Show raises funds for disadvantaged children in Ha Noi

A painting exhibition will be held in Ha Noi to mark International Children's Day, tomorrow, to raise funds for disadvantaged children and encourage their talent.

More than 100 paintings by children from Xa Dan School for the Disabled, Birla Children's Village, Bo De Pagoda and Mam Sang Charity Club will be on show, which opens at 4pm tomorrow, June 1.

Exhibition manager Tran Thu Dung said the children had used the likes of crayon and water colours to express their dreams of being healthy and happy in their families and their feelings about the surrounding world.

Despite their disadvantages, they still used bright colours "to express their optimism", Dung said.

"The children have different stories – some are disabled, some are homeless and parentless – but they share the same passion and aptitude for painting."

Part of the proceeds from selling the paintings will be donated to charities where the children are raised and taught.

Visitors to the exhibition will receive a postcard and pictorial book of the paintings.

The exhibition will run until June 10 at Artlink Centre, 3D Centre Building, Duy Tan Street, Cau Giay District.

American writers to visit Vietnam

A group of American writers from the University of Iowa will pay a working visit to Vietnam from June 4-7 in the framework of cooperation between the Vietnam Writers' Association (VWA) and the US Embassy in Hanoi.

They will discuss the possibility of cooperation in translating literary works and invite Vietnamese writers to attend the International Writing Programme (IWP).

They will also attend an exchange of experience in teaching and writing with Hanoi University of Culture.

Da Nang to host beauty contest

A beauty contest will be held at Da Nang's Fusion Maia Danang Resort on July 1-6, the city's Culture, Sports and Tourism Department has announced.

The event will see 20 candidates competing in the final round for the first prize of VND50 million (US$2,400).

Three top candidates will win berths in the Miss Viet Nam contest, slated for Da Nang this August.

Cinematheque presents ‘Project Black'

 The sixth documentary of Project Black will be presented to audiences from 8-9pm at the Hanoi Cinematheque, 22A Hai Ba Trung Street, on Saturday, June 2.

Entitled Disorientated, the production showcases Nguyen Quang Thang - a scion of a long line of calligraphers from Ha Noi's suburban district of Phuc Tho. Thang sets out on a journey to trace the history of the Nom ideographic scripts established in Viet Nam in the 10th century and widely used until the beginning of the 20th century. At this point, the script was replaced with the current romanised Vietnamese.

As an archivist at the Institute of Chinese Han-Nom Research, Thang has tried his best to find ancient documents that prove the origin of the scripts. Through his calligraphy artworks created in his studio, audiences can see his effort to resurrect a fading art form.

The screening is open to the public and admission is free.

Couchsurfing.org holds weekly meeting

Couchsurfing.org is the largest community of backpackers from all over the world where locals in almost every city welcome, help, and hang out with tourists passing through.

In Ha Noi, the community gathers twice a week. While the first meeting is every Wednesday from 8pm, the second is usually over weekend and consists of the previously agreed on activity.

The next CS meeting on Wednesday, June 6, will take place at La Bomba Latina, 6 Ngo Huyen Street from 8-11pm.

AmCham hosts summertime networking event

You are invited to kick off the summer by joining the summertime networking event hosted by American Chamber of Commerce in Ha Noi on Wednesday, June 6, from 6-8pm at Jackson's Steakhouse, 23J Hai Ba Trung Street.

You will be able to savour US Angus beef, Alaskan crab, salmon bruschetta, baby back ribs, caramelised pork skewers, cold beer and six different American wines to taste. In addition, the event offers a few prizes to give away so be sure to bring your business cards.

Everything is included for VND250,000 when you show your membership card. Others can attend for VND350,000. No pre-registration required.

Caravelle flash mob dance for environment

A flash mob of nearly 100 employees of Caravelle Hotel will dance in front of the HCM City Opera House on Sunday to celebrate World Environment Day, June 5.

Staff, department heads, and senior managers will dance to the beat of Owl City's Fireflies, Black Eyed Peas' Time of My Life, and Thao Trang's Feel the Life during the four-minute routine, before taking part in a clean-up of the Opera House surrounds and front yard.

The dance performance will begin at 9am at 7 Lam Son Square in District 1.

Dance show at Youth Cultural House

Dancenter will present a dance performance by its students and professional troupe UDG (Urban Dance Group) at the HCM City Youth Cultural House on Saturday and Sunday.

The Saturday show will begin at 7pm and the Sunday show at 3pm.

Tickets costing VND100,000-200,000 can be purchased at Dancenter, 53 Nguyen Dang Giai Street, District 2, and at Exotissimo at Sofitel Hotel in District 1, Thao Dien in District 2, and My Khanh 3 in District 7.

French guitarist to perform at IDECAF

The French Cultural Centre in HCM City and the Institute for Culture Exchange with France (IDECAF) will present a solo concert by guitarist Thibault Cauvin at IDECAF next Tuesday, May 5.

Cauvin, 27, who hails from a family of musicians, began learning the guitar from his father at the age of six. By the time he was 20 he had won 13 international prizes.

He graduated from the Bordeaux and Paris conservatories, and has performed at more than 1,000 concerts worldwide and released five albums.

The concert will begin at 8pm at 31 Thai Van Lung Street, District 1. Tickets costing VND100,000 for adults and 60,000 for students are available at IDECAF.

VNN/VOV/VNS