Media company launches advertising contest

Sunflower Media Co Ltd has launched a contest to identify the best young advertising talents in the country.

The Vietnam Young Lions 2012 Competition featuring four categories -- TV/Film, Media, Print, and Young Marketers -- is open to all Vietnamese advertising professionals and students under 30.

Winners of the TV/Film, Print, and Young Marketers categories will represent Vietnam at the Young Lions Competition in Cannes, France, next June.

The winner of the Media category will represent Vietnam at the Young Spikes Asia Competition next September in Singapore.

Contestants can take part by sending their works to Sunflower Media in Ho Chi Minh City by September 30.

More information is available at www.sunflowermedia.com.vn.

Canon’s annual photo contest opens

Cannon is now seeking competitors for its annual one-day photo contest this year titled “Canon Photo Marathon Vietnam 2011” to be held in Hanoi in September and Ho Chi Minh City in October.

The contest is open for all Vietnamese nationals with no restriction to experience or age.

On the day of the contest, participants will be given 3 themes for their photos and 3 hours to complete each theme and must return to the contest location to submit their pictures before getting their next assignment.

The first prize winner will receive a Canon Professional Digital Camera EOS 7D Lens Kit, a Canon Photo Printer PIXMA Pro 9000 Mark II and a trip to learn about photography in Tasmania, Australia.

The organizers expect to receive 5,000 participants this year.

Last year, 23-year-old Nguyen Xuan Nam won the Grand Prize and an 8-day trip to Turkey.

The contest will take place in Hanoi on September 24 and Ho Chi Minh City on October 1.

More information can be found at http://www.canon-asia.com/photomarathon.

Famous DJs come to town

World-famous disc jockeys DJ Y, Daiya, and Marius will perform electronic music tonight and tomorrow at the Rooftop bar and restaurant in Hanoi’s Pacific Place.

On the first night -- called Back to Basics -- the audience can meet DJ Y and Daiya and chat with them.

DJ Y began his career in 1995 in France. In 2008 he started the Blue Glasses experience in Hanoi where party-goers had to come in a pair of blue glasses for their photos to be uploaded on blue-glasses.com. It became popular in the capital and later in Ho Chi Minh City and other countries.

In 2009 he cooperated with one of Vietnam’s most famous designers, Ha Truong, and brought the 2,500 people at her fashion show a special music experience.

Daiya was born in Tokyo, Japan, and grew up in the UK. He became a disc jockey in 1996 and has since become a great contributor to modern music culture and the most influential DJ in Southeast Asia.

On the second night, Houseduction, DJ Marius will play house music to celebrate Vietnam’s National Day.

Entrance on both nights will be free. The shows will take place at The Rooftop Bar & Restaurant on Ly Thuong Kiet Street.

Week-long Indian food festival at Sofitel Saigon

Indian food lovers should head to Cafe Rivoli of the Sofitel Saigon Plaza to join in the Indian Culinary Festival organized by the hotel from now until Sep. 6.

The opening ceremony of the festival, which is supported by the consulate general of India in HCMC, kicked off on Tuesday with Indian traditional music and yoga performance while guest chef Montu Saini from the Ashok Hotel in New Delhi and his assistant chef Jagan Nath presented his delicious dinner buffet.

During the festival, the chefs will showcase to diners a flavor-filled selection of curry, the spirit of Indian culinary dishes, and many authentic recipes containing typical Indian ingredients such as coconut milk, cumin, cardamom, clove, green and red chilies and other special foods like tandoori chicken, dosa, garam masala and chicken tikka.

Desserts will be served featuring traditional sweets, yogurt and ice-cream and a selection of local fresh fruit. A free flow of wine, Indian tea and soft drinks will complement your dinner. An Indian Buffet is available every night at Cafe Rivoli priced at VND790,000++ per adult, VND395,000++ per child from 6-12 years old and free for children under six.

It is also a good chance for the festival’s participants to discover the secret recipes of the famous Indian cuisine while attending Nath’s cooking class on Saturday priced at VND500,000++. The class, which will be followed by a lunch buffet at Cafe Rivoli, is limited to ten guests.

For further information or bookings, call 3824 1555 or email to fb@sofitelsaigon.com.vn

The Sofitel Saigon Plaza is located at 17 Le Duan Boulevard, District 1, HCMC.
 
