Dogma Prize 2015 calls for entries

The organizer of the self-portraiture contest Dogma Prize is calling for entries from artists.

Local and foreign artists should submit their entries from April 1 to July 7 at the website dogmaprize.vn.

Self-portraits are a must but contestants can freely choose the genre of art they like, such as sculpture and photography.

The first prize is VND120 million (US$5,569). Artworks shortlisted for the final round will be exhibited at the HCMC Fine Arts Museum for one week starting from July 8.

The contest in 2013 attracted more than 400 artworks, 45 of which were chosen for the final.

Initially, the Dogma Prize was open to Vietnamese artists only but this year foreign and domestic artists can take part.

First giant IMAX theater to be launched with ‘Furious 7’

Ready for a big car chase? The seventh installment of the famous action series “Fast & Furious” will premiere in Vietnam on a giant screen at the country’s first IMAX theater, cinema operator CGV has announced.

The much-anticipated film will be screened on April 19 in 3D at the theater, situated at VivoCity shopping mall in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 7, according to CGV, which currently operates Vietnam’s largest multiplex cinema chain.

Ticket prices will be announced next week, a representative of CGV said.

CGV said on its website that it will screen more films at the IMAX theater, including the sequels of famous action series like “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Terminator: Genesis”, and sci-fi adventure film "Jurassic World."

Previously Canadian-owned IMAX Corporation announced that it will collaborate with the cinema operator in opening two theaters in Vietnam.

The second one will likely be built in Hanoi, according to the CGV representative, adding that the company has not decided on its location.

CGV Vietnam is a wholly-owned subsidiary of South Korea’s biggest multiplex cinema chain CJ CGV, which has 95 theaters open or contracted to be open in partnership with IMAX in its home country and in China.

Thai-Kadai ethnic groups’ culture promoted

Experts gathered at a national conference in the northern mountainous Lai Chau province on March 30 to discuss how to preserve and develop the culture of ethnic groups in the Thai-Kadai language family in Vietnam.

The annual conference, the 7th of its kind, included thematic discussions on the role of the Thai-Kadai language family in Vietnam’s history and culture, the Thai-Kadai community’s role in sustainable development and its integration in social life and tourism.

The event, co-hosted by the province and the Institute of Vietnamese Studies & Development Sciences under Vietnam National University-Hanoi, aimed to provide a scientific and practical foundation for addressing crucial and urgent matters in the Thai-Kadai-speaking community in Vietnam in its industrialisation, modernization, integration and sustainable development process.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Vuong Van Thanh said the event presented opportunities for scientists and managers in the field to gather and propose specific and relevant policies and approaches for sustainable development of the Thai-Kadai community in Vietnam.

Director of the Institute of Vietnamese Studies & Development Sciences Pham Hong Tung highlighted the achievements made by the institute’s Thai Studies Programme over the past six years in developing a network of research coordinators across the northern mountainous provinces of Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Cao Bang and Lang Son, and the central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An, where there are large Thai-Kadai communities.

Vietnam is home to 12 ethnic minorities using the Thai-Kadai language family. They are the Tay, Thai, Nung, San Chay, Giay, Lao Lu, Bo Y, La Chi, La Ha, Co Lao and Pu Peo, all play an important role in the establishment and development of the nation and its culture.

They have been a key force in ensuring political security and social order in the north and northwest border areas of the country.

The groups also boast their own unique cultural diversity, identity and natural resources, contributing significantly to the sustainable development of the region and the nation.

40 music programmes come to hospitals in 2015

As many as 40 concert programmes under the “bringing music to hospitals” project will be arranged in hospitals in and around Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Ly Son Island in the central province of Quang Ngai in 2015, as announced at a press conference held in Hanoi on March 30.

Organised by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Vietnam Youth Federation , the National Volunteer Centre , the Vietnam Young Physician Association , and the Tim Hong (Red heart) Voluntary Group, the programme aims to promote music as a tool to ease the pain of patients and reduce the stress of medical staff.

The NSN Communication and Entertainment JSC (NSN Media) and Van Dac International JSC are responsible for producing the programme through sponsorship from websites Mecon.vn and Saoonline.vn, Kids and Family TV channel, and The Thao Van Hoa (sports and culture) and Kien Thuc Gia Dinh (knowledge & family) newspapers.

This year’s project is expected to benefit 80,000 to 100,000 people.

Over 100 programmes of this kind have been held across the country since 2011.

The concerts are expected to link the community, the health sector, volunteers, donors and disadvantaged patients. It also raises funds for programme activities.

Vietnam justifies cable car project at Son Doong Cave

Tourism authorities in the central province of Quang Binh have again defended a controversial plan to build a US$212-million cable car at Son Doong Cave, saying the media has misunderstood it.

A province tourism official told a recent meeting that the nearly 11-kilometer cable car system to be built by Danang-based real estate and resort developer Sun Group would be above the trees in the Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park and end 300-600 meters from the cave and not right at the entrance as the media reported.

The telpher would allow tourists to admire the landscapes from above, he added.

A plan first unveiled by Quang Binh authorities in last October envisaged the cable system ending inside Son Doong.

But a few weeks later authorities changed their description, saying it would link the cave with another cave called Tien Son.

But critics were not mollified and said it would still harm the environment.

Sun Group has not made any comment.

Quang Binh vice chairman Tran Tien Dung said at the meeting, held to promote the province’s tourism in Ho Chi Minh City, that the investor has done little except sending some foreign experts to do the environmental impact assessment for the project.

Sun Group is supposed to do many things to get approvals from government agencies and international organizations like UNESCO in order to undertake such a large project in a national park, he said.

The plan’s supporters have said the cable car would encourage more tourists to explore the cave.

Amid the controversy, the tourism ministry last November called on provincial authorities and the investor to do further research before embarking on the project.

Son Doong is now a big attraction with global media agencies and film studios taking interest in it, Dung said at the meeting, adding that though a tour there lasting just a few days costs up to US$3,000, it is fully booked until year end.

Nearly 2.75 million tourists visited the province last year, double the number from the year before.

Low-cost carrier VietJet Air plans to launch daily flights between Ho Chi Minh City and the Quang Binh's capital Dong Hoi starting April 29, Thoi Bao Kinh Te Saigon Online reported, adding that the carrier is also planning to fly to the town from Hanoi.

State-owned Vietnam Airlines and another no-frills carrier, Jetstar Pacific are increasing their flights between HCMC and Dong Hoi, it said.

There is also a growing interest in Quang Binh among Hollywood filmmakers, according to the province’s tourism authorities and tour operator.

Nguyen A, chairman of Oxalis, the sole tour operator for Son Doong, said part of a new King Kong movie will be shot in Minh Hoa District and Tan Hoa Commune this year end.

Located in the UNESCO-recognized Phong Nha – Ke Bang, Son Doong was opened to tourists in 2013, four years after members of the British Cave Research Association finished their exploration and named it the world’s largest cave.

The five kilometer-long cave, which is 150 meters high and 200 meters wide, has at least 150 individual caves, a dense subterranean jungle and several underground rivers.