Poland gives $25,000 to restore Hue Temple of Literature gate

Pillar of the community: The four pillars, which form part of the Linh Tinh Gate in front of the Temple of Literature in Hue city are to be restored in June with funding from the Polish Foreign Ministry. (Photo: VNS)

The Hue Centre for Relics Conservation said funding would be implemented through the Embassy of Poland in Viet Nam.

The project to preserve the Linh Tinh Gate has been approved by the provincial government.

The project, expected to kick off in June for completion in early 2012, will involve restoring four downgraded decorative columns made of mortar, at a total cost of VND1.6 billion (US$80,000).

Linh Tinh Gate, built in the early Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945), serves as the front gate of the Temple of Literature in Hue city, a landmark closely linked to the boat marina on the bank of the Perfume River.

The structure comprising four mortar pillars with the upper sections decorated with enamel has deteriorated during the war and the post-war period. Currently, only four stone bases of the columns remain intact.

American jazz band to perform in HN

A jazz performance by the American Ari Roland Jazz Quartet and Vietnamese veteran jazz saxophonist Quyen Van Minh will be given at Ha Noi's Youth Theatre on Thursday.

The quartet includes Ari Roland (double bass), Chris Byars (tenor saxophone), Zaid Nasser (alto saxophone) and Keith Balla (drums), who have been together for more than 20 years.

Minh is one of the most notable musicians in Ha Noi and has run a jazz club in Ha Noi's Old Quarter for many years. His father is a guitarist and saxophonist. His mother is a singer with alto voice.

When Minh was a teenage saxophone student he began to teach himself jazz after listening to the radio during the American War. Minh's father did not support his son's interest in jazz until 1974 when he gave him an alto saxophone.

The show, which is co-organised by the US Embassy Ha Noi and the Viet Nam Music Academy, is non-ticket event. People can register at http://creator.zoho.com/pas.culture/cultural-performances/form-perma/Ticket – Registration – Ari – Roland/.

South Korean research group debuts in Viet Nam

The South Korean Research Association of Viet Nam (KRAV) will debut in a ceremony in Ha Noi on Sunday. The organisation will gather scientific and educational experts in the field of Korean studies.

One of the most important functions of the organisation will be to create an environment for scientists to share their languages and cultures, said a KRAV representative, Dr Mai Ngoc Chu.

KRAV will initially focus on organising national and international conferences on Korean studies, introducing publications about Korea and organising Korean cultural events. The association will also co-operate with other organisations to boost the effectiveness of Korean language teaching in Viet Nam.

BBC news channel to promote Viet Nam's beaches in May

Over 260 15-second spots advertising Viet Nam's beaches will be broadcast on the 24-hour BBC News Channel in late May.

They will be shown in prime time in European countries over a three-month period.

Vietnamese artist exhibits silk paintings in Thailand

An exhibition of silk paintings by artist Nguyen Thi Chau Giang titled Hidden Flowers is being held at Bangkok's Thavibu Gallery from April 23 to May 14.

Sixteen images feature the beauty and life of Viet Nam women. Ha Noi-born painter Giang took up the art of silk painting in 2006, and this is her first solo exhibition in this medium.

Vietnamese-American's short film wins prize at US festival

A short film entitled Yes, Yesterday, made by young Vietnamese-American Vu Tich Van, has been honoured as Best Short Film at the New York United Film Festival 2010.

Van, who works as a financial expert, completed the film in the autumn of 2009, and it has also been screened at the Slamdance Film Festival.

Singing contest for middle-aged amateurs kicks off

The final round of Tieng Hat Mai Xanh (Evergreen Singing), the first ever singing contest for people aged 35 and above in the country, will kick off today.

The contest is held by HCM City Television (HTV).

Ten finalists, including five contestants each from two groups – between 35 and 50 and above 50 – will perform romantic, folk and revolutionary songs, as well as songs of their own choice at the HTV Theatre today, on April 27 and on May 2.

The jury will select three best performers in each group for the grand finale on May 11.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News