest and developed community tourism in villages.

In addition, the festival features musical performances and folk games by ethnic minorities like Mong, Dao, Tay, Giay and Xa Pho communities living in Sa Pa in northwestern Vietnam in Lao Cai Province.

With beautiful weather and outdoor temperatures ranging between 25-27 degrees Celsius, many visitors are excitedly walking around and posing for photos around the ancient town and Xuan Vien Lake, two must-visit destinations in Sa Pa, and also enjoying native cuisines.

300 SEA antiques at city’s history museum

Over 300 antiques from Southeast Asian nations are on display at the Museum of Vietnamese History at 2 Nguyen Binh Kiem Street in District 1.

The exhibition sees an overwhelming presence of statues from the region. Viewers will also have a chance to see a number of household items like silver bowls, brown enamel pots or a chicken-shaped box dating back to the 12th century.

According to organizers, these items show the similarities and specialties of every participating country as well as provide viewers some overall images of the lives of Southeast Asian people in the past. The event runs until the end of December.

Quartet Notos’ free gigs in HCMC, Hanoi

Quartet Notos will perform free concerts in Hanoi and HCMC under 2012 European Days from May 9-11.

Established in 2007, the piano outfit is active in Frankfurt, Germany. What makes them popular is their untouched passion for music in every performance.

The four-member band won the 2011 Parkhouse Award in London and first prize in the Charles Hennen Concours in the Netherlands.

The gigs will take place at the Hanoi Opera House, 1 Trang Tien Street and the HCMC Opera House at 7 Lam Son Square in District 1.

Local fans can contact the Hanoi Goethe Institute, 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street on   04.3734 2251 ext. 9 and the HCMC Goethe Institute, 18 Road No. 1, Do Thanh Residential Area, District 3 on 08.3832 6716 or 08.3600 9588 to receive complimentary tickets.

UK Theater group presents Oliver Twist

The UK’s TNT Theater (also known as The American Drama Group-Europe) will perform the classic drama Oliver Twist by Charles Dicken at HCMC Opera House from May 2 to 5, Danang’s Trung Vuong Theater on May 9 and Hanoi Opera House on May 11-12.

The shows are part of the group’s world tour and also mark the
comeback of TNT to Vietnam after they performed Romeo and Juliet, A Christmas Carol and Macbeth.

Oliver Twist focuses on the relationship between poverty and crime. Furthermore, it reflects the horrendous conditions of the poor in society at this moment. The drama is directed by Paul Stebbings and produced by Grantly Marshall. It has been performed around the world and received positive feedback from critics.

The production has been performed more often than any other by TNT over the last 15 years. Last season saw its spectacular success in China which paved the way for the troupe’s current regular tours to Vietnam’s neighbor.

Tickets are priced at VND600,000 for adults with students getting in for half price.

For further information, contact Ms. Jennifer Dizon at jendizon79@gmail.com

Detailed schedule for the performances in Vietnam are:

- 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. from May 2 to 5 at the HCMC Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square, District 1.

- 11 a.m. on May 11 and 8 p.m. on May 11-12 at the Hanoi Opera House, 1 Trang Tien Street.

- 7 p.m. on May 9 at the Danang’s Trung Vuong Theater, 118 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street.

Yamaha kicks off motorised photo tour contest

Yamaha Motor Viet Nam has launched a photo contest for motor and photography enthusiasts in a competition that also aims to promote the beauty of the country to the world.

The competition, called the Yamaha Foto Tour 2012, includes 6 routes across the nation from the north region to central Viet Nam and onto the south, said the Japanese-invested motorbike maker.

Participants in the contest will be provided with Yamaha Nouvo SX scooters and free tour packages.

Yamaha Viet Nam said both local and foreign photography and motoring enthusiasts could register to join the contest, which has total prize money of VND200 million (US$9,600).

Pictures won the contest will be published on Yamaha official website with links to a number of its affiliate website worldwide.

Established in 1998, the $37 million company is a 46/30/24 joint venture between Yamaha Motor Japan, Viet Nam Forestry Corporation and Hong Leong company of Malaysia.

