Germany helps Hue City preserve ancient relics

Germany has provided more than 139,600 euro for a project to preserve Hue royal palace, said Phan Thanh Hai, director of the Center for Reservation of Hue Relics.

This is the fourth project under the German international support programme for preserving Hue relics. The three previous projects were focus on preserving the Khai Tuong Lau – An Dinh Palace, King Tu Duc’s tomb and Toi Linh Tu in the Hue royal place.

Ta Vu, built in the early 19th century and upgraded in 1899, was seriously damaged during the wars.

The Ta Vu project will be carried by the German Conservation Restoration and Education Project (GCREP) and Society for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (GEKE) in 2012 and 2013.

After completion, Ta Vu will be a place to showcase part of the Nguyen Dynasty’s history and an attractive destination for visitors to Hue.

French electro-rock band Success tour in Viet Nam

Electro-rock band Success of France will perform at the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF) in HCM City today and in Ha Noi tomorrow, May 30.

The four-member band, consisting of singer Yan Chehu, guitarist Julien Richer, keyboardist Dan Voisin and drummer Jo Daventry, will perform songs from their two EP (extended-play) albums Hard to Come Back, which is the soundtrack of 2009 Hollywood blockbuster Zombieland, and The Secret released in April.

In Ha Noi, the band will play at the French Cultural Centre.

Guided by Mister Eleganz, a musician who plays electro-pop music, the group released its debut single Girl from New Orleans in 2007, which became a hit among the online community.

For three years and more than 100 concerts, Success performed at the avant-garde festival Transmusicales in Rennes, France, in 2009. Its performances have been widely welcomed on French and European stages.

The concerts begin at 8pm at IDECAF at 31 Thai Van Lung Street, District 1, and at L'Espace at 24 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District.

Tickets, costing VND100,000 per adult for HCM City's concert, and VND120,000 per adult for Ha Noi's concert, can be purchased at the venue. Students are offered a 50 per cent discount.

Fund links Vietnamese, Russian literature

Vietnamese would have a greater chance to read Russian books and vice versa, translators said at a ceremony to promote the Viet Nam-Russia literature Fund.

The fund was established by Vietnamese and Russian writers and translators to create a bridge between the two literatures, to raise money to popularise their literatures and to support translators.

Martyr Dang Thuy Tram's diary in Russian will be introduced in July as a result of co-operation between the two countries' translators. Vietnamese novels by Ma Van Khang and Khai Hung will be translated into Russian as well.

The writers and translators had volunteered to contribute money to run the fund instead of waiting for the State and organisations, translator Vu The Khoi said.

"I expect that the fund will support young translators," Khoi said. "Veteran translators like Thuy Toan, the fund's director, and I are at the age of 75. I look to the next generation."

‘Insurgentes’ to be screened in Hanoi

The Onion Cellar will present a documentary film themed ‘Insurgentes’ in Hanoi Cinematheque at 8 p.m. on May 30 and 31.

Directed by Lasse Hoile, the film follows Steven Wilson during his worldwide journey in an attempt to seek new musical inspirations, depicting the artist as a real music lover.

Born in 1967 in England, Wilson was the founder, lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of progressive rock band Porcupine Tree. The film also features other renowned artists he met during the trip such as Mikael Akerfeldt of Swedish metal band Opeth, Israel’s Aviv Geffen and legendary music producer Trevor Horn.

Check out www.facebook.com/theonioncellar for further information or email onioncellarproject@gmail.com.

Tickets are priced at VND50,000 each and are available from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily at Hanoi Cinematheque, 22A Hai Ba Trung Street in Hanoi.

VNN/VOV/SGT/VNS