Tehran exhibition showcases today’s Vietnam

The Vietnamese culture and traditions have been brought closer to Iranian people at a week-long exhibition entitled “Vietnam of Today” which opened in Tehran on May 24.

Jointly held by Vietnamese Embassy in Iran and the Islamic Culture and Relations Organisation (ICRO), the exhibition has been arranged to commemorate the 125 th birthday of the late President Ho Chi Minh and 40 years of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Iran.

In his opening remark at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Iran Nguyen Hong Thach said that friendship relations between Vietnam and Iran have been growing in the past years and he hopes the exhibition will give fresh impetus to other cultural exchanges between two countries.

Meanwhile, a representative from the Art and Cultural Organisation of Tehran Municipality said that cultural linkage via activities such as the on-going exhibition, creates precious opportunities for people of the two nations to learn about each other’s culture.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese Embassy in Iran and the tourism development company under the Iranian Cultural Heritage Handicrafts and Tourism Organisation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on promoting tourism collaboration.

Ethnology Museum ready for Children's Day

The Museum of Ethnology is offering games for children from around the world in honour of International Children's Day on June 1.

Children can play games from various countries such as the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia and Nepal. They can also try on traditional clothes worn in those countries.

Craftsmen will also demonstrate how to make toys from bamboo, including puppets with swords, swinging puppets, fish, pin wheels and bamboo phones.

Established in 1997, the Museum of Ethnology has served as a research centre and public museum with a mission to collect, document, preserve and exhibit the cultural heritages of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups.

It houses over 29,000 exhibits, including approximately 25,000 objects related to Vietnam’s ethnic minorities and their cultures.

Buddhist exhibition opens in HCM City pagoda

Nearly 400 objects and pictures from important Buddhist events held over the past 50 years are being showcased at the Vietnam Quoc Tu Pagoda to welcome Buddha’s 2,559th Birthday.

The highlight of the display, which opened on May 24, is a section of exhibits about the persecution of Buddhists in 1963 by the US-backed Saigon Government of Ngo Dinh Diem. Images remembering the struggle and the autograph of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc, who famously set himself on fire to protest against the repression, are on show.

In addition, Buddhist scriptures, books, prayer beads and art work are on public view across 20 display areas.

The exhibition aims to look back on the life and teachings of Buddha and the achievements enjoyed by the religion in Vietnam over the last half century.

The event will run until June 2.

To celebrate the occasion, the organising board will offer free vegetarian lunches for followers and residents visiting Quoc Tu Pagoda.

King of Balladeers to perform

American R&B and soul singer-songwriter Peabo Bryson will visit Vietnam in September to perform in the musical show In The Spotlight.

The My Thanh Entertainment and Advertising Company said Bryson's repertoire would feature his hits, including the soundtracks for Beauty and the Beast and a Whole New World.

The singer will also perform the songs Tonight I Celebrate My Love, and If Ever You're in My Arms Again, which were popular in the US in 1984.

Born in 1951 in Greenville, South Carolina, the two-time Grammy Award-winner has released 21 albums.

New York Times music critic Jon Pareles called Bryson the "Pavarotti of Soul Singers". His duets with Natalie Cole – What You Won't Do for Love and Roberta Flack – Tonight, I Celebrate My Love, a Top 15 pop smash – had earned Bryson the tag "King of Balladeers".

Bryson won his first Grammy Award for Beauty and the Beast in 1991 with international pop singer Celine Dion. It became a number one pop hit. The next year, he bagged another Grammy for A Whole New World from Aladdin which he performed with Regina Belle. Both Beauty and the Beast (1991) and A Whole New World won Oscars for "Best Song".

In The Spotlight will be held in Hanoi on September 12 at the National Convention Centre, and in Ho Chi Minh City on September 18 at the Hoa Binh Theatre.

Veteran singers travel far to spread revolutionary music

Singers who perform songs about love of country do not think about money and glory, but only their passion for revolutionary music and the pleasure it gives them and others.

Singers Quynh Lien and Quynh Hop of HCM City, for example, have found ways to win the hearts of music lovers, both old and young, particularly fans in remote areas.

After more than 40 years in music, Meritorious Artist Lien has travelled to remote provinces and islands, including Truong Sa (Spratly), to perform revolutionary songs in praise of the country and soldiers.

"I love singing to people in remote areas and to soldiers, who, with their love for revolutionary music, deepen my passion about the music and help me feel free during performances," Lien says.

Born in Hai Phong, Lien began her career in 1972 when she was 16. Living during wartime, she fell in love with revolutionary music.

After five years of singing for local traditional music troupes, Lien began to work for by People's Artist Le Doa, former head of the Viet Nam Border Guard Art troupe.

She studied with music professors Mai Khanh and Trung Kien, and People's Artist Thuy Huyen.

"To sing perfectly, I have worked hard to improve my vocal skills.

I volunteered to perform for soldiers stationed in border areas and islands, where I learned that music has a special power."

Her favourite songs include Chao Anh Giai Phong Quan (Hello Liberation Army Soldiers), Bai Ca Tinh Ban (Song of Friendship) and Thoi Hoa Do (The Time of the Red Flowers), written by famous composers Hoang Van and Nguyen Dinh Bang.

These songs helped Lien win the golden prize at national music and song contests in 1985, 1987 and 1990.

Audiences have been won over by Lien's performances of many folk songs like Noi Lua Len Em (Setting Fire) by Huy Du.

In the works, her voice is strong and passionate. Talented singers like Quang Tho and Thu Hien are fond of her vocal skills.

"After listening to Lien, I feel the sand, wind and sunshine of islands, where our brave soldiers are working to protect the country," said Tran Van Dau, who lives in a remote district of Thanh Hoa Province.

