HCMC hosts screening of American Documentary Films  

American filmmaker Steve Klein and film expert Melinda Levin arrived in Ho Chi Minh City to take part in a screening of American Documentary Films on November 2.  
 
Steve Klein presented his movie titled “Make Believe” to Vietnamese audience. A coming-of-age journey set in the quirky subculture of magic, “Make Believe” follows six of the world's best young magicians as they pursue the title of Teen World Champion magicians and leads us through their personal journeys of transformation through stage magic.

“Make Believe” was the winner of Best Documentary in the Los Angeles Film Festival 2010 and Audience Award in Austin Film Festival 2010.

The event is being organized by the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.

His Holiness visits Vietnam

His Holiness The Gyalwang Drukpa is in Vietnam for a preaching trip from November 1-17 under the invitation of the Hanoi Buddhist Association to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Vietnamese Buddhist Association.

During his visit, His Holiness will appear on VTV4 and tour the north and south and finish his tour in Ho Chi Minh City on November 17.

A book titled “A transcendental spiritual journey” consisting of his preaches will also be released during the trip.

In 2010, His Holiness was honored with the prestigious "For the purposes of the millennium development" of the United Nations and India’s "Green Hero" Cup for his efforts and contributions for a better world.

He now heads hundreds of monasteries in countries including Nepal, India and dozens of Buddhist centers around the world.

He is also founder of the international charity movement Live to Love with many pragmatic projects on education, health aid, heritage preservation and environment.

Japanese films to be screened in Phu Yen and HCM City

A Japanese film festival themed “Love” will be held in Phu Yen and Ho Chi Minh City in November.

Eight films will be shown in both English and Vietnamese subtitles. Love is a very important topic for every individual. The ways through which people show love for one another is quite diverse and is impacted by differences in culture and personality.

The message of love will be delivered through many films during the festival, such as “A Kiss from Heaven,” the “Legends of Ninja Kamui,” and “A Woman Delivers Milk”.

Viewers can enjoy Japanese films at 19/4 Cinema in Phu Yen from November 4-6 and at the BHD Cinema in Ho Chi Minh City from November 18-24.

Vietnam promotes French language training

The annual meeting of the Network of Francophone Forums opened in Hanoi on November 2.

The three-day meeting organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) attracted 40 delegates from the International Francophone Organisation (OIF) and other Francophone organisations.

Nguyen Dinh Thao, DAV Deputy Director said DAV has always valued French language teaching and French-speaking activities. The academy has trained hundreds of officials for ministries and departments using French language; and developed cooperation in many fields with OIF members.

So far, 28 students from ministries, departments and State organisations have graduated, including one from China and five from Laos.

In addition to proposing an orientation for cooperation in the near future, delegates discussed the teaching of French language at universities, a master programme in political science and international relations for the 2010 – 2011 academic year, research on “French language, globalisation and international relations”, and introduced a project to publish a French thesaurus.

In coordination with OIF DAV hosted an international seminar discussing French language training for diplomats in Asia and other regions.

Abstract art hides depth in simplicity

A collection of abstract oil paintings by artist Dang Xuan Hoa on display in HCM City’s Eight Gallery features different perspectives on social life.

The City for You exhibition showcases 16 oil-on-canvas paintings.

Hoa has chosen a simple style, shadowy backgrounds, and random, straight coloured lines for his works Trang Xa (White Distance), Trang Gan (Next to White) and Di Thang (Straight Ahead).

Despite their visual simplicity, the works still have depth.

Hoa is a romantic, emotional artist, even though his paintings may not immediately reveal this quality, according to art critic Nguyen Quan.

Born in Nam Dinh province in 1959, Hoa is a graduate of the Hanoi Fine Arts College.

He has had several solo and group exhibitions in Vietnam and other countries, including Singapore, Thailand, the UK and the US.

In 2008, Hoa ranked 12th among 30 artists selling artworks at an auction of modern and contemporary Southeast Asian paintings at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong.

