Hanoi art exhibition features human trafficking

Around 700 Youth Union members in Hanoi were deeply moved after visiting a multi-media art exhibition featuring human trafficking on May 24.

Titled “Human Trafficking Art Exhibition,” the event, held by the well-known music channel MTV’s End Exploitation and Trafficking (EXIT) Foundation, showcased 16 photos taken by Na Son of 16 people who had escaped from kidnapping.

An installation area of crystal bottles containing hair was also a highlight of the event. Artist Doan Hoang Kiensaid he had gathered the hair of 120 volunteer students from universities and colleges around the capital city.

Like the photos, all bottles are labeled with codes for sale as goods.

Artists Phan Y Ly and Ho Ngoc Bao Khiem also gave young spectators a 40-minute interactive theatre performance to facilitate a dynamic learning experience about human trafficking.

“The interaction is not only a game. Through the role plays, I understand more how the human trafficking victims feel,” Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, a student from Hanoi Water Resources University shared after the visit.

Though the exhibition will run until May 26 at the Workers Theater at 42 Trang Tien Street in Hoan Kiem District, it only opened for the public on May 24.

People who could not come to the event can find more information about MTV EXIT’s anti- human trafficking campaign at mtvexit.org/Vietnam.

In addition to art exhibitions, the music channel on May 26 will also held a free concert “MTV EXIT Live in Hanoi” with the theme of human trafficking issue. The show will gather world’s famous singers including Canadian rock band Simple Plan, the 4-member girl group Brown Eye Girls from South Korea, and Australian singer Kate Miller Heidke.

Also at the concert, the organizers will present singer My Tam as the foundation’s representative in Vietnam. The pop singer has been chosen to be the narrator of the half-hour documentary titled “Enslaved: An MTV Exit special” which will be broadcast on Vietnam television and MTV Vietnam this month.

Ca tru to be surveyed

Workers of cultural management offices in 15 cities and provinces are gathering in Ha Noi to attend a training programme on ca tru (ceremonial singing). They are being instructed to complete survey forms and put them into practice by working with the Ngai Cau Club in Hoai Duc District.

After finishing the two-day course today, they will go back to their hometowns and complete a survey on the numbers of artisans, singers, actors and actresses and will survey sac phong (royal honour-conferring edicts) and annals.

They will also evaluate the situation of the heritage in three levels: deserted, upgraded or restored. The survey is part of the National Action Programme for protecting and developing heritage.

Eight-year-old boy can sing in four languages

Bach Phuc Nguyen from the central province of Thua Thien-Hue stunned the jury board of the 2012 Doremi programme by singing songs in English, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese.  

His emotional voice and lively dance drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Nguyen is now a strong contender for the 2012 Doremi programme, a talent contest for children, and is considered a rare phenomenon in the event.

A video clip of his performance has been widely published on social networks and attracted a large number of viewers.
Journalist writes book about Italy

A book about the country and people of Italy written by Vietnamese reporter Truong Anh Ngoc hit bookstores in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

Entitled Nuoc Y, Cau Chuyen Tinh Yeu Cua Toi (Italy, My Love Story) presents the impressions of the author in texts of photos, drawn from his three-year stay in Italy as a bureau chief of the Vietnam News Agency in Rome.

"The book is my love story about Italy, and I wrote it with all my passion," said Ngoc. Italy is described in Ngoc's book as a country of football, fashion, art masterpieces, and unique, simple charm.

French band Success to perform

The French band Success will perform rock and electronic music at the French Cultural Centre L'Espace next Thursday at 8pm. The band, consisting of singer Yann Chehu, guitarist Julien Richer, synthesiser player Dan Voisin and drummer Joel Daventry, has performed together for three years. Their first CD, Hard to Come Back, was used in the soundtrack of the film Zombieland in 2009.

Singing contest attracts 4,000 hopefuls

Over 4,000 would-be singers competed on Wednesday in the qualifying round of song contest Giong Hat Viet (Vietnamese Voice), a local version of the popular US reality show The Voice. Thirty short-listed candidates will compete in a blind audition in June, a battle phase will be held in July and live performances will take place in September. Contestants perform in such genres as pop, rock, hip-hop and country.

The singing contest, produced by Viet Nam Television and Cat Tien Sa Media and Television Co, aims to discover new singing talent. The Voice has aired in 47 countries world-wide, with Viet Nam the second country in Asia after South Korea to create its own version of the show.

Book traces Indian influence in culture

The book Traces of Indian Culture in Viet Nam by Prof Geetesh Sharma was presented in a ceremony in Ha Noi on Wednesday.
In the 180-page book, Sharma emphasises the strong relations between India and Viet Nam that have existed for 2,000 years. The kingdom of the Hinduised Champa people spread through central and southern Viet Nam from the 2nd century to the 17th century.

