Miss Russia to visit Viet Nam

Miss Russia 2011 Natalia Gantimurova will arrive in Viet Nam on July 26 to take part in charitable activities in HCM City and Ha Noi.

Photo: VOV

Last year Miss Russia 2010, Irina Antonenko also performed meaningful work in Viet Nam.

Their visit has been organised by the Russian Standard International organisation, which aims to introduce Russian people and culture to the world.

Laos, Cambodia join music fest

Laos and Cambodia are scheduled to take part in a Vietnamese music festival to be held in Dong Ha city, in the central province of Quang Tri, from July 22-26.

The festival will see the participation of 12 art troupes, which, during a 70-minute programme, are expected to introduce visitors to the beauty of their respective countries through songs and dances.

Lao National Art Troupe and Cambodian Royal Art Troupe performances are set to include typical folk traditions and national characteristics while also highlighting both countries' solidarity with Viet Nam.

During the festival, troupes will take part in activities such as offering incense and flowers to war martyrs at the Quang Tri Citadel and performances directed at the people of Quang Tri town and the Vinh Linh District.

The festival, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism together with the Quang Tri provincial People's Committee, is aimed at creating opportunities for artists from all three countries to share values, traditions and modern forms of art in the hope of strengthening cultural ties.

This is the second time that the joint Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodian music festival has been held in Quang Tri since 2007.

Local musicians win Mozart competition

Two Vietnamese musicians won prizes this month at the International Mozart Competition in Bangkok.

Dang Viet Ha, who studies the violin in Singapore, was second in the 18-23 age bracket, while Nguyen Linh Uyen, a student at the Viet Nam National Academy of Music in Ha Noi earned second place in the 14-17 category.

First place went to contestants from China and Thailand.

The competition, sponsored by Thailand's D&M Music Studio, Yamaha and the Austrian Embassy in Bangkok, took place on July 10-14. Twenty young contestants from Thailand, China and Viet Nam participated in the event.

Although the piano competition is still more popular, the Mozart event was successful in helping participants exchange experiences and strengthen relations between their countries, said Mongkhol Chayasirisobhol, the organising board's representative.

Free calligraphy classes on offer

Tourists in Hoi An's Old Quarter are being offered the chance to learn Vietnamese calligraphy for free.

Classes open on the 14th day of every lunar calendar month, with materials collected from old houses, vestiges, temples and pagodas in Hoi An.

Vehicles are prohibited in the Old Quarter streets between 6.30pm-9pm to create a pleasant conditions for pedestrians, who can enjoy the nightlife and participate in cultural activities.

Photo contest for City youth

A photo contest with theme of Cuoc Song Quanh Ta (The Life Surrounding Us) has been launched by the Youth Culture House in HCM City.

The contest is particularly aimed at the younger generation, but all citizens are encouraged to send snapshots of life and work in Viet Nam to the organising board before December 31. The entries should be attached with description via nvhtnonline@yahoo.com.

This is an activity to celebrate the Year of Youth 2011 with subject of Youth's Action for Environment.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News