His work was also in the top 10 at the Larasati auction of Southeast Asian Art in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Hoa’s paintings can be found in museums in Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia.

The exhibition runs until November 7 at Eight Gallery at 8 Phung Khac Khoan Street in HCM City’s District 1.

US embassy helps establish drama project in Hanoi

A project to enhance young actors’ performing skills was launched in Hanoi on November 2 under the auspices of the American embassy.

The month-long project, directed by Neil Fleckman and involving artists from the Youth Theatre, will focus on the drama, All My Sons, by American playwright Arthur Miller.

All My Sons was translated into Vietnamese in 1973 and staged in Vietnam by director Nguyen Dinh Nghi. The play was included in 100 Masterpieces of World Theatre, published in 2006.

Fleckman earned a Master’s degree in Theatre from Columbia University and began acting and producing. He worked on tours by the New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.

Fleckman began working with Vietnamese actors and producers on October 31 to rehearse for performances in Hanoi and Hai Phong early in December.

Slang picture book banned  

Sat thu dau mung mu (Killer with a soft head), a comedic picture book depicting local youth slang that has caused a stir around the country, has been withdrawn from bookstores due to its racy content and possibly offensive language.

The picture book, jointly published by Nha Nam and Fine Arts Publishing houses, is collection of around 120 witty illustrations of rhyming urban street slang.

Examples include: Chan nhu con gian (Tasteless like cockroaches), Cai kho lo cai ngu (Difficulty sparks stupidity), Dau kho nhu con ho (Writhe like a tiger) or Thu vui tao nha – Giat ta cho con (Stunning leisure – Washing diapers).

The book’s author Thanh Phong, who won the Special Jury Prize at the 2011 Asian Youth Animation& Comics Contest, wrote on his blog (phong210.wordpress.com) that although the book might appear to be sheer entertainment, he still felt that he was publishing a kind of journal of modern-day youth culture that could be remembered in the future.

The book has so far been loved and hated. Some critics have called it fantastic while others say Phong has debauched the Vietnamese language by including slang adapted from original folk idioms and proverbs. They say his book is a cheap reflection of the “uncultured” lifestyle of local youths.

On October 21, the Ministry of Information and Communications’ Publishing Department asked the Fine Arts Publishing House to revaluate whether or not the content of the book is appropriate and educational. The publishing house on October 24 issued a recall of the book.

The department is also checking to ensure that both publishers have been properly licensed. Sale of the book will be prohibited during the checks.

Dang Thi Bich Ngan, vice director of the Fine Arts Publishing House, has blamed the problems on Nha Nam for changing the book’s title and publishing it before consulting with Fine Arts.  

“On July 14, my publisher gave Nha Nam approval to release the book under the title Thanh ngu sanh dieu (Astute slang). But the publisher changed it to the current name and published it [without consultation],” Ngan told The Thao Van Hoa.

She said this was also why the book was not submitted to the Publishing Department before its release as regulated by law.

However, Ngan said the book’s content was not socially degenerate as the slang and pictures were just for fun.

More than five thousand copies of the book have been sold since it was released in mid-October.  

Many readers consider the ban meaningless.

Before Sat thu dau mung mu, singer Le Kieu Nhu’s erotic novel about a girl’s marriage to an impotent man was also banned, a move that increased demand for the book more than ever.

“Phong’s book is another testimony that shows how out-of-date and dogmatic our administration is,” commented online reader Ha Nguyen on the Tuoi Tre website. “How could these sayings and easy-to-forget sentences ruin the native language? The funny pictures really entertain me. They cannot just sit there and decide for sure that the book have a negative impact on our lives. Many people have florid words but corrupt morals and behavior.”

Public relations executive Nguyen Le said that youth slang is based on the characteristics of each generation. She said that following and understanding slang is a good way to keep up with and understand youth culture.

Gallimard exhibition in Hanoi

An exhibition on Sterling books is set to take place at Xuan Thu Bookstore in the city from Thursday to November 10 under the cooperation of FAHASA Corp. (HCMC Book Distribution Corporation) and the U.S.-based Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.