Born in 1932 in the Indian state of Bihar, Sharma is president of the India-Viet Nam Solidarity Committee of West Bengal. He has supported the Vietnamese people during their battle for national independence and in development since the war, and he has promoted cultural and trade relations between the two nations.

Viet Nam has played an important role in the hearts of the Indian people, Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae told the ceremony, noting that developing relations was an important part of the country's "Look East" policy. The ceremony also formed part of the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and India.

Circus programme celebrates International Children’s Day

A special circus art programme of ‘The Little Mermaid’ will be performed at Hanoi’s Central Circus from May 26 to June 3, as part of activities to celebrate International Children's Day and the Action Month for Children.

The Vietnam Circus Federation announced the programme on Wednesday at a press conference.

‘The Little Mermaid’ is elaborately staged with modern lighting and sound and brings children into a marine wonderland where they will meet the beautiful mermaid Ariel and her friends. The play will include performances by clowns, conjurers and acrobats.

People’s Artist Vu Ngoan Hop, Director of the Vietnam Circus Federation, said the thrilling story is a meaningful gift for children on International Children’s Day.

Documentary film festival kicks off in Dong Nai

The first Southern Region TV Documentary Film festival officially began in Dong Nai Province on May 23.

The festival, with the theme of ‘Viet Nam and its people in the process of renewal and integration to the world’, attracted 67 entries from 25 radio and television stations in the Southern region, three permanent agencies of Vietnam Television in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Can Tho, and seven Northern radio and television stations.

The festival offers an opportunity for film makers and producers to meet and exchange experiences, which will support the quality of TV documentary films.

Seminars on ‘Improving the Quality of Documentary Film on Television Network’ and ‘Digital Television – Opportunities and Challenges for Local Radio and Television Stations’ and an exhibition on broadcasting equipment will also be held.

The event, jointly organised by the Ministry of Information and Communications and Dong Nai Radio and Television Station, will run until May 25.

‘Insurgentes’ to be screened in Hanoi

The Onion Cellar will present a documentary film themed ‘Insurgentes’ in Hanoi Cinematheque at 8 p.m. on May 30 and 31.

Directed by Lasse Hoile, the film follows Steven Wilson during his worldwide journey in an attempt to seek new musical inspirations, depicting the artist as a real music lover.

Born in 1967 in England, Wilson was the founder, lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of progressive rock band Porcupine Tree. The film also features other renowned artists he met during the trip such as Mikael Akerfeldt of Swedish metal band Opeth, Israel’s Aviv Geffen and legendary music producer Trevor Horn.

Check out www.facebook.com/theonioncellar for further information or email onioncellarproject@gmail.com.

Tickets are priced at VND50,000 each and are available from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily at Hanoi Cinematheque, 22A Hai Ba Trung Street in Hanoi.

Italian artists come to Hanoi

‘Gala Italiano’ will take place at Hanoi Opera House, 1 Trang Tien Street, at 8 p.m. on June 2 with artists from Associazione Concertistica Romana thrilling local audiences.

The event is to celebrate Italian National Day on June 2 and it is also part of the ‘Italy-Vietnam 2012’ program arranged by the Italian Embassy in Vietnam in cooperation with the Italian Red Cross.

The proceeds will be donated to charity projects which will be deployed by the Vietnam Red Cross Society and its Italian counterparts.

According to the Italian Embassy, the concert features extracts of classic operas by Italian composers Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi and Puccini. Soprano Lucia Conte, mezzo-soprano Paola Cacciatori, alto David Sotgiu, baritone Juan Possidente and pianist Antonio Cama will join the gig under the baton of conductor Carlo Magni.

Tickets for the concert are priced at VND200,000 each and are available at Hanoi Opera House. Call 0913 489 858 or 0983 067 996 for free ticket delivery.

HCM City bustling with summer activities for children

Ho Chi Minh City is bustling with exciting activities and a variety of entertainment programmes for children during the summer months.

A summer book festival will be held at 161B Ly Chinh Thang Street in District 3 by Tre Publishing House from May 31 to June 4, in which books will be offered at 10-70 per cent discount.

Meanwhile Kim Dong Publishing House has launched a special discount of 20-50 per cent on Vietnamese and famous foreign children’s books throughout the country.

HCMC Children’s House will organise music performances, exercise games, reading programmes and other play activities for children living in remote areas. A childhood festival will take place at the municipal Children’s House from May 31 to June 3 with various cultural activities.

In addition, a children singing contest, a summer camp and chess games will be held at Children’s Houses in districts throughout the city from now until the end of July.

A children’s art performance will take place at the Culture and Labour Palace on May 31. All proceeds will be donated to disadvantaged children suffering from diseases.

A collection of short dramas for children will be performed by actress Kieu Oanh and actor Le Huynh at the Cong Nhan Theatre on May 25, 26 and 27.

VNN/VOV/VNS/ND/SGT/Tuoi Tre