Vietnam Culture Week in Thailand promotes bilateral relations

The Vietnam Culture Week in Thailand concluded on August 30, contributing to introducing the land, people and culture of Vietnam to Thai friends.

The opening was held at the MFA headquarters with the attendance of Assistant Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh, representatives of the Vietnam Embassy in Thailand, the MFA, the Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Association and overseas Vietnamese and Thai friends

Assistant Foreign Minister Vinh and Thai Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Theerakun Niyom affirmed the friendly co-operative relationship between Thailand and Vietnam that has been consistently developed at all levels.

The comprehensive co-operation between the two countries was verified in the joint declaration signed in February 2004 on the co-operation framework between Vietnam and Thailand in the first decade of the 21st century.

The reciprocal visits by the two countries’ leaders have deepened the mutual friendship and trust. The similarities in culture and society have created favourable conditions for strengthening co-operation and exchanges and developing the relationship between the two peoples.

The two sides have regularly exchanged cultural, artistic and sports delegations to boost mutual understanding and trust. Co-operation in education, training, culture, sports and tourism has also been promoted. The annual language and cultural exchange programmes for young people and students are highly appreciated helping the young generations of both countries understand each other better, thereby promoting the friendship between the two countries and contributing to building a sustainable ASEAN community.

On this occasion, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism sent the Youth Theatre music and dance group to Thailand to join Vietnam Culture Week. The artists performed traditional Vietnamese music as well as popular Thai songs. The group performed in Bangkok and other places to celebrate Vietnam’s National Day.

Workshops on economic and cultural links were also held by the Vietnam Embassy, the Thai MFA, the Thailand - Vietnam Friendship Association and the Thailand – Vietnam Culture and Friendship Association. The book “Give me a Ticket back to Childhood” by Nguyen Nhat Anh that has been translated into Thai, was released at a workshop on cultural co-operation. The book won the ASEAN Literature Award 2010 at the Southeast Asian Writers Awards, the annual award established in 1979 by the Royal Thai, to honor outstanding works by Southeast Asian writers and poets. Another book, “Vietnam in Close-up” by former Thai ambassador to Vietnam, Pisanu Chanvitan, was also introduced.

The Vietnam Embassy held photo and art exhibitions featuring high-level visits by leaders of Vietnam and Thailand and the life and people of Vietnam by artists from both countries. Vietnamese cultural products such as traditional conical hats and long-dresses (ao dai) were also on display and drew a lot of attention from visitors.

As part of the event, the Memorial for President Ho Chi Minh was inaugurated on August 30 in Udon Thani (560km southeast of Bangkok). Along with the Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Village in Nakhon Phamom, the memorial will help strengthen the cultural ties between people and governments of the two countries.

The First Secretary in charge of culture and journalism Le Mai Huong, said the cultural exhibitions with photos, paintings, artwork and songs, about the life, and people of Vietnam help promote the image of Vietnam to Thai friends, especially young people who can learn more about Vietnam and grow closer through the event.

On the occasion, the Vietnam Embassy awarded overseas Vietnamese medals for their contributions in the wars against the French and Americans, as well as to the community, and presented Thai friends the Friendship Medal for their dedication to developing friendly relations between Vietnam and Thailand.

Together with political and economic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy has many advantages for introducing the country, people and culture of Vietnam to help Thai friends understand more about Vietnam, strengthen trust between the peoples and promote a comprehensive friendly relationship between Vietnam and Thailand.
 
Vietnam’s cultural week takes place in Laos

The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICT) of Laos and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) of Vietnam is jointly organising ‘Vietnam’s Cultural Week in Laos’ from August 30 to September 4, in Vientiane.

The event aims to implement a co-operative plan in culture and artistry between the two ministries.

A 40-member delegation led by Minister of MCST Hoang Tuan Anh will attend the event.

During the event, arts programmes, including special songs and dances and circus acts, will be performed by artists from Vietnam National Academy of Music, Vietnam Dance College and Vietnam Circus Federation.

An exhibition themed ‘Vietnam Beauty’ displaying special handicraft and fine arts products and well-known photos on Vietnam’s landscapes, culture, country and people and national characters will be also held in the framework of the event.

The event is expected to contribute to strengthening and promoting the special friendship and solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries.

PV