The event will offer local readers more opportunities to buy new English books with different themes.

There are over 2,000 titles with more than 10,000 copies featuring many fields, including Making Beautiful Hemp & Bead Jewelry for handicraft and art lovers, or House Beautiful The Home Book for those who love interior design. Also, visitors will see over 100 works helpful for business activities in the hospitality sector and books for housewives, such as Supermarket Diet Cookbook.

There are also numerous books on literature, science and games.

FAHASA offers a 10% discount for customers buying books published by Sterling during the exhibition with the total value of books at VND2 billion.

Xuan Thu Bookstore is located at 391-391A Tran Hung Dao Street, District1.

*An exhibition on publisher Gallimard opened on Tuesday at the French Cultural Center L’Espace at 24 Trang Tien Street, Hanoi, aimed at marking the 100th anniversary of the publishing house’s establishment.

With 18 posters tracing the history of Gallimard, the event discloses the French publishing industry’s image and its literary works published from 1911.

Visitors will see numerous important themes, ranging from establishment of literature and critical magazines to authors’ portraits of different styles such as Gide, Claudel, Valery, Fargue and Apollinaire.

The exhibition also informs viewers of stories of the Pleiade library founded in 1931 or the dark time of French publishers during  the World War II from 1939-1945.

The event runs till November 14.

Phu Quy Island opens Uncle Ho torch
 
The Ho Chi Minh torch was inaugurated on Cam Mountain in Phu Quy Island, Binh Thuan Province last weekend, reports Vietnam+.

The 19.5-meter work (which is a symbol of Uncle Ho’s birthday on May 19) has been erected at the peak of Cam Mountain, one of the two highest mountains on the island.

Besides a bust of Uncle Ho transported from Danang City, the island’s authority has also opened a new 300-meter long road connecting Linh Buu Pagoda and the torch.

Ho Chi Minh torch is a hugely significant monument for local people, according to Huynh Van Hung, an official of Phu Quy Island. This is also a venue to hold important events and to encourage younger generations to contribute to the locality’s development.

Work on the torch started on January 2 in 2010 which had total investment of over VND1.2 billion. It was created through labor and capital contribution from local officials and residents.
 
Make udon noodles with Kawaga’s experts

The center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam will host a training day on making udon noodle, a typical Japanese dish, at the Silk Path Hotel, 195-199 Hang Bong Street in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem District on Sunday and Monday.

Visitors will witness experts on sanuki udon noodle from Kagawa District demonstrate their skills in making the dish. Experts will also instruct Vietnamese people to make the udon noodle with wheat flour, salt and water.

Then visitors and experts will prepare and enjoy the dish.

Visitors also have a chance to enjoy Taisho’s 16-chord zither performance.

Udon is a popular thick wheat-flour noodle in Japan. Udon noodles are often served with meat-boiled soup, fried eggs, aromatic vegetables, fish, dumpling cake, bacon and fried shrimp. Currently, Japan has many types of udon noodle in varied styles from traditional to other new dishes. However, most people enjoy hot udon noodles in winter and cold udon noodles for summer.

Visitors can register for the event at the center, 27 Quang Trung Street in Hanoi, tel: (04) 3944 7419, email: hattv@jpf.org.vn.

Winner of photo contest on rice announced

A photo titled “Gat lua chay lu” (Harvesting rice amid floods) showing soldiers and farm workers harvesting rice in the flooded Mekong Delta has won for Cao Minh Det of the southern province of An Giang the top prize in a national rice-related photography contest.

In the “Vietnamese rice plants confronting global climate change" contest held as part of the Vietnam Rice Festival to be held in Hau Giang this month, the second prize was shared by “Nguon du tru quoc gia” (The national reserve) by Quang Ngoc Minh and “Mua kho” (Dry season) by Tang Quay.

The third prize went to “Boi thu” (Bumper Crop) by Vo Trung Kien, “Me vui mua ve”(Mother happy since it is harvest time) by Nguyen Van Hai, and “Ung dung cong nghe sinh hoc” (Biotechnology application) by Do Lam Vien.

