Venezuela embassy donates books to National Library

The Venezuelan Embassy today donated 200 copies of a book entitled Bolivar – Liberator of Nations, Homeland Creator to the National Library.

The book, including translations into Vietnamese, Spanish and English, is expected to help local readers learn more about the Venezuelan hero and the country's history, according to Jorge Rondon Uzcategui, the Venezuelan Ambassador.

This is the first trilingual edition of the book, translated into Vietnamese to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Known as El Libertador (The Liberator), Simon Bolivar (1783-1830) was a general and statesman who lead revolutions against Spanish rule in the Viceroyalty of New Granada (an area that included present-day Colombia, Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela).

Today he is considered one of the most influential politicians in Latin American history.

Indian expats to celebrate Festival of Colors  

The Ho Chi Minh City chapter of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (INCHAM) will celebrate Holi, known as the festival of colors, at the RMIT International University in District 7 on Saturday, March 3.

The celebrations, titled “May your world be a garden of vibrant colors,” will begin at 9 a.m. and last till 2 p.m. with free flow of drinks, Indian food and lots of dances and games.

Holi is a spring festival celebrated in India, Nepal and Pakistan. It is also celebrated by Indian communities living in other corners of the world like Malaysia and the United States.

Entrance is free for INCHAM members and other non-members of the Indian Community. For others, adult tickets cost VND300,000 each and tickets for kids aged between 8 and 12 are VND130,000 each.

Vietnam's Oscar nomination list finalized

The Vietnam Cinema Association has finalized this year’s list of nominees for the national film awards, Canh Dieu Vang 2012 (Golden Kite), to be held in Hanoi next month.

The 12 nominees, ranging from comedies and romantic comedies to thrillers and action films, include “Mui Co Chay” (The Smell of Fired Grass), “Tam Hon Me” (Mother’s Soul), “Do hay Day” (Here or There), “Sai Gon Yo!,” “Hotboy Noi Loan” (Lost in Paradise), “Le Phi Tinh Yeu” (Love Fee), “Hello Co Ba” (Hello Miss Ba), “Vu Dieu Duong Cong” (Curves’ Dancing), “Lenh Xoa So” (The Command for Deletion)), “Long Ruoi” (Long Fly), “Loi Nguyen Huyet Ngai” (Blood Curse) and “Ngoi Nha Trong Hem” (House in the Alley).

The list will be officially announced in a press conference on March 1.

“Canh Dieu Vang” is Vietnam's most prestigious movie festival, equivalent to a local Oscar event.

The annual award, which first started in 2003, aims to honor the best films produced during the preceding year. The organizing board presents Golden, Silver and Bronze Kite Awards.

Hanoi audiences can get tickets for free from March 6th to watch the nominees at the Vietnam Cinema Association at 51 Tran Hung Dao Street, the Thang 8 (August) Theater at 45 Hang Bai Street and the National Cinema Center at 87 Lang Ha Street.

This year’s award ceremony will be held on March 17 at the Cultural Friendship Palace at 912 Tran Hung Dao.

Tribute singer to bring Gaga and Britney’s hits to Hanoi
 
English singer Jeni Jaye will perform 'Just Dance' in the way Lady Gaga looks and soundsEnglish singer Jeni Jaye, one of the world’s most famous tribute singers will perform in Hanoi next month.

At the event titled “Lady Gaga and Britney Spears Tribute Show,” the 22-year-old will perform the Britney Spears and Lady Gaga hits which have made Jaye’s reputation like “Baby one more time,” “Oops… I did it again,” “Stronger,” “Bad romance,” and “Just dance,” in the style of the two American stars. In 2001, Jeni was invited to sing at the opening ceremony at the Dubai A.T.P. Tennis Championships which was broadcast live to TVs around the world.

Last year, her one night “Britney Tribute” show in Germany was received fantastically by thousands of Britney’s fans.

Jenni is also an actress and has appeared in some of Britain’s top TV shows such as Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Heartbeat and Children’s Ward.

The “Lady Gaga and Britney Spears tribute show” will take place at the Rooftop Bar & Restaurant at 83B Ly Thuong Kiet Street in Hoan Kiem District on March 8.

Hanoi to host concert for In't Women's Day  

In honor of International Women's Day on March 8, the Hanoi Opera House will host "With the Guitar," a night of music on March 4.

The show will feature the Son Flamenco Band performing popular Vietnamese songs composed by Le Minh Son.

Leading vocalists, including Thanh Lam, Tung Duong, Hoang Quyen, and Le Minh Son will perform "Oi que toi" (O, my hometown), "Chay tron" (runaway), "Con trai be bong" (little son), "Ha Noi cua toi oi" (my Hanoi) and "Yeu" (love).

The concert's highlight promises to be "Minh la dan ong", which Son composed for a Spanish NGO and their project aimed at curbing violence against women.

Tickets, priced from VND500.000 to 1.200.000, are available at Hanoi Opera House – 1 Trang Tien Street, or can be booked online at www.ticketvn.com, ticketvn@gmail.com

For free delivery, call: www.ticketvn.com, 0913489858, 0983067996, 35651806 and 66617859.

VN archeological artifacts on show in Germany

A display of Vietnam ’s precious archeological items will take place in Germany in 2014 and 2015, making contributions to promoting the Southeast Asian country’s culture and tourism to foreign friends.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the German Embassy in Hanoi on Feb. 28 as a preparatory step for the important event.

Before the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Khanh Hai held talks with Sabine Von Schorlemer, Minister for Higher Education, Research and the Arts of German Sachsen state.

During their talks, Deputy Minister Hai suggested various cultural fields for future bilateral cooperation, including performance arts, exhibitions, cultural heritage and training.

Sabine Von Schorlemer stressed the importance of the project on showcasing Vietnamese archeological items, adding that those items will be displayed in three states in Germany .

In another move, the Cultural Heritage Department, Goethe Institute and Vietnam National History Museum will jointly hold an international workshop on Vietnam ’s archeology from Feb. 29-March 2.

The event is expected to attract historians, researchers and scientists from home and abroad.

CNN introduces Vietnam’s ‘underground’ attractions

CNNGO, a website that “covers travel, lifestyle, personalities and latest trends in the most fascinating and vibrant places in the world,” today has listed Vietnam’s top underground attractions, ranging from the world’s biggest cave to a five-star hotel’s war bunker.

These destinations, which are of significant importance to the country’s history, nature, geology and archeology, are places worth visiting for tourists considering a trip up and down the country’s length.

Son Doong cave in Central Vietnam’s Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park is awe-inspiring for its spectacular beauty and size, which can fit “a Manhattan city block, buildings included”.

Ha Long Bay’s “Surprise Grotto”, a much-frequented tourist spot that seems “meager compared to Phong Nha – Ke Bang”, is still worth exploring, the site said.

Fans of history and wartime battle can opt for a one-day trip to Cu Chi tunnels in Ho Chi Minh, which spread out over 250 kilometers underground, once used by Vietnamese troops during the American war for 20 years.

Vinh Moc tunnel in Quang Tri, though it pales in comparison to the size of its “sister” Cu Chi, took around 18 months for locals to carve and was for six years “a subterranean home” for locals to take shelter from aerial raids during the war.

Up north to the country’s capital, CNNGO suggests wandering into the “quiet Thang Long archeological dig site” of the Imperial Citadel remains to have a feel of the city’s long history.

Another charming underground spot, yet to open for tourists, has just been discovered at the 110-year-old Hanoi’s Sofitel Legend Metropole. Recent restoration work there uncovered a long forgotten war bunker used during the American war and there has been talk of turning it into a museum or wine cellar, the site reported.