Memorabilia recall 1973 Paris Peace Conference

More than 200 documents, pictures and objects are on display at the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi, recalling the 1973 Paris conference on peace restoration in Vietnam.

Exhibits are divided into three parts, with the first looking at the historical background of the Vietnamese resistance war against US aggression, the second dwelling on the Paris conference in 1973, and the third on the Great Victory of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign in April 1975.

Photo: VOV

Heavy losses in Southern Vietnam in the late 1960s forced the US to negotiate a peace agreement with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam.

However, the US sought by all means to delay and not sign the agreement.   

Negotiations had to last for several years, and bitter defeat in both northern and southern fronts, especially its plan to bombard Hanoi in late 1972, prompted the US to sit down at the negotiating table and sign the agreement in Paris on January 27, 1973, putting an end to the war in Vietnam and restoring peace in the country.

The Paris agreement was a big diplomatic victory of Vietnam, marking a turning point in the national revolutionary cause, said Nguyen Xuan Huong, head of the National Archives Centre III, at the opening ceremony of the exhibition on December 27.

After the signing, the US withdrew its troops from southern Vietnam, creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese people to reinforce the struggle liberating the south and unifying the entire nation in 1975.

Book launched marking life of celebrated historian

A new book titled Tran Van Giau - 100 Year Milestone compiles writings by 30 scholars and researchers to create a comprehensive portrait of Tran Van Giau (1911-2010), one of Viet Nam's most renowned historians.

The 400-page book spans Giau's life and career, from his time as secretary of the Viet Nam Communist Party's Southern Region and chairman of the South Viet Nam's Resistance Committee to his years fighting in the Vietnamese revolutionary forces against the French colonialists.

Professor Giau, known throughout the country for his award-winning works in history and philosophy, also served as honorary chairman of the Viet Nam Historical Science Association and chairman of the HCM City Social Science Association. He has received many State awards, including the prestigious Ho Chi Minh Award.

Hanoi celebrates New Year 2013

Hanoi’s Old Quarter management board launched cultural activities at four heritage sites on December 27, beginning the lead-up to welcoming New Year 2013.

Painter Si Tot is exhibiting his work at Kim Ngan Temple on 42-44 Hang Bac Street.

Photographs celebrating the traditional Lai Xa photograph village in Hoai Duc district are on display at Dong Lac Temple on 38 Hang Dao Street.

A heritage building at 87 Ma May Street is showcasing traditional Dong Ho and Hang Trong paintings.

More details about the new exhibitions can be found at the information centre on 28 Hang Buom Street.

All will last through to February 27, 2013.

From December 30, 2012 to January 1, 2013, the Ly Thai To statue square will host a performance celebrating the New Year.

The municipal Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism is also planning to adorn Ly Thai To flower garden with 40 stalls displaying the arts and handicrafts of the city’s traditional craft villages.

Russian literature works translated into Vietnamese

About 40 works of Russian literature will be translated into Vietnamese as part of a translation project initiated on the occasion of Russian president Dmitry Medvedev's official visit to Viet Nam in 2010.

The first batch, released in November, includes four novels by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Chamber music brings Beethoven to capital crowds

Vietnamese and South Korean musicians will perform classical music tonight at Trung Nguyen Book Coffee, 52 Hai Ba Trung Street, at 8.30pm.

The show features a piano performance of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and Vietnamese composer Dam Linh's duet for piano and flute Bai Ca Chim Ung (Falcon Song).

Zion, a 20-member choir from South Korea, will sing Christmas Cantata - A Small Child. Veteran composer Nguyen Cuong will introduce the pieces.

This free show is held on the last Friday of every month.

GoThap recognised as site of national heritage

The historical area of Go Thap in Thap Muoi District, southern province of Dong Thap, was pronounced special national heritage on Wednesday.

Discovered at the end of the 19th century by French researchers, the area once belonged to the Oc Eo Culture, which dates back 1,500 years.

Go Thap has lured countless Vietnamese and foreign archaeologists to research its rare steles and ancient architecture, including sophisticated wooden sculptures and funerary relics.

Located in the centre of the vast Dong Thap Muoi, the area is also notable for its beautiful natural landscapes.
Local authorities plan to preserve the 300-ha area for studying and tourism purposes.

Indian rockband marks anniversary

The Indian Embassy will host a series of performances by Shwaas Rock Band in Viet Nam to mark the visit of INS Sudharshini, a sailing ship used for training by the Indian Navy. It will pay a goodwill visit to Da Nang City from next Monday to Thursday.

The ship is named after the beautiful Sundari, the Sanskrit name for the younger half sister of the Buddha. It will visit Viet Nam to mark the 40th anniversary of full diplomatic relations, the fifth anniversary of the establishment of strategic partnership, and the 20th anniversary of the partnership between India and ASEAN.

The band will perform in Da Nang City on January 2, in HCM City on January 4, in Can Tho City on January 6.
In Ha Noi, concerts will be held at the Viet Nam Dance, Song and Music Theatre on January 7 and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on January 8.

Arts group recognises cultural research

Studies of folk culture and arts received awards yesterday at the Viet Nam Folk Literature and Arts Association's annual congress.

The six research projects to win awards were: The Traditional Festival of the Black Thai in the Northern Province of Dien Bien; Funeral Rituals of the Cham in the Southern Central Province of Ninh Thuan; the Raglai Epics and Folk Tales Tellers; Problems for Vietnamese Epics; Syntax and Semantics of Vietnamese Proverbs; Folk Literature of the Southern Province of Ben Tre.

This year the association received 73 studies on philology, customs, performing arts and folk knowledge, said association chairman To Ngoc Thanh.

"Many of them were profound and showed a great deal of effort by the authors," Thanh said.

However some had included terms which were not relevant to the subject or they perpetuated stereotypes and cliches.

"I read some entries trite and hollow remarks like the composition of a high school student, not the study of a scholar," Thanh said. "As expected, these entries were not successful."

The congress was also held to honour veteran folk artists who devoted themselves to promoting cultural quintessence and preserving traditional arts in their regions. Many artists were granted the title Viet Nam's Master of Folk Art on the occasion.

"The traditional arts are often transferred orally from generation to generation," Thanh said. "When an old artists passes away, he or she takes a library of knowledge with them.

"We need to learn from the old artists and preserve their knowledge and experiences as soon as possible."

Tran Ngoc Thu, a unicorn dancer in the northern province of Quang Ninh, was among the credited artists.

"When I taught unicorn dance to the younger generation and organised dance troupes in the region, I didn't think of receiving certification or even to let anyone know of my work," he said. "I just feel the need to preserve the dance as part of our culture."

Vietnamese, Korean artists join in chamber concert

Artists from Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) will perform together in a concert hosted by Hanoi’s CEG Chamber Music Club at 8.30pm on December 28.

The ZION Korean Choir, comprising 20 Korean singers, will perform a piece entitled “Christmas Cantata—A Small Child” under the baton of Korean conductor Park Sung Min.

Vietnamese artists—including pianists Dang Bich Thuy and Trang Trinh, flautist Kim Oanh, and violinist Dao Hong Nhung—will also participate.   

The CEG Chamber Music Club was established in March by composer Nguyen Cuong.

The club hosts a performance every Friday at 52 Hai Ba Trung Street in Hanoi. The venue can accommodate 200 audience members.

VNN/VOV/VNS