The contest attracted 985 entries from 178 photographers around the country.

More than 100 of them will be displayed at the award ceremony in Soc Trang on November 8.
 
From grapevine information to popular website

A Canadian man put aside his artistic career to develop a website that delivers information about cultural life around Hanoi to anyone who is interested.

A 61-year-old visual artist, Brian Ring had had his works displayed in Canada, Germany and South Korea before coming to Hanoi in 1996.

During his early days in Hanoi, he was excited to explore the city and tried to gather as much information as he could about its cultural life and then share it with a small number of friends.

As more and more people asked him to put their names on his e-mail list, the idea of launching a website to create a place where people can get what they want to know as well as sharing what they know with others dawned on him.

“After 6 hours fumbling around on the computer, the website hanoigrapvine.com was born to provide information about all cultural events in the city that I know of,” Brian said.

Explaining the name of the website, he said it came from the expression “to hear it through the grapevine,” which is how he collected valuable information about upcoming events and performances around the city.

At the beginning, it was just his personal blog – a one man’s show. But as the website grew more popular and more people came to depend on it for their social life, he worked with 5 volunteers who agreed to help him publish and update events, upload articles on the website, answer email and post announcements on Facebook and Twitter for a nominal remuneration.

In 2008, the Danish Cultural Development and Exchange Fund started to fund the website and Brian could officially offer them a reasonable payment.

Today, the website has more than 10,000 views a month and become popular not only with the community of foreign expats in Vietnam but also with many Vietnamese.

Brian no longer has to collect information for the website “through the grapevine,” as many people now take the initiative to contact him and offer him the information. Some even ask him to put the information on his website to promote the event for them.

“Most young Vietnamese contemporary artists use this site to know what’s going on in their city. Some journalists told me they set Hanoi Grapevine as their homepage and look for events and ideas on the website to write their articles on culture and lifestyle,” Brain said proudly.

“Last September, we got 12,000 visitors to the site,” he added.

To be able to run the website, which he jokingly refers to as “his second wife”, and maintain its quality, Brian has to put aside his work as a contemporary artist.

“I could not do two jobs well at the same time, so I chose Hanoi Grapevine. Sometimes I think back on my decision but feel no regrets. Hanoi Grapevine is also a passion and a new form of art to me. Thanks to it, I can contribute to the cultural life of Vietnam in my own way.”

Though having lived in Hanoi for 15 years, 4 years of which were devoted to operating the website, Brian said sooner or later he would have to go to Germany to live with his wife and children.

“Before I go, I want to leave Hanoi Grapevine behind as a legacy, a contribution to the artistic activity of Hanoi,” he shared.

Largest mass wedding for 80 couples

A mass wedding ceremony will be held for 80 couples of workers in Ho Chi Minh City on November 11.

To attend the event, couples will enjoy a full wedding ceremony, including cars, cakes, flowers, rings, albums, costumes, makeup, and a parade in the centre of the city, all free of charge. Each couple will receive a gift of VND2 million (US$100) in a bank account.

Prior to the ceremony, the 80 couples will attend a pre-marriage course on health care, gender and spending.

The wedding will be the biggest of its kind in Vietnam so far.

Mekong artist depicts his love for the Delta

Nguyen Van Thanh, a native of the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang, is displaying 40 acrylic and modern lacquer paintings in a solo exhibition at the Art Gallery in HCM City.

His works provide a deep insight into the beauty of small towns and villages as well as daily life in the Delta region.

Images of women and flowers are romantically portrayed in many of his lacquer works including Young Women on a Spring Day and September.

“This time-consuming and labour-intensive art form doest not seem suited to many young painters,” Thanh said.  “But I love it and I will continue working with it thought it is a slow and costly process to complete a lacquer painting.”

Thanh’s current exhibition, titled Life, will remain open at the Art Gallery, 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street, District 1, until November 30.

Vietnam promotes French language training

The annual meeting of the Network of Francophone Forums opened in Hanoi on November 2.

