Rare documents of world cultural heritage on show

A collection of Vietnamese and French documents consisting of newspaper and research on the Ho Citadel are on display in central Thanh Hoa Province's Library.

The 500-piece collection includes literature and art works of Vietnamese and foreign scholars published before 1945.

The collection gives a panorama of the Ho Citadel, Ho Quy Ly dynasty (1400-07) and publications about the citadel when UNESCO recognised it as a world cultural heritage site in June 2011.

Valuable French photos of the Ho Citadel taken from the air by the Indochina Military Airbase, the stone exploitation of Vietnamese workers for the citadel construction, and a book entitled La Province de Thanh Hoa have been considered the most unique resources for study.

The exhibition is one of a series of cultural festivals held in the Ho Citadel as part of the June ceremony to receive official certification of a world culture heritage site.

The ceremony will be held at the Ho Citadel's Heritage Preservation Centre in Thanh Hoa on June 16.

Book distributor celebrates kids

This summer, the HCM City Book Distribution Corporation (FAHASA) has planned a series of social activities and book promotions directed at children.

On the occasion of the International Children's Day (June 1), the corporation plans to hold an opening ceremony for its book series and summer activities at Xuan Thu bookstore yesterday and in the southern province of Kien Giang tomorrow.

It will donate 470 gift sets, including 20 special sets worth VND230,000 (US$11) each, for poor children who have good study results in Kien Giang, as well as District 1 and Nha Be District in HCM City.

The 30 FAHASA bookstores nationwide will also give local children 30,000 notebooks, 200 bags and hundreds of thousands of school materials. These are valued at VND400 million ($19,200).

FAHASA book van will celebrate its 17th year by sending vans to remote areas in the central province of Quang Nam to meet local children's needs for books, notebooks and other school materials.

The corporation will also host two book fairs in HCM City's suburban districts that will provide children with interesting books and fun activities.

The two four-day book fairs will be held in the city's Nha Be and Hoc Mon districts from June 7-17. Discounted books, games and free movies as well as contests on drawing pictures and colouring statues, will be offered.

In addition, FAHASA has joined the city's price-stabilisation programme on essential goods, and has launched several promotions.

Fund links Vietnamese literature to Russian prose works

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.

The Russian version of War Martyr Dang Thuy Tram's Diary 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."

Fun and games to delight kids at Women's Museum

The Women's Museum will host a day of games, toy-making, storytelling, and fun competitions all day on Friday in a special free programme being held to celebrate International Children's Day (June 1).

The museum is located at 36 Ly Thuong Kiet Street in Ha Noi.

VNN/VNS