Third International Free Hugs Day Festival in HCMC

This year, the International Free Hugs Day Festival will be held on July 20. In HCMC, the festival organized by the international non-governmental organization Free Hug Vietnam will take place at Tao Dan Park, 55C along Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday.

This is the third International Free Hugs Day Festival held in Vietnam. This year, more than 300 volunteers will participate in the program. The main activities of the festival will include flashmod dance, group games, etc. Colorful Free Hug boards with messaging “Embracing hearts, sharing the love” will be hung at several locations such as Notre Dame, Reunification Palace, Ben Thanh Market, Vincom A building, and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street.

In 2004, the Free Hugs Campaign was initiated by Juan Mann in Australia. Currently, the program has spread to over 80 countries including Vietnam. Founded in 2007, Free Hugs Vietnam has attracted about 20,000 participants, mostly high school and university students.

Truong Sa sovereignty steles recognised as national historical site

The Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee organised a ceremony in Nha Trang city on July 17 to receive the certificate recognising two steles affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago and a memorial site dedicated to the ship coded C235 as national historical sites.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh emphasised that the two steles were considered as

importance historical and legal evidence showing Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Truong Sa Archipelago.

Meanwhile the C235 ship memorial site was dedicated to the great sacrifices as well as the contributions made by the ship’s cadres and soldiers who fought bravely to protect the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea, he noted.

On this occasion, a number of photography exhibitions on the newly recognised national historical sites have been held in Khanh Hoa province.

The two steles affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago were built in 1956 on Song Tu Tay and Nam Yet islands, Truong Sa, now known as Song Tu Tay and Sinh Ton communes in Truong Sa district.

From the time it was established on October 23, 1961, the Ho Chi Minh sea trail fulfilled its task of allowing hundreds of ships to transport weapons, goods, medicine, cadres and soldiers from the rear in the north to the frontline, directly contributing to the entire people’s efforts to defeat the US imperialists and liberate the south, reunifying the country.

Ailee to perform at “Vietnam Star” finale

Korean American singer Lee Ye Jin, better known by her stage name Ailee, will arrive in Hanoi on July 19 to perform in the grand finale of the “Vietnam Star” contest.

Ailee will take the stage and perform versions of her two latest smash hits “U&I” and “I will show you”.

The young and upcoming singer’s music, heavily influenced by the likes of Mariah Carey, Beyonce and Rihanna, will stay in Vietnam for only one day and departs on July 20.

The grand finale of “Vietnam Star” contest is set for 8pm on July 19 and will be broadcast live on channel VTV3.

Broadway musicals to hit Opera House

The HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera will host a concert featuring songs from famous Broadway musicals at the city's Opera House on July 19.

Works from musicals including Notre Dame de Paris, Romeo and Juliet, Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady and Les Miserables, will be included.

South Korean soprano Cho Hea Ryong and Vietnamese singers Nam Khanh, Duc Tuan, Tran Duy Linh and Vo Ha Tram will perform with the HBSO Choir and Symphony Orchestra.

The concert will begin at 8pm. The Opera House is located at 7 Lam Son Square in District 1.

Tickets, ranging from VND200,000 to VND400,000, can be bought at the venue.

Marriage of experimental music and visual art

Dom Dom (Fire-fly) Hanoi and Nha San Collective have teamed up for the first time together to create a night of experimental music and visual art that will take place at Nha San Studio tonight.

The night will feature young musicians, who will play dan tranh (16-string zither), dan bau (monochord), guitar, trumpet, accordion, drum and other musical instruments to accompany the performances of visual artists.

The free event will start from 6pm at 462 Duong Buoi Street.

Piknic Electronik is back with new additions

Piknic Electronik is back with new surprises on Sunday, July 20.

In its fourth year in the city, Piknic Electronik will continue with its tradition of good music, but unlike previous seasons, the event will have two new additions – Piknic Acoustik Live sessions on the first Sunday of each month, and a monthly mini market.

A DJ lineup featuring both local and international names will also make the event among the best in electronic music.

Piknic Electronik Hanoi will take place at SoftWater Garden, 49 Road 5, An Duong Street.

Artist explores new themes

Manzi Art Space will welcome renowned painter Ha Manh Thang before his solo show in Bangkok tomorrow.

Although the artist is well-known for his focus on urban landscapes depicting iconic buildings in Viet Nam, his new show explores new themes of memory, history and cultural heritage.

His preview show will run until August 4 at 14 Phan Huy Ich Street.

Piknic Electronik is back with new additions

Piknic Electronik is back with new surprises on Sunday, July 20.

In its fourth year in the city, Piknic Electronik will continue with its tradition of good music, but unlike previous seasons, the event will have two new additions – Piknic Acoustik Live sessions on the first Sunday of each month, and a monthly mini market.

A DJ lineup featuring both local and international names will also make the event among the best in electronic music.

Piknic Electronik Hanoi will take place at SoftWater Garden, 49 Road 5, An Duong Street.

A hint for soon-to-be brides and grooms

The wedding season is coming and for any soon-to-be brides and grooms who are struggling to plan their big day, the Rhythm of Love Wedding Fair might be a good option.

