Art contest celebrates World Heritage

An art contest, World Heritage in Your Hands, has been launched nationwide to celebrate Viet Nam's National Day for Heritage and 40 years of the World Heritage convention. The contest aims to encourage young people 18 years of age or under to reflect upon the importance of World Heritage sites and celebrate the preservation of these sites for future generations.

Each participant should create a colourful and unique work that depicts the Viet Nam World Heritage site that they live closest to. Choices include the central sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Ha Noi, the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty in Thanh Hoa Province, the complex of Hue monuments in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh Province and Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province.

All entries should be sent to the UNESCO Ha Noi Office at 23 Cao Ba Quat Street before February 1. Images will be judged on the quality and legibility of the drawing, the originality of the image and the author's knowledge of the heritage behind it.

Exhibition displaying Vietnamese border, sea and islands opens in Hue

An exhibition entitled ‘Vietnam’s border, sea and islands’ opened at the Thua Thien – Hue Provincial Information and Culture Centre on November 25.

More than 370 photos and propaganda posters are on display featuring Vietnam’s sovereignty over its sea and islands, as well as the life of soldiers stationed in border, sea and islands areas.

The event also introduces 21 stone blocks from the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, a statue featuring President Ho Chi Minh and border soldiers, and film screenings on the country’s defence achievements.

Notably, legal documents proving legal Vietnam’s undeniable sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes are also showcased at the exhibition, including a 100-year-old map of the Chinese Qing dynasty showing that China’s southern territory stretches as far as Hainan island, and does not include the two archipelagoes.

The exhibition aims to assert Vietnam’s territorial integrity, raise public awareness, particularly among Party members and the young, of the strategic role of the border, sea and islands, encouraging the entire people and army to protect the country’s sovereignty over the areas.

Stamp honours former communist leader

A postal stamp depicting Communist leader Nguyen Thi Minh Khai (1910-41) has been issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Party Committee and the HCM City People's Committee.

The event marks the 72nd anniversary of southern Viet Nam's Uprising Day and honours Khai's great contributions to the revolutionary cause.

The uprising was suppressed in blood and Khai was sentenced to death by the French colonialists in August 1941 in Hoc Mon District in the outskirt of Sai Gon.

Khai was born in 1910 in the central province of Nghe An. She was the first and only female secretary in the Sai Gon Party Committee.

Concert pays tribute to brilliant duo

A concert to remember two famous composers, Trinh Cong Son (1939-2001) and Van Cao (1923-95), will take place on December 8 at Ha Noi Culture and Friendship Palace, 91 Tran Hung Dao Street.

Cao and Son were great names in Vietnamese music. Cao is the author of the Vietnamese national anthem, while Son is considered one of the salient figures of modern (non-classical) Vietnamese music. Their hits will be presented by leading singers such as Hong Nhung, Thanh Lam and My Linh and saxophonist Tran Manh Tuan.

Film festival highlights traffic safety

The ninth National Film Festival on Traffic Safety took place in Ha Noi with the goal of increasing awareness about obeying traffic laws.

This year, 144 films in different genres such as documentary, comedy, science-education, reportage and music were submitted by 69 organisations to compete at the festival.

The festival, held biennially by the National Traffic Safety Committee, ends today at the National Cinema Centre.

Sculptors urged to rock art competition

Vietnamese and expatriate sculptors are invited to submit their work to the Fifth National Sculpture Exhibition next year, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Department of Exhibition, Photography and Fine Arts has announced.

Each sculptor can submit three works made from any materials within the 2003-13 period. The organisation will examine photos of the works in April and select about 300 to display.

Prizes will be awarded to the best sculptures on display. The first-place sculptor will receive VND30 million (US$1,500), with second and third prizes of 20 million and 15 million, respectively.

A cash prize of VND75 million will also be given to encourage 15 sculptors.

VNN/ND/VNS