Hanoi to host photographic exhibition on homosexual couples

A photographic exhibition on homosexual couples titled “The Pink Choice” will be held for the first time at Goethe Institute in Hanoi from November 15 to December 2.

It will display 45 pictures of homosexual couples in their daily lives.

These photos, taken by Maika Elan, out of curiosity, provide insight into homosexual’ lives.

She is focused on the affectionate touches, and more importantly, the synchronized rhythm of lovers sharing life together. Viewers might not see much of personality apart from the warmth of love and caring.

In another way, in this exhibition, she wants to show what she saw from homosexual people and not to show how homosexual people see themselves.

During the exhibition, Maika will have an exchange with spectators at 6.30pm on November 17.

Maika Elan’s full-name is Nguyen Thanh Hai, who was born in Hanoi in 1986. She graduated from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in the capital city in 2008, then started working as a freelance photographer.

She has taken part in photographic workshops and festivals in Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Bangladesh, and has won a number of prizes.

In September 2012 her photographs were shown at the World Event Young Artist Festival in Nottingham (the UK).

Students dance to bring focus on AIDS in November contest

Students from high schools and universities in Ha Noi are expected to take part in a Start Dancing, Stop AIDS contest, part of the Dance4Life project, launched by Rutgers WPF.

Rutgers WPF is a renowned centre of expertise on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Its activities are mainly carried out in the Netherlands, Africa and Asia.

Under the guidance of professional dancers and crew, such as Sacred Crew and dancer Ha Le, the students will prepare a dance to draw attention to AIDS prevention and discrimination against HIV-infected people.

Goodwill ambassador for the event this year, Le said he wanted to send the message: "Let's dance towards peace, unity, love and fun."

The final round will be held on November 24 at the city's West Lake Water Park. Judges will focus on music, creation, style and the quality of the dancer's message.

Dance4Life was founded in 2003 and has become an international movement which inspires, mobilises and unites young people to curb HIV and AIDS.

Ukraine orchestra to feature at folk dance, music festival

A musical performance at the HCM City Opera House tomorrow will introduce a programme called Ukraine Cultural Days in Viet Nam.

On Sunday, folk dances and music will be held Ha Long city with the participation of the Ukraine National Orchestra and G. Veryovka Orchestra.

A repeat performance will be given in Ha Noi Opera House next Tuesday.

The events will include a photo exhibition of Ukrainian landscapes and the nation's people.

Survivors share stories of US air raids in Ha Noi at French centre

Visitors to the French Cultural Centre in Ha Noi can hear stories from those who survived US B-52 air raids against Ha Noi in 1972.

Vietnamese journalists Huyen Mermet and Dang Duc Tue spent two years meeting 100 survivors and recording their memories of the 12-day blitz. These stories provide material for a seminar at the centre, organised by Olivier Tessier, head of the Ha Noi-based L' Ecole Francaise d' Extreme-Orient (EFEO) (French school of Asian studies). Tessier received the Bui Xuan Phai – Love for Ha Noi award in September for his research on Ha Noi's Ancient Citadel.
The seminar also marks the end of the one-month photo and video exhibition Ha Noi's Days and Nights in 1972, which features photos taken during the US air blitz on the city.

The seminar will take place at 6pm today at 24 Trang Tien Street, Ha Noi.

Ha Noi residents to visit HCM Trail Museum

Friends of Vietnam Heritage (FVH), a non-formal group of mainly Ha Noi residents from many countries, will host a trip to the Ho Chi Minh Trail Museum and Van Phuc Silk Village on Saturday.

The museum is dedicated to the famous supply route from the north to the south of Viet Nam during the anti-American War.

Attendees should gather at the Sofitel Plaza Hotel, Yen Phu Road at the corner of Thanh Nien Road, before 8.30am (the coach should return by 3pm).

The trip costs VND300,000 per head and is limited to 40 people.

Please contact Helen at helenshuntley@yahoo.com for registration.

Take a guided tour through the Old Quarter

The FVH is organising a sight-seeing trip to Ha Noi's old Quarter this Sunday. Anyone interested should meet outside St Joseph's Cathedral, on the corner of Nha Tho and Nha Chung streets at 9.30am.

The two-hour walk, which is guided in English, commences at the cathedral and travels through some famous Old Quarter streets including Hang Trong and Hang Quat. It also includes visits to two small temples in the area and a communal house (if open).

The group will contain a maximum of eight people, with tickets VND70,000 per person. For reservations, please contact Sue Jacka on 01204 071311, or email: sue.jacka@gmail.com.

Traditional theatre show offered at Golden Bell

Fans of Vietnamese culture are being urged to visit the Golden Bell Theatre this Saturday, when one show will celebrate the sights and sounds of Viet Nam through eight performances of various traditional folk styles.

Guests can get nostalgic with the tragic love stories in quan ho (love duets) singing, be charmed by the irresistible Cham dance, chuckle at the bizarre couples in Ly Ngua O (a southern folk melody) or laugh and cry with the various styles of cai luong (renovated opera) plays. The show will provide simultaneous interpretations and plenty of visual aids to offer a production that showcases the very soul of the Vietnamese people.

Located at 72 Hang Bac, one of the Old Quarter's most historic corners, the show runs from 8-9pm.

Charity Mardi Gras night opens on Saturday

The Ha Noi University (HANU) hosts a Mardi Gras themed charity night for One Heartland Viet Nam at the Cinematheque on Saturday.

One Heartland Viet Nam is a joint project of students from the University of California and HANU, who work together to help change the lives of some of Viet Nam's poorest and neediest people.

Finger foods will be provided at the dance, as well as live music and performances by local groups, while short films will be shown in the theatre.

Pre-sale tickets are VND80,000 and tickets on the door cost VND100,000. The ticket price includes entrance to the dance, entertainment and a night of fun! Drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic will be available for purchase at the event.

Dress code for the event, which takes place at 22A Hai Ba Trung Street from 6-11pm, is semi-formal.

For ticket orders, please contact: Hoa: 01694401829 or Daishar: 01677690293.

The Little Prince comes to the city

Antoine de Saint-Exupery's masterpiece The Little Prince will be staged in HCM City tonight.

The Dragonfly Theatre Company recreates the inter-planetary journey of the Little Prince from asteroid B-612 to planet Earth. The performance is directed by Jaime Zuniga and actress Lan Phuong.

The performance will be presented in English with Vietnamese subtitles.

It will be on stage at 7.30pm at the Phu Nhuan Cultural Centre, 70-71 Nguyen Van Troi Street in Phu Nhuan District today and November 15, and at 10am at the Sai Gon Superbowl, A43 Truong Son St in Tan Binh District on Saturday and November 17. Tickets are priced at VND250,000.

Tchaikovsky's ballet at Opera House

The HCM City Ballet and Symphony Orchestra (HBSO) will present Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker at the HCM City Opera House on November 11, 16 and 18.

The performance, choreographed by Johanne Jakhelln Constant, will start at 8pm at 7 Lam Son Square in District 1.

Tickets range from VND250,000 to 500,000. A limited number of tickets at VND100,000 are available for students. Tickets are available at the HBSO box office at 3 Phan Van Dat Street in District 1.

VNN/VOV/VNS