Ho Ngoc Ha to represent Vietnam at MTV EMA 2014

Singer Ho Ngoc Ha will represent Vietnam in the Best Worldwide Act category at this year's MTV Europe Music Awards.

She has triumphed over competitors, including Son Tung MTP; Noo Phuoc Thinh; Trung Quan Idol; Dong Nhi and Bich Phuong, with a number of 246.289 votes.

Accordingly, the selected singer will go on to compete at the Southeast Asia round before joining in the Best Worldwide Act nominee list.

Last year, singer My Tam won the title of the Best Southeast Asia Act in the first round of the Best Worldwide Act category of the MTV European Music Awards.

Top int'l DJ to play in City on world tour

Hardwell, who was crowned the world's No 1 DJ in DJ magazine's annual Top 100 DJs poll in 2013, will bring his world tour I am Hardwell to HCM City's Military Zone 7 Stadium on September 28.

The Dutch progressive and electro house DJ and music producer, whose name is Robbert van de Corput, will perform along with Breda-based producer Kill the Buzz.

The performance will be held from 4-11pm. The venue is at 202 Hoang Van Thu Street in District 1.

Tickets are available at http://southeast.vn/ticket-info/.

Famous mezzo-soprano holds first recital

Famous mezzo soprano Thanh Huyen will host her first recital La Vie, L'Amour featuring compositions from the operettas and operas of Offenbach, Strauss, Audran, Bizet and Saint-Saens at the HCM City Conservatory of Music on September 20.

Huyen of the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera will be joined on stage by some of the country's best operatic voices, including Ta Minh Tam and Ngoc Tuyen. The Urban Dance Group will also perform.

The recital is staged by Chaymae Lougmani, a young artistic director from Morocco, and conducted by Brian Riedlinger from the HCM City International Choir.

The concert will begin at 8pm. The conservatory is at 112 Nguyen Du Street, District 1.

Co Tu cultural expressions get national heritage status

Four expressions of cultural heritage in the mountainous districts of the central province of Quang Nam have been recognised as national intangible heritage at the seventh National Heritage Council meeting.

The provincial department of culture, sport and tourism said that the four expressions of cultural heritage are the art of weaving brocade by hand; the Tan tung da da dance of the Co Tu ethnic minority; gu (the art of decorating cay neu or a wooden pole of the Cor ethnic minority); and the procession of Ba Cho Duoc (the goddess of the Cham people) in Thang Binh District.

The art of weaving brocade by hand has been preserved by the Co Tu ethnic group in the Truong Son mountain range, while their traditional dance is performed at harvest time or during a major community festival.

Co Tu artisans often decorate wooden poles with carvings and colours made from resin, seeds, saffron and limestone.

Quang Nam is home to the world heritage sites of Hoi An, the My Son sanctuary and the Cham Island biosphere reserve.

The mountainous districts are a favourite destination for motorbike rides and off-the-road adventures that give a glimpse of the lifestyle of ethnic minorities at 1,700m above the sea level.

French journalist presents photos to Hoi An

Dominique Foulon, a reporter of “Carnets du Vietnam”, has presented Hoi An City with two precious photos of Cau Pagoda – a symbol of the UNESCO-recognised world cultural heritage site.

The first photo illustrates a number of people in traditional costumes leaning against bridge railings, and some children without shirts standing underneath.

In the other photo which looks like a postcard with an Indochine stamp, crowds of people were lining up on the bridge, wearing the traditional long dress, turbans and the four-panel traditional dress.

Truong Hoang Vinh, an official from the Hoi An Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation, speculated the two photos might have been shot in the 1910-1930s.

Charity run to be held in District 7

The British Business Group Vietnam will host the 14th Annual Fun Run for Charity in District 7 on September 28. The organiser expects 9,000 participants in the 4km race this year.

The run will take place from 7am to 10am on Tan Trao Street in the Phu My Hung Urban Area. All proceeds will go to charity programmes in Viet Nam.

Participants can register for the event at BBGV's office at 25 Le Duan Street in District 1, and at Snap Cafe at 32 Tran Ngoc Dien Street in District 2.

VNS/VOV/VNA/SGGP