Cua Lo sea tourism season 2012 launched
 
Cua Lo town in the central province of Nghe An hosted a ceremony on April 30 to launch this year’s sea tourism season. National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung attended the event.

In this year’s season, Cua Lo town has set a target to welcome 2.1 million tourists, earning revenues of more than VND1.1 trillion (USD52.3 million).

To prepare for the season, Cua Lo town has upgraded tourist sites and shops along the beach, embarked on measures to ensure food hygiene and safety for tourists, improved service quality, introduced new tourism products and restored traditional coastal villages.

A wide range of activities featuring the coastal culture and portraying the land and people of Cua Lo will be held during the season to attract tourists from both in and outside the country.

Cua Lo beach, which stretches over 10km, is one of the most beautiful beaches in central Vietnam with white sand and clear blue water.

Nha Trang offers hot-air balloon ride for $5   

Tourists visiting the coastal city of Nha Trang can now enjoy a panoramic view from a hot-air balloon for a cheaper price as the Hon Tam Bien Nha Trang Joint Stock Company last Thursday launched their service at the seaside park by Pham Van Dong street.

Previously, the balloon flights were first offered at Hon Tam Island in February 2010 for VND190,000 (USD9.5).

The fares now have been reduced to VND100,000 (USD5) during the day and VND120,000 (USD6) in the evening for a 20 minute ride.

The hot air balloon has a diameter of 22 meters and is covered by 46 pieces of colorful heat- and pressure-resistant plastic. The balloon contains approximately 6,000 cubic meters of Helium and natural gas. Its basket can hold up to 25 people at a height of 150 meters.

The Hon Tam Resort bought the balloon from France for 1.2 million euros (USD1.57 million).

Maker of instruments not named in record book

Vo Van Ba, who made the first set of 27 orchestral instruments from coconut timber in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, has sent a complaint to concerned organizations that he was not named in the Vietnam Record on April 10.

The artisan said credit for the person who made ‘the first set of national orchestral instruments from coconut timber’ in the Record Book was given to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Le Quang Liem.

In fact, the department merely conceived the idea and provided money for the making of the instruments. Le Dan only contributed ideas on the design of the two guitars but was not directly involved in making them.

70-year-old Vo Van Ba spent a lot of his time and effort chopping down coconut trees, sawing them and working on them to make and perfect the 27 orchestral instruments.

They include dan gao, dan kim and dan bau, dan sen and the guitar, which were successfully played at the Ben Tre Coconut Festival on April 5. Ba had especially created the spring and microphone parts for the orchestral instruments to improve the quality of their sound.

Ba said he has made many musical instruments and knows various kinds of timbers. It is very difficult to produce the instruments with coconut wood, which requires double effort and a good deal of patience.

“After the coconut instruments were successfully performed, I was informed that it would be recognized in the Vietnam Record at the closing ceremony of the festival and eagerly thought about the honor I would receive. However, I was so sad because only Le Dan and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism were named at the award ceremony,” he said.

Nguyen Ngoc Tam, director of the department, said it was a regrettable mistake that Ba’s name was not included in the Record. He said that the department would organize a press conference to repair the mistake and propose that his name be added to the list of persons in the national record.

Meanwhile, Le Dan said that “Before submitting documents to the record center, I told Ba that it will only acknowledge those who conceive the ideas, thus I will not list his name. Ba answered that it was not important. Now, we will propose to add his name to the record.”

Southern cuisine festival opens

The Southern Cuisine Festival kicked off in Can Tho city on April 29 within the framework of activities to mark the progress of ten years of construction and development in the Mekong Delta region.   

During the festival, visitors will have the chance to enjoy the specialities and traditional dishes of 13 Mekong Delta provinces and Ho Chi Minh City.

A cooking contest between artisans and chefs from Can Tho, An Giang, Long An, Tien Giang, Dong Thap, Hau Giang and Ca Mau provinces is the highlight of the festival and is expected to attract a large number of spectators.

Nguyen Thanh Son, head of the organizing board, said the contest aims to introduce the special features of southern gastronomy and cuisine and create a playing field for chefs to share experiences and learn about different food and new culinary techniques.