Everything from bridal gowns, floral designs, venue decor and photography can be found at the fair. The couples can also enjoy exclusive deals on wedding packages and special discounts when they book wedding banquets at the fair.

The Rhythm of Love Wedding Fair will be held at the Fortuna Hotel, 6B Lang Ha Street, on Saturday and Sunday this week.

Islands exhibition opens in Hue

An exhibition of 400 documents and photos depicting Vietnamese sovereignty over the Truong Sa (Spratly) islands and the Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands opened yesterday in Hue City.

The exhibits are grouped under several headings, including Spratly Islands and Paracel Islands Belong to Viet Nam, Determination to Protect the Country's Sovereignty, and Fishing on Spratly and Paracel seas by Vietnamese fishermen.

According to organisers, the exhibition is to publicly display proof of Vietnamese sovereignty over the islands and seas.

The documents and photos are strong legal and historical evidence, proving that Viet Nam had confirmed its administration and sovereignty over the archipelagoes.

The exhibition also displays maps printed by international publishers showing that Hainan Island was the southern most end of Chinese territory.

Similar exhibitions have been held in Da Nang, Quang Ngai and Ly Son island.

The exhibition in the former royal capital city of Hue was held by local Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and will run until the end of this month.

Hong Kong DJ to perform disco punk

The Hong Kong-based DJ Eric Lui will perform at "Electric Kids" disco punk dance party, which will take place at Broma bar on July 25.

Lui, who are well-known among underground bars in Hong Kong, will play new and old tunes from indie rock and indie electro to 80s new wave and 50s/60s rock ‘n' roll.

Local DJs Joey T and Superkid will perform with Lui.

The event will begin at 9pm. The venue is at 41 Nguyen Hue Street in District 1. Entrance fee is VND50,000.

Hip-hop party to rock city cafe

A hip hop party featuring dozens of local acclaimed underground artists and rappers will be held at the Yoko Bar on July 19.

The artists include rappers Dat Maniac and Subby, DJs Gizmo and Bassworker, beatboxer Hai Wind, and SG Prider Team band.

The party will start from 5pm at 22A Nguyen Thi Dieu Street in District 3. Entrance fee is VND50,000.

Ethnic community revives traditional house

Members of the Co Tu ethnic minority in Quang Nam Province are trying to preserve the Guol house, used traditionally as a place for meetings and conducting business.

Tay Giang District is located near the Lao border. It is an area with many Co Tu households and is steeped in the culture of that ethnic minority.

Recently, more and more Guol houses have been built along the Ho Chi Minh Highway. According to the villagers, they already have comfortable

living spaces and working kitchens, but what their communities lack are Guol houses so they can gather. They say that, without a Guol house, the a village is not complete.

Despite his old age, the head of the Xa Oi 3 Village, Bhling Tro Ngar, still carves traditional reliefs on the wood columns of the house. He said, "Everybody knows how to build a Guol house but it's more difficult to create details that will make the house unique and give the community strength."

This time of year is harvest season for the Co Tu people, but each household still sends members of the family to help in build Guol houses.

When the village festival is held, the households will donate some of their housewares to be used in the gathering place.

Alang Buu, the Party Secretary of Avuong Commune, said villagers are building Guol houses on new settlement areas so that, even if they move, they will not lose Co Tu tradition and heritage. Taghey Village has just completed their biggest Guol house to date to celebrate the new settlement

and the incoming communal party congress. Alang Buu went on to say that they completed five village and one communal Guol house.

Meanwhile, Alang Dieu, Secretary of Bhalee Commune, said that it is important for young people to be the main force behind this project. "Our culture will be lost if it is not embraced by the young generations," he said. According to the deputy head of the Office of Culture and Information of Tay Giang District, 61 out of 70 Co Tu villages have rebuilt their Guol houses. Rebuilding the these traditional gathering spots will help them preserve traditions and keep the people connected.

International grape and wine festival commences in Ninh Thuan

The International Grapes and Wine Festival 2014 kicked off on July 17 in Phan Rang-Thap Cham city, Ninh Thuan province, with the participation of 11 countries including France, Italy, the US, and Germany.

The three-day event aims to honour the value of grapes, which are a specialty of Ninh Thuan, and to introduce the province’s economic and tourism potential in the hope of luring additional investment to the locality.

In his opening speech, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Luu Xuan Vinh said the festival, the first of its kind organised in Ninh Thuan, offers a good chance for farmers and businesses to show off products made from grapes while seeking partnership opportunities.

There will be two seminars during the event. One is to focus on orientations for the development of Ninh Thuan grapes and wine, while the other takes on measures to promote tourism in the Central Coast and Central Highlands regions.

A photo exhibition featuring the landscapes of Ninh Thuan and an international trade and tourism fair will be also held, together with a sheep contest, a coracle race and art performances.

Ninh Thuan boasts the largest vineyards in Vietnam, with 2,500 ha of vines in Ninh Phuoc and Ninh Hai districts, and Phan Rang-Thap Cham city.

The grape output is between 60,000–65,000 tonnes per year.

