Legendary documentary filmmaker dies

A member of the “Golden Generation” of Vietnam’s documentary filmmakers, People’s Artist Nguyen Thanh An passed away on April 21 at the age of 78 in Hanoi.

Born in 1934 in Quang Tri, Thanh An devoted his whole life to documentary filmmaking and became part of a generation of very talented documentary filmmakers that included Tran Van Thuy, Dao Trong Khanh, Le Manh Thich, Ngoc Quynh and Luong Duc.

He worked at the Vietnam Documentary Film Workshop from 1967 – 1989, during which he produced some of his best works such as Ngon den cua bien (The Sea’s Lighthouse), Nhung bai ca tu chien hao (Songs from the Trenches) and Bai hoc ve mot con nguoi (Lesson about a Man).

He was elected to be the deputy general secretary of the Vietnam Cinema Association for two terms from 1989-2000. In this period, he made two notable documentaries: Ho Chi Minh and China and Saigon – Ho Chi Minh: 300 years history.

Thanh An will be buried at Vinh Hang Cemetery, Ba Vi District, Hanoi.

Vietnam art exhibition aims to help Japan

An art exhibition showcasing works of Vietnamese painter, Nguyen Thanh Binh opened in Tokyo on April 22 and is dedicated to raise money for Japanese victims of the earthquake and tsunami occurring on March 11.

The exhibition, called “A Celebration of Life and Love”, is displaying 38 oil and canvas paintings focusing on four main topics including Women in Ao dai, Mother and child, Ballerina and Nude, which embody the quietness and pureness through the beauty of women.

At the event, the painter said he drives much of his inspiration for the paintings from Japanese Haiku poetry, especially poems of Matsuo Basho. He also expressed his admiration for Japanese spirit and culture and said he hoped the exhibition will help contribute to support Japanese citizens overcome their most difficult moments.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan, Nguyen Phu Binh thanked Toriizaka Art gallery for introducing Vietnamese paintings to Japanese and international friends. He took the chance to express his admiration for Japanese people’s bravery and strong spirit and said he believed the country’s people will soon overcome the current perilous situation.

He added Vietnamese government and people are always grateful to the Japanese government and people for their support over the past years and will do their best to join hands with Japan in easing difficulties.

At the exhibition, three paintings including “Hope”, “the Conductor” and “Ballerina” were auctioned and sold for a total of 1.6 million Japanese yen (19,200 USD). The money will be sent to earthquake and tsunami victims together with 20 percent out of all the proceedings from selling Binh’s other paintings, said the owner of Toriizaka Art, Karen Thomas.

Danang prepared for international fireworks competition

The central coastal city of Danang is preparing for the 2010 International Fireworks Competition on April 30 and May 1, which is seen as a new, attractive tourist product.

Vo Duy Khuong, Vice Chairman of the Danang People’s Committee, told VOV that the fireworks contest has been held annually in Danang for three years to show cultural identities of Vietnam, not only Danang.

He said the contest has helped raise the profile of tourism in central Vietnam and increased revenues from tourism, services and transport industries in Danang and adjacent provinces.

According to Khuong, the capital for this event is sourced completely from private sponsors. This year, the sponsors have registered to provide VND20 billion for the event.

The official added that the city will take necessary measures to curb any attempts to push up the price of services during the festival.

“The hotels that raise their prices above their listed prices will receive administrative penalties. If they violate [the regulations] again, we will revoke their business licenses,” Khuong affirmed.

‘Reading for tomorrow’ festival captivates young people

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism held a reading festival at the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu) in central Hanoi on April 23 in an effort to promote a reading culture among people, especially students.

More than 40 publishers contributed 5,000 books to the festival, many of which were later donated to libraries in central provinces that had been hit by natural calamities.

At the event, which was attended by many students from schools and colleges in Hanoi, the organizers launched a movement to build standardized ‘friendly libraries’.

Nguyen Manh Hung, Director of the Thai Ha Books Company, told VOV that a reading culture involves good habits, and skills for choosing and reading books.

He called on bookshops and book companies to respect copyright laws and to guide readers in choosing and reading books.

The reading festival included many other activities such as a painting contest, presentations on reading culture and speed-reading techniques, and an exhibition of books featuring library activities.

Signatures were also collected for a campaign to make April 23 National Reading Day.

Vietnamese lacquer painting exhibition opens in China

Forty lacquer paintings by 26 popular painters from the capital city of Hanoi are being showcased at the Vietnamese contemporary lacquer painting exhibition 2011 opening in Beijing, China on April 22.

