Bartenders to vie for 4 berths in regional contest

Diageo Vietnam has announced the 4th Diageo Reserve World Class Vietnam to search for the best bartenders to represent Vietnam at a regional contest in Thailand.

This year’s contest has attracted over 250 competitors from hotels and bars nationwide. After the first round, the top 35 will enter the final round held in HCMC on March 30-31. The four best bartenders will represent Vietnam at the Diageo Reserve World Class in South East Asia which will be held in Thailand. The contest will then take place in Cape Town, South Africa.

“We hope more talents to be discovered in this competition, especially when we have shot up the scale of the competition this year, bringing on the table many more training workshops which we designed to increase the standards of bartending and mixology in Vietnam with the participation of many training experts. In addition, we believe the pool of talents that we are developing this year will contribute a great deal to the development of Vietnam’s bartending industry in particular and the hospitality industry in general,” Stephane Gripon, general manager of Diageo Vietnam, said in a statement.

Since its debut in 2009, the contest has inspired and trained more than 10,000 bartenders. Bartenders to the contest have to compete to achieve the title “Bartender of the year – Diageo Reserve World Class”.

Heroic performance wins virtual fireworks competition in Da Nang

Tran Anh Tuan from the Da Nang-based Duy Tan University was named the winner of the Virtual Fireworks Competition 2014 yesterday.

Tuan's display, titled Phu Dong Thien Vuong (The Heavenly King of Phu Dong Village), beat 30 other entries designed by individuals and teams from HCM City, Can Tho, An Giang, Hao Phong, Hai Duong and Da Nang to win the VND15 million (US$700) cash-prize.

"My work demonstrates a fireworks performance on screen that features the power of Vietnamese people through the image of a legendary hero," Tuan said .

His friends from Duy Tan University finished second with a prize of VND10 million ($470), while a team from Loc Xoay (Whirlwind) Trading and Information Company came third.

Head of the organising committee Pham Kim Son said the competition was a prelude for the Da Nang International Fireworks Competition 2015 to be held on the city's Han River from April 28-29.

Son said it would be developed into a digital fireworks event and draw the participation of international teams and overseas Vietnamese from next year.

Cai luong historical play celebrates King Mai Hac De’s Uprisings

The Vietnam National Cai luong Theatre will give a free cai luong play dedicating King Mai Hac De with a total investment capital of approximately VND3 billion in March.

The cai luong play also aims to celebrate 1,302 years of the Hoan Chau Uprisings led by hero Mai Thuc Loan who later became King Mai Hac De to fight against foreign aggressors for national liberation.

Director Trieu Trung Kien and 140 artists will participate in the play which was scripted by Nguyen The Ky.

The theater will offer two performances in Hanoi and then take the show to Nghe An Province.

Vietnam joins int’l art fair in Singapore

Vietnam has joined with over 170 art galleries from Asian and Western countries participating in Art Stage Singapore 2015, known for its focus on Southeast Asian art scenes.

Four Vietnamese artists – Do Hoang Tuong, Hoang Duong Cam, Phi Phi Oanh and Richard Streitmatter-Tran–joined with the Singaporean art studio of Khim Ong.  

Apart from the main gallery sector, the fair features a Southeast Asia Platform exhibition, special exhibitions for Russia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, and Modern Art, a new sector called Video Stage, and many performances, talks and tours.

The event, which runs January 22-25, spans an area covering in excess of 1,000 square metres at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.

Rethinking heritage conservation

The relationship between world heritage conservation and sustainable development has been a key issues at a three-day workshop in Ninh Binh that kicked off yesterday.

The workshop aims to discuss a draft of the policy to integrate a sustainable development perspective into the processes of the World Heritage Convention, in accordance with the 2012 request by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th Session in Saint Petersburg.

"Viet Nam's world heritage sites have received strong support from UNESCO, foreign individuals and organisations in different fields to conserve and develop their values," said Dang Thi Bich Lien, deputy minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, at the workshop's opening ceremony.

After recognised by UNESCO, the world cultural and natural heritage sites in Viet Nam became more popular, improving Viet Nam's image around the world, according to Lien.

"The world heritage sites have promoted tourism development and economic growth in the areas where they are located. Community awareness about the significance and value of heritage sites has been raised," the deputy minister said.

Participants made presentations yesterday regarding eight aspects of the sustainable development policy: economic development, environmental sustainability, social development, peace and security, resilience to disasters and climate change, human rights, gender equality, and indigenous peoples and local communities.

Exhibitions and activities are also being held on the occasion, including the Connecting the World Heritage exhibition.

At Bai Dinh Pagoda, photos and documentations of the country's eight world heritage sites are displayed. These sites are Thang Long Royal Citadel Relics, Ha Long Bay, Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, Trang An Tourism Complex, Hue Imperial Citadel and Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park.

A fine arts fair and photography show depicting Trang An Landscape will also be held.

The ceremony where Trang An complex receives UNESCO world heritage certification will be broadcast live on VTV1 and Ninh Binh Radio and Television Broadcasting Station today at 7.45pm.

Ha Noi book fair to showcase international bestsellers

A special book fair that offers good books at cheap prices will be held at Ha Noi's Quan Ngua Gymnasium.

The books, priced between VND10,000 and VND30,000 only, will be on sale from tomorrow till Sunday.

Organised by the Nha Nam Culture and Communications Company, the exhibition will give visitors a chance to buy the Vietnamese-language versions of some international bestsellers such as The Door by Hungary's most well-known female novelist Szabo Magda, Fahrenheit 451 by American fantasy and mystery author Ray Bradbury Douglas, and The Blind Assassin by Canadian writer Margaret Atwood.

Favourite books from the collection Viet Nam's Famous Literature Works, including 40 Nam Noi Lao (40 Years of Lie) by Vu Bang and Doi Lua Xung Doi (Matching Couple) by Nam Cao, will also be available at the exhibition.

In addition, visitors can also purchase Nha Nam's new books at half the price.

Photo exhibition on Vietnamese Communist Party held in Can Tho

A photography exhibition named “ the Communist Party of Vietnam and historical spring” marking the 85th anniversary of Communist Party of Vietnam and the traditional Lunar New Year was opened at Can Tho city’s museum on January 21.

Nearly 100 photos have been displaying in the exhibition, reminding the Party’s establishment, development and success of the resistance war against the French colonists and the US troops as well as achievements of Can Tho city’s Communist Party Unit and people.

In addition, the exhibition has also introduced 160 photos and souvenirs relating to traditional New Year festivals of Kinh, Chinese and Khmer ethnic groups in Can Tho city.

The exhibition will last until April, 2015.

Vietnam hot pan painter goes viral

A video clip of a Vietnamese artist painting on a hot pan has gone viral on YouTube.

Le Phong Giao began experimenting with hot pan painting after seeing foreign artists attempt the same style.

“I was greatlly impressed and interested in the art and wanted to try," Giao said. "I often make them during family gatherings and then upload clips on YouTube."

Giao, born in 1969, is an editor at the Youth Publishing House. He was know locally for his work as an architect and sand painter, as well as an oil painter and comic book artist, before turning to hot pan painting.

“Painting on hot pan requires exact and quick acts without any draft in advance. The artist needs to carefully consider which details to be bold and make them first,” Giao said.