UNESCO considers two heritage sites in Viet Nam

UNESCO has announced that it will put the Ho dynasty's Citadel and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park on the list to be considered as World Heritage sites next month.

These two heritage sites, located in the central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Quang Binh, respectively, are among 42 natural and cultural heritage sites of 40 countries to be considered this year by the United Nations cultural agency.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park were recognised as World Natural Heritage sites by UNESCO in 2003 based on its geology and geomorphology.

The park is expected to get UNESCO recognition for the second time as World Natural Heritage, based on new criteria of diverse biology.

Australian-Vietnamese concert marks State visit

Australia's Sunwrae string quintet will join Vietnamese artists in a special concert at HCM City's Opera House on Thursday on the occasion of the official visit to the country by Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce.

Artists Dinh Linh, Tuyet Mai and The Dung will play traditional instruments, including the flute, dan bau (monochord zither), dan tranh (16-chord zither), dan nguyet (two-chord guitar) and dan da (lithophones), among others.

Melbourne's Sunwrae String Quintet is composed of pianist Rae Howell, violinists Rachael Kim and Zachary Johnston, cellist Tim Blake and viola player Phoebe Green.

The quintet plays music that crosses the boundaries of classical, jazz and world music. They often perform original music composed by pianist Rae Howell, who is also director of the group.

Viet Nam, South Korea unite at festival

Viet Nam and South Korea united in a festival titled Chao Seoul 2011 (Greeting Seoul 2011) with different performances by artists from the two countries.

During the six-day festival, which will be wrapped up tomorrow, Vietnamese artists showed off their traditional dresses and palm-leaf conical hats on Seoul streets and performed quan ho (love duets) and Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) dances.

Viet Nam food stands introduced traditional culinary foods such as nem ran (fried spring roll) and pho (noodle soup) and, along with the arts and crafts stands, attracted mass visitors, said Nguyen Thi Thai Thong, charge d' affairs of the Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News