Speaking at the ceremony, attended by Nguyen Trung Nhat, Deputy Director of the Fine Arts and Photography Department, under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam, along with Chinese officials and guests, Vietnamese Envoy to China Nguyen Vinh Quang affirmed that the exhibition is a periodical fine arts event that will further strengthen traditional friendship between Vietnam and China.

It will also promote cultural exchange and cooperation in all fields, and foster the comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership between the two countries, he said.

The exhibition conveys a message of friendship and solidarity to viewers and all the Chinese people, and aims to raise the relationship between the two countries to a higher level.

Vietnam wins silvers at 27th Spring Friendship Art Festival

The Vietnamese art troupe was invited to join in the 27th Spring Friendship Art Festival in Pyongyang after the success of the country’s Youth Theater at the previous festival in 2009. 

The delegation’s 11 artists won 2 silvers for the performance of people’s artist, singer Quang Tho, with Bai ca trung thanh (Song of Loyalty) and singer Hoai Thu with Kim Nhat Thanh la anh duong (Kim Il-sung is the sunlight).

The festival is a biennial event to mark the birthday of the late President of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kim Il-sung.

This year’s attracted 46 art troupes coming from 20 countries and territories around the world.

Hanoi to host first belly dance festival

The first belly dance festival will be held at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum on May 1.

The event aims to honour women’s beauty and raise funds to help Vietnamese women and children who are victims of domestic violence.   

Participants will perform a form of Flash mob, which originates from Canada and has taken place in many areas around the world.

The festival is organised by the Vietnam Women’s Union in coordination with Apsara Studio.

Self-help books strike chord with readers

With young readers increasingly looking for self-improvement books, HCM City publishers are happy to oblige.

The Vietnamese versions of The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking and How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by American writer Dale Carnegie are best-sellers.

"The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking is interesting," says 20-year-old Thanh Hoa who wants to become an emcee, a much sought-after career these days, and is training for it at a cultural house in District 3.

"The book's professional advice on public speaking is really useful for me."

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (Dac Nhan Tam) translated by Nguyen Hien Le and published in the 1950s has brought huge profits to many distribution companies.

First News Tri Viet, which has the Vietnam copyright, republishes it five times a year.

First News and Tre (Youth) Publishers have bought the copyright to hundreds of foreign self-help books and are publishing their translations.

The Vietnamese version of Life Changes When We Change by Andrew Matthew, The Present by Spencer Johnson, and Believe in Yourself by Joseph Murphy are gaining in popularity among young readers.

The HCM City-based Fahasa Book Distribution Company has sold more than 150,000 copies of I'm Gifted, So Are You by Singaporean entrepreneur Adam Khoo in the last two years.

"Many parents are too busy to teach their children and they buy our books," Pham Sy Sau of Tre Publishers explains.

Following the success of First News and Tre, many new publishers have entered the market.

Hue Festival 2011 to highlight traditional cuisines and bonsai culture 

The festival management board has announced that the Traditional Crafts Village Festival 2011 will be held in the ancient capital of Hue from April 30 to May 3. 

The festival theme will be “Vietnamese Kitchen in Hue Garden” and will highlight the culinary and bonsai culture of Hue.

The festival will introduce the Hue imperial palace cuisines and other traditional Hue dishes including vegetarian dishes, royal dishes, sweet soups, rice dishes and many kinds of cakes.

Cooks from various pagodas and Buddhists will cook the vegetarian food.

Besides, visitors will also have the chance to enjoy some local dishes like heo nuong lu (baked pork in a jar), chao luon dau xanh (eel porridge cooked with green peas), oc buou hap hem (medium-sized edible snails steamed) in the southern cuisine pavilion.  While enjoying these culinary treats in the pavilion, festivalgoers can delight in performances of don ca tai tu (southern amateur music), Khmer dance and folk music.

The festival will introduce hundreds of specialty dishes from the south, Hanoi and Hue. Native bonsai plants from all across Vietnam will be on exhibit for plant lovers.

Apart from the cultural cuisine, the festival also introduces many kinds of ornamental trees from different localities nationwide with themes like “Art ornamental plants and flying emotions” and “Hue- a green city”.

During the event, diverse community activities will be held, such as games for secondary school students, a “happy meal” contest for couples and an interesting trekking hike.

The event will include street music, artistic kite performances, folk games, a chess contest and an exhibition of ornamental trees and culinary arts along the Phu Van Lau Park and along Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street.  Many artisans from ornamental tree clubs throughout Vietnam will join the event.

The biennial festival will provide a good opportunity to promote the land and the people of Hue in particular and Vietnam in general, to both domestic and foreign visitors.