German conductor to perform in Hanoi

Famous German conductor Jonas Alber will join the Viet Nam National Symphony Orchestra (VNSO) in a special concert to be held at the Hanoi Opera House on March 9-10.

Some pieces of music from Mozart’s the Magic Flute, Beethoven’s Fidelio and Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman will be performed at the concert with the participation of tenors Nguyen Anh Vu and Trinh Thanh Binh, sopranos Ha Pham Thang Long and Dao To Loan, mezzo-sopranos Le Thi Vanh Khuyen and Ngo Huong Diep and basso Vu Manh Dung.

Earlier in January 2010, the Goethe Institute invited the German conductor to perform with the VNSO Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 to open the German Year in Vietnam.

He was appointed as General Music Director of the Braunschweig National Theater in 1998 and held this post until summer 2007.

Van Mai Huong wins Favourite Song

Vietnam Idol 2010 runner-up Van Mai Huong won the Favourite Song award with ‘Neu nhu anh den’ (If You Come) at the third live ‘Bai hat Viet’ (Vietnamese Songs) show in Ho Chi Minh City on March 4.  

Second place went to Uyen Linh’s ‘Nguoi hat tinh ca’ (The Love Song Singer) written by Luu Thien Huong, and third prize was won by My Linh singing ‘Gui anh’ (To You) composed  by Anh Quan.

The event attracted 12 singers who had songs in the February music charts including Phuong Thanh, Uyen Linh, Thu Minh, Le Quyen, Tuan Hung, Thanh Bui, Dong Nhi, Ngoc Anh, Quoc Thien, Van Mai Huong, Ha Kio and Le Viet Anh.

Ha Kio started the show with his song ‘Sai Gon café sua da’ (Iced Coffee with Milk in Saigon).

Dong Nhi’s ‘Den ben mua mot bai hat’ (Coming in the Rain with a Song), written by Mr Siro, received great applause from the audience.

Duong Lam’s VND10 billion restoration underway

A 12-month VND10 billion project to restore ten houses in the ancient village of Duong Lam started in January and is in working progress.

Built more than 300 years ago, the dilapidated houses were in desperate need of repair with costs averaging VND1 billion per home. After the restoration is complete, local residents and relevant authorities will exploit the houses as tourist attractions.

Duong Lam, located in Hanoi’s Son Tay Town, receives 30,000 visitors annually.
 
City fashion show captures new Vaio S features

To Introduce new Vaio laptops to the public, Sony in Cooperation with Vietnamese fashion designers Do Manh Cuong, Truong Thanh Hai and Hoang Ngan, launched three collections inspired from the ‘perfect balance’ concept thanks to local models .

The three colors of the Decisive Vaio S laptop line are black, silver and white and they were showcased at Vaio S Fashion show - the perfect balance’ at the White Palace Convention Center in HCMC’s Phu Nhuan District.

Cuong embraces his favorite color via ‘White’ featuring the luxurious life of businesswomen. Ngan‘s ‘Black’ reflects gentlemanliness and attractiveness of men, while ‘Silver’ by Hai promises to create new experiences for viewers.
 
Bookstores gradually attracting more young readers  

Remote areas of the country have seen a downgrade of libraries, almost all of which have outdated editions, or books unsuitable for children and a paucity of funds, hence have failed to attract young readers anymore, said insiders at a national seminar on development of children libraries in Ho Chi Minh City last week.  

Meanwhile cities have seen a large number of bookstores and book markets which offer a diverse collection of books, attracting more young people. Gradually going to a bookstore to read has become a habit for many children.

Earlier, bookstores never allowed people to read in the store because they occupied a lot of space. Children also sat and lay on the floor, which did not look good.

However book markets realise that readers often come back to their familiar bookstores to buy books. Thus they have built reading areas in the markets to meet the people’s demand of reading.

Now kids can also enjoy snacks, beverages or demonstrate their artistic talent by painting statues and making sand pictures in reading areas.

Bookstores and book markets cannot take the role of libraries. But they have contributed in opening reading areas for people and children in various localities.