The three-day meeting organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) attracted 40 delegates from the International Francophone Organisation (OIF) and other Francophone organisations.

Nguyen Dinh Thao, DAV Deputy Director said DAV has always valued French language teaching and French-speaking activities. The academy has trained hundreds of officials for ministries and departments using French language; and developed cooperation in many fields with OIF members.

So far, 28 students from ministries, departments and State organisations have graduated, including one from China and five from Laos.

In addition to proposing an orientation for cooperation in the near future, delegates discussed the teaching of French language at universities, a master programme in political science and international relations for the 2010 – 2011 academic year, research on “French language, globalisation and international relations”, and introduced a project to publish a French thesaurus.

In coordination with OIF DAV hosted an international seminar discussing French language training for diplomats in Asia and other regions.

Khe Ho recognised as national historical site

The starting point of the legendary Ho Chi Minh trail, Khe Ho, in Vinh Ha commune, Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province, was recognised as a national historical site by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on November 1.

Based on historical evidence, Khe Ho was confirmed to be the initial point of Truong Son Strategic Supply Route by the Vietnam Institute of Military History.

On August 13, 1959, logistics Battalion 301 under the Special Military Operations Corps, the precursor to Army Corp 559, departed from Khe Ho to begin their first transportation of military equipment, food and ammunition to the Southern battlefield.

The recognition of Khe Ho as a national historical site honours and commemorates the nation’s glorious feats in the resistance war against the Americans.

1500-year-old Cham jug found in Thua Thien – Hue

A ceramic vase from the Champa culture estimated to be over 1,500 years old was discovered on November 2 in the Huong river bed in Phu Thanh commune, Phu Vang district in the central province of Thua Thien –Hue.

According to Hue historical researchers, the ancient brown jug, about 18 centimetres tall and 18 centimetres in diameter, dates back to the early period of Cham culture between the 1st and the 4th centuries AD.

This is the oldest of thousands of artefacts that have been found in the Huong river bed so far.

The jug could have been used in everyday daily in Champa or as a container for holy water or offerings in ceremonies and rituals at temples.

Hanoi int'l women to host charity event  

The Hanoi International Women’s Club (HIWC) will host the much-anticipated 20th Annual Charity Bazaar, one of the key charity events in the country, on November 27.

The HIWC Charity Bazaar is an unique international bazaar and involves the international and diplomatic communities from approximately 30 countries in Hanoi, as well local businesses and charity organizations.

During the event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 3.30 p.m., visitors will have the opportunity to taste food from many different countries, as well as shop a fantastic selection of products including wines, clothing, handicrafts and Christmas gifts.

As in previous years, there will be a lively Kid’s Corner with activities, as well as a silent auction with a great selection. Also back this year will be a stage with live music and performances from different countries.

Proceeds from the bazaar go to support many charities in and around Hanoi. Last year, the HIWC supported 16 projects ranging from HIV/AIDS home care medical kits for children in Bac Ninh; set-up costs for a shelter to house female victims of human trafficking in Lao Cai; support for gifted ethnic minority students to attend university Ha Noi and Cataract and Retinal Eye Surgeries Quang Ninh.

This year’s event will be held at United Nations International School Hanoi, Phu Thuong Ward, Lac Long Quan Road, Tay Ho District, Hanoi.

Tickets are priced VND100,000 for adults and VND50,000 for children ages 3 – 12 years. Children under the age of 3 are free.

Tickets are available at the gate on the day of the bazaar, or can be purchased in advance from J.A.F.A, Jaspas, Oasis, Pure Heaven and PUKU.

“Lyrical Piano” to feature Aussie Aaron Carpene in city  
 
The Australian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City together with the city’s Youth Cultural House will organize classical concert “The Lyrical Piano” featuring Australian musician Aaron Carpene on Nov. 9, 2011 at the House.

The concert will feature classical pieces by Felix Mendelssohn, Muzio Clementi and Franz Liszt.

Carpene will be joined by Vietnamese guest performers Duc Tuan and Hai Phuong in the show.