Sapa's Festival in the Clouds kicks off

Thousands of domestic and foreign tourists flocked to the opening of the Festival in the Clouds 2012 in the mountainous tourist town of Sapa on April 28.    

This year’s festival includes many special shows featuring the traditional cultures of ethnic minorities in Sapa such as the Giay, Mong, and Zao, as well as unique local cuisine and folklore.

Visitors will have the chance to attend the Sapa Love Market Night, enjoy local folk songs and dances, play traditional games and try their hand working as a local farmer for one day.

Chairman of the Sapa district People’s Committee Le Duc Luan said the area is trying to focus on its culture and traditions to boost local tourism. So far Sapa has organized a Khen (pan-pipe) contest and developed community tourism in villages.

The Festival in the Clouds will last until May 4.

Thang Long-Thien Truong relationship revealed

An exhibition to reflect the special relationship between the old capital city of Thang Long and the Thien Truong area in northern Nam Dinh province under the Tran Dynasty from the 18th -19th Century, opened in the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi on April 27.

Jointly organised by the Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre and the Nam Dinh’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the exhibition is showcasing nearly 150 artifacts, photographs, documents and drawings at the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology and Nam Dinh’s provincial Museum.

Mainly featuring archaeological excavations, poetry and prose, the exhibition provides visitors with the chance to enjoy works of art from the Tran Dynasty and understand the relationship between Thang Long and the Thien Truong area.

According to Nguyen Van Son, Director of the Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre, in the 19th – 20th centuries, Thien Truong was not only home to the Tran Dynasty but also the second capital and most important military base during the period.

It was also an important political centre, playing a key role in the country.

As part of the 37 th anniversary celebrations for the liberation of South Vietnam, May Day and the birthday of late President Ho Chi Minh, the exhibition will run until June 30.

New game show to air on HTV

Contestants on a reality television game show will compete for the title The Leader to be aired on HCM City Television (HTV) today.

The show, Toi La Nguoi Dan Dau (I Am the Pacesetter), produced by HTV and Dong Tay Promotion, will see competition among 16 contestants, including male and female, chosen from 400 young people.

Truong Van Minh, manager of HTV's Programme Department, said the show would not only entertain the audiences but also educate youth.

The show will divide contestants into two teams who will compete in challenges, consisting of endurance, strength, agility, problem solving, teamwork and dexterity.

There are three types of challenges in each episode, including reward challenge, immunity challenge, and the big challenge to identity the losing team.

The show will take place on the islands of Phu Quoc Island District in Kien Giang Province.

Apart from challenges, contestants will take part in charity and social activities with the island residents.

During the first seven episodes, the losing team will vote off weak contestants until only four final contestants remain.

After the eighth episode, the eliminated contestant and the audiences will vote for the winner who will be revealed in the last episode.

The winner will receive VND100 million in cash prizes.

All episodes will be broadcast on HTV7 at 8:30 pm every Saturday, while the last episode will air live on June 23.

MC Phan Anh will host throughout the show.

Food court offers central region cuisine

A food court on the fourth floor of the Dragon Vinh Trung Plaza in Da Nang City is serving up culinary delights from Hue, Hoi An and Da Nang.

The food court also offers Korean, Japanese and European food.

Last month, the centre put on display a record-breaking bowl of my Quang (a central region noodle dish), which was 90cm in diameter and 45cm high.

Photography exhibition in HCM City

Professional and amateur photographers have been invited to submit their work at the 26th National Art Photography Exhibition.

The biennial-exhibition, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Viet Nam Artistic Photography Association will be held in HCM City in October.

The best photos in the black-and-white and colour categories will be awarded gold, silver and bronze medals and VND20 million, VND15 million and VND10 million, respectively.

Submissions should be sent to 38 Cao Ba Quat Street between August 6-10.

First traditional music festival in Hue

Thirty bands will be taking part in the inaugural traditional music festival in the central city of Hue on June 5-10.

Meanwhile, the Performing Arts Department, under the Culture Ministry, will be holding the National Professional Drama Festival in July in Hue, the National Professional Cai Luong (Reformed Theatre) Festival in October in HCM City and the National Professional Singing and Dancing Festival in the northern province of Son La and the Central Highlands Province of Dak Lak.