Japanese martial arts performed in Hanoi 

The Japanese Embassy in coordination with the Aikido Yukishudokan and Kendo Hanoi Clubs held a performance of Aikido and Kendo in Hanoi on December 4.  

Speaking at the event, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yasuaki Tanizaki said that Aikido and Kendo are Japan ’s two traditional martial arts that represent the unique cultural identity of the people in the country of cherry blossoms.

He expressed his wish that the performance would help Vietnamese people, especially young people, understand more about the Japanese culture, and strengthen the friendship and mutual understanding between the two nations.

Aikido was formed in Japan and developed throughout the world in the middle of the 20 th century. Aikido practitioners do not use attacking movements but take advantage of their rivals’ strength to master them.

Formed 1,200 years ago, Kendo uses bamboo-made sticks to attack the rival with the aim of strengthening physical and spiritual health as well as improving concentration on study and work.

Vietnamese cultural space opens in Cuba 

A Vietnamese Cultural Space was inaugurated in Havana’s Asian House on December 2 on the 50 th anniversary of Vietnamese-Cuban diplomatic ties. 

Present at the opening ceremony were members of the Communist Party of Cuba’s Central Committee, including the Director of Havana’s Historical Office Eusebio Leal, President of the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association Yolanda Ferrer, the former Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Raul Valdes Vivo and former Deputy Foreign Minister Hector Rodriiguez Llompart, who on behalf of the Cuban Government signed the agreement to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam.

Several ASEAN ambassadors in Havana also attended the event.

The Vietnam Cultural Space has hundreds of farming tools, weapons, pottery, fine arts and handicraft products, ethnic costumes and pictures featuring the different cultures in regions across Vietnam on display.

At the heart of the display are two sculptures of President Fidel Castro and Ho Chi Minh, made from stone by Vietnamese craftsmen.

On addressing the event, Vietnam’s Ambassador to Cuba Vu Chi Cong recalled the 50 years of bilateral relations and expressed his thanks to the Cuban Party, State, Government and people for their valuable support to Vietnam during its wars of resistance as well as in its present national drive for construction.

He said he hoped that future generations would maintain and develop the special friendship between the two countries, adding that a Dong Son bronze drum exhibited there was the first to be displayed in Latin America.

The Vietnam Cultural Space is a gift from the Vietnamese Government to Cuba in accordance with an agreement signed at the 27 th session of the Inter-governmental Commission.

Cultural activities to celebrate the Christmas Seasons 

Many of the city’s entertainment venues are busy these days, offering exciting activities and entertainment programs for locals and tourists centered on the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. 

Dam Sen Cultural Park hopes to lure visitors with its musical performances, comedies and puppetries during this Christmas holiday. The highlight of this period will be a concert entitled “Gala Xmas 2010” featuring the famous pop star Dam Vinh Hung, bringing some Christmas joy to music lovers.

In addition, a special art performance themed “Colors of the winter” will be held at the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Culture Palace on December 25.

Additionally, The Idecaf Theater will present a children’s dance and music performance entitled “Fairy stories”. It is the drama of the adventures of the Monkey God in the classic Chinese novel “The journey to the West”. It is at the Ben Thanh Theater from December 17 to January 2.

Another play to be performed will be held at the Ho Chi Minh City Drama Theater. It will be on the relationship between family members and the issues it can entail. These are some of the choices this Christmas season.

Viet Nam's first coffee museum set to open

Viet Nam's first coffee museum will open soon in the central- highland city of Buon Ma Thuot.

More than 10,000 rare exhibits that illustrate the history of coffee have been transferred to the museum's proprietor - the Trung Nguyen joint stock company - from the world's biggest coffee museum owner Jens Burg of Germany.

About 100 objects from the collection are on display at Trung Nguyen Coffee, No 7 Nguyen Van Chiem Street, District 1, HCM City.

Visitors are shown how coffee has been made from the beans to a cup throughout history.

"We define Buon Ma Thuot with its variety of coffee and its contribution to building Viet Nam coffee's world brand as coffee city," said Dac Lac Provincial People's Committee deputy chairman Dinh Van Khiet.

Professor Thai Quang Trung welcomed the national coffee museum.

"Coffee has two values that need to be confirmed," he said.

"It's herbal value and value to inspire people to create and develop."

Brazil, Ethiopia, Britain, Germany and Japan have coffee museums.

City to host international food festival 

An international food festival featuring special dishes of more than 20 countries throughout the country will take place at the 23/9 (September 23) Park in Ho chi Minh City at the end of December, said the organizer,  Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism of the city.

Highlights of the event will include a cooking contest, giving visitors a chance to taste special dishes; a display of Vietnamese and world dishes; a new record of a giant banh xeo (Vietnamese rice pancake); music shows; folk games and more.

The opening ceremony will open with a parade and be broadcast live on Ho Chi Minh City Television’s HTV9 channel on December 26.

The food festival will run until January 2.

PV