An accomplished performer and conductor, Carpene has performed throughout the world. He is a Professor of Music Studies at John Cabot University in Italy’s Rome, musical assistant to Alan Curtis and artist-in-residence at the Conservatory of Music in Damascus and the Academy of Performing Arts in Hong Kong.

Mr Graeme Swift, Australian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, said: “Aaron Carpene’s talent and passion for music will ensure a memorable performance. We encourage everyone with an interest in the arts to attend this special event.”

“Vietnam’s Four Seasons” photo contest announces winners  

Photographer Tran Thiet Dung from the central highland province of Lam Dong won the first prize for his picture “Being ecstatic” at a   photographic contest themed “Vietnam’s Four Seasons”.  

Two second prizes went to Nguyen Van Thuong and Nguyen Quoc Huy for their photos “Enjoying the spring” and “Speed”.

Dung will receive a free five day tour of Hong Kong and Macau (China) as a first prize, while Thuong and Huy will receive a four day tour of Singapore as second prize.

Free tours of Cambodia and Nha Trang were offered to the three third prize winners and five encouragement prizes were also offered by Viet travel Tourist Company, the main organizers of the contest.

Viet travel Tourist Company launched the contest two months back, receiving more than 1,600 photos from 242 photographers throughout the country.
 
HCM City television gets Lao development award  

The Lao Prime Minister has awarded the Insignia of Development of Laos to Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV).   
 
The award aimed to honour HTV’s great contributions to the construction of Attapeu province’s television station and the training of technicians and editors.

At a total cost of over 421,000 USD, the television station also broadcasts HTV programmes to serve the Overseas Vietnamese community in the province.

At a ceremony to receive the insignia on Nov. 2, Nguyen Quy Hoa, HVT General Director said that HTV will continue cooperating with Laos in the field of television and culture, including the training of cadres and editors for Attapeu province’s television station, providing support to Sekong provincial television station and promoting comprehensive cooperation with the Lao National Television Station in the near future.

Hoa said that HTV will also host a music show to celebrate the 50 th anniversary of Vietnam – Laos diplomatic ties and the 35 th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam – Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty next year.

Countryside landscape exhibition by Tranh Viet

Tranh Viet Club opened a painting exhibition Tu do (Liberty) on Tuesday at the Labor Cultural House, 55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street in District 1.

Under the theme of Tu do, the exhibition showcases over 50 works by 19 member artists. Besides Thuyen va bien (Boat and sea) by Thanh Thuy, viewers can enjoy Cho ca (Fish market) and Hoa song (Wave flowers) by Xuan Mai, Bep som (Early fire) by Minh Tam along with many pieces by other painters.

Works depict countryside landscape and daily lives of Vietnamese people via lacquer, canvas, pastel and water-color materials.

During its six-year operation, Tranh Viet Club has held four exhibitions. Its members are both professional and amateur painters active in different fields but they all share a love of painting.

Comic comp to focus on environment  

Issues relating to environmental and ecological changes were the subject of the Viet Nam Press Cartoon contest, launched nationwide yesterday.

This was the third time the biennial contest had been held, and it had become a much anticipated event, said Truong Le Kim Hoa, director of the organising board.

"Protecting the environment is an urgent problem facing both our country and the world," she said. "Through their drawings, cartoonists will help raise public awareness of the environment."

The contest is open to amateur and professional cartoonists living in Viet Nam.

The candidates have been asked to submit entries that reflect global environmental issues, highlight activities that have negative ecological impacts, and send a message that influences people's behaviour in a positive way.

Entries should have been printed in domestic media between 2010-11, and sent to the co-organiser, The Thao&Van Hoa (Sports&Culture) newspaper, 33 Le Thanh Tong Street, Ha Noi, before January 31.

The awards ceremony and an exhibition of the entries have been scheduled to take place in Ha Noi on April 1.

The contest was jointly organised by the Viet Nam News Agency and the Viet Nam Journalists' Association. This year, it has received sponsorship from Ford Viet Nam and Denmark's Cultural Development and Exchange Fund.