Ninh Thuan grapes are processed for many kinds of products such as raisins, jelly and wine.

The locality has given priority to grape investment and development projects since 1992—including planting, preserving and processing techniques—while conducting studies on new grape varieties suitable to the local climate.

As many as 17 Ninh Thuan grape development projects have been carried out with total funding of some VND 15 billion.

On February 17, 2012, the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam (NOIP) issued Decision No. 194, which certified the geographical indication of Ninh Thuan grape products, helping raise the market value of Ninh Thuan grapes.

First News launches video and writing contest

First News-Tri Viet Publishing Company has launched a video-filming and essay-writing contest themed ‘Vietnamese soul’s seeds’ to record humanitarian stories and promote ethics in urban life.

The filming component of the contest, organized in coordination with Bibica Company and Tuoi Tre newspaper, requires contestants to submit three-minute video clips about touching stories. Characters can be people who have generous care for the unlucky in society or people who try hard to chase their dreams down despite great hardship.

They serve as a role model for the community to lead a positive and meaningful life. The organizers expect their kindness and boldness to spread to others in society through their entries.

Each work has to be attached with name, photo and personal information of characters. The best video clip awards will go to both contestants and characters. Moreover, touching stories would be told in the reality game show ‘As you deserve’ on VTV channel.

For the writing component of the contest, contestants are required to submit essays of a maximum of 1,000 words telling stories about good people in society. The 12 best essays would be published in a weekly paper and writers would get VND2 million in loyalty each, Bibica products and 200 copies of Hat giong tam hon book published by First News.

Entries can be submitted to the office of Tuoi Tre newspaper at 60 Hoang Van Thu Street in HCMC’s Phu Nhuan District or at hatgiongtamhon@tuoitre.com.vn , http://hatgiongtamhon.tuoitre.vn.

In both video and essay categories, contestants and characters would be awarded VND5 million for first prize, VND3 million for second prize and VND2 million for third prize.

Urban Jam Hip Hop 2014 tournament set for early next month

The international round ‘Lion City Throwdown’ of the Urban Jam Hip Hop 2014 tournament will take place at HCMC Labor Culture Palace from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on August 3.

Urban Jam is one of the most prestigious hip hop dancing competitions in Vietnam and has been held four times as a professional and healthy playground for dancers to exchange and share the passion.

The winners of the national finale will represent the country to compete in the international round in Singapore. And if they gain victory there, they will continue competing in the finale in South Korea with contestants from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Korea.

Contestants in the national round this year come from different cities nationwide including HCMC, Hanoi, Danang and Dalat and also from Japan.

Tickets are priced at VND50,000 per person, inclusive of a bottle of water. For further information, visit www.peaceunit.vn and call Clown at 0989 354 566 to buy tickets.

FAHASA holds discount book fair in city

The HCMC Book Distribution Corporation (FAHASA) will host a discount book fair at the Exhibition House, 92 Le Thanh Ton Street in HCMC’s District 1 from on July 17 to July 27. The fair will offer discounts from 10% to 30% on foreign-language books and dictionaries.

On display are many titles of science and soft skill developing books for kids such as Tinker Bell and the Mini Glowworm, All In A Family, Let’s Play, How Does Your Garden Grow?, Pooh’ Friend, Friend Together, Super Cheer for Donald, Adventures in Reading, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows among others.

Local readers will be introduced to more than 300,000 items published by dozens of publishing houses at home and abroad.

Moreover, the promotion ‘FAHASA serves the new school year’ is applied from July 15 to August 39 at 64 FAHASA bookstores nationwide with discount from 10% to 20% on all books and stationary products.

Phuong Nam art theater opens in town

HCMC authorities have decided to establish Phuong Nam Art Theater by merging the HCMC Circus Company and the city’s Water Puppetry Troupe. The new theater, which focuses on traditional arts for international tourists, will make its debut at Sen Hong Theater on Pham Ngu Lao Street in HCMC’s District 1 at 8 p.m. on July 18.

Nguyen Duc The, director of Phuong Nam Art Theater, said that the theater’s artists will focus on Southern cultural features and Southern traditional arts and they will entertain audiences with Southern plays in the first show ‘Southern Colors.’ The program will feature six repertoires, including Khan hoang (Breaking Southern Land), Vu dieu tren song (Dance on the River), Tro choi dan gian (Folk Games), Doi song tam linh (Spiritual Life) and Nhip song hien dai (Modern Life Rhythm).

The show will bring visitors back to the history of the Southern region in the early days when pioneers came to break ground for cultivation. The daily activities, love duets on the river, religious rituals and typical customs as well as life rhythm will be reproduced. Stories on culture, history and people of the South will be told by more than 100 artists by art languages in circus, dance moves and folk songs.

Experienced artists are selected for the show, including Phi Son, Phi Vu, Dinh Nhat, Hoang Huu Muoi, Bich Lien, Ngoc Anh, Quoc Bao, Giang Quoc Co and Giang Quoc Nghiep.

Circus director Ngoc Anh, deputy director of the theater, said that the show has been prepared for about four months with a cost of over VND1 billion.