Like many of Lien's fans, Dau enjoys listening to her voice on Viet Nam Radio.

"Lien understands soldiers' work and lifestyle. She tells a story to them through her singing," he said.

Younger than Lien, singer and composer Hop has produced 57 albums of 600 songs, mostly about the country, soldiers and President Ho Chi Minh.

Two of her highlighted albums are Bien Dao (Vietnamese Islands) and Nguoi Linh Bien (Navy Soldiers), both featuring Truong Sa soldiers and performed by Hop and young singers of HCM City.

"I found myself by singing and composing songs in praise of Truong Sa soldiers. My albums on the theme have attracted many young people and teenagers, who often enjoy love songs," said Hop, who is a graduate of the Ha Noi Music Conservatory and Army College of Arts.

"I believe that revolutionary music will be young forever. The music and its singers and composers can evoke a love for the country and its heroic history among young generations," she said.

Hop's latest album, To Quoc Nhin Tu Bien (The Country Seen from the Sea), was released last month.

"My love for revolutionary music keeps my soul wealthy," said the 56-year-old.

Plays for youth mark int'l holiday

Artists from the Tuoi Tre (Youth) Theatre in Ha Noi will stage the play De Men Phieu Luu Ky (The Adventures of a Cricket) to entertain the children and young audiences this Sunday on the occasion of International Children's Day (June 1).

The 70-minute play The Adventures of a Cricket is directed by Bui Nhu Lai and adapted from the children's book of the same-name by well-known writer To Hoai. The work reflects the interesting adventures and life of the crickets as well as the interactions with the insect world around them. They are brave enough to overcome difficulties in their struggle and dreams of peace and justice.

The characters also take on a richer more symbolic meaning and are widely viewed as representing the youth of Viet Nam and further embody their feelings and thoughts on the revolution, and portray their dreams of a stateless and classless world.

The play aims to provide interesting lessons on humanity for children and older audiences.

The book, written in 1941 for children, has been translated into English, French and Italian.

During a rehearsal last Wednesday, 800 children crammed into the theatre to enjoy the spectacle.

According to artist Nhu Lai, this is the second time the insect world from the famous book has been adapted for theatre and staged by artists from the Youth Theatre.

They staged the play for the first time 20 years ago.

"This is a story for different generations, not just children. Writer To Hoai managed to tell the story of the countryside to describe a society which is still true. It is full of laughter and useful lessons," said Lai.

"Several generations has grown up with children's stories and folk songs. I think that it's the artists' task to tell the story for younger generations. I hope this play will make young readers interested in children's stories again," he added.

The artists have been faithful to the content of the book but use a contemporary storytelling style which is more suited to modern life. To make the play more entertaining, several funny dances and songs are included including Con Buom Xinh (Beautiful Butterfly) and Gangnam Style. The theatre was overwhelmed with laughter and applause during the rehearsal.

"I am very happy the book my father wrote is being staged by the Youth Theatre again. Now the life of the crickets will be more exciting. However, I regret that the artists are unable to act naturally on stage," said Nguyen Phuong Vu, a son of writer To Hoai.

Ten years ago, this well known children's book was also adapted into a 12-part puppet drama for Viet Nam Television.

Road safety taught using art in schools

More than 200 student drawings about road safety line the walls of Nguyen Trong Tuyen Primary School in Binh Thanh District. The drawings are part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the need to wear a helmet while riding a motorbike.

Nguyen Duc Quan, a teacher at the school, said the drawings had been beneficial.

"All of my school's students now wear helmets," she said.

Many schools in HCM City also use art to teach students about road safety.

Le Nguyen Ngoc Linh, a fifth grader at Quoi Xuan Primary School in District 12, said she and other students won first prize in a drawing contest on road safety regulations.

They submitted their drawing to a contest orgainsed by Helmets for Kids, a programme run by the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation and sponsored by the UPS Foundation.

Nearly 60 per cent of children in Viet Nam face a high risk of injury from traffic accidents because they do not wear a helmet, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Last year, at least 50,000 people experienced brain injuries caused by traffic accidents, according to a report from the National Safety Committee. Of those, 13.4 per cent were children. Half of that number were not wearing helmets.

After the report was issued, the government released Decree No 171 last year. It requires children aged 6 and below to wear a helmet.

Many schools though-out the country have carried out road-safety regulation programmes, and the National Traffic Safety Committee also has periodic enforcement campaigns on the need to wear a helmet.

The results of the latest campaign showed that the number of children wearing helmets rose to 68 per cent in Ha Noi, Da Nang and HCM City in April against 38 per cent last March, according to surveys from the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation.

Picture book released for Children's Day

A book collection that debuted in HCM City on Sunday to celebrate Children's Day on June 1, as well as other newly published children's books, are now available in bookstores around the country.

The book collection, Tuyen Chon Nhung Cau Chuyen Hay Nhat Danh Cho Thieu Nhi (The Best Stories for Children), includes five books written by both veteran and young authors such as Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh, Nguyen Ngoc Hoai Nam and Vo Thu Huong.

The books feature lively pictures by young artists Thuy Dung and Tien Thong.

The works, for children between six and 10 years old, include stories of friendship, love and dreams, written with the authors' typical flair and imagination.

More than 5,000 copies of each book have been printed by the HCM City General Publishing House and First News-Tri Viet, which signed a copyright deal with the authors to republish their books.

Kim Dong Publishing House, a well-known publisher for Vietnamese children, has also released a series of books for children and teenagers written by both Vietnamese and foreigners.

One of its featured books is Thoi Gian Tron O Dau (Where Does the Time Go?), a collection of poems by Nguyen Thai Duong.

The 145-page book features 78 works of childhood, friendship, and love of country, school and family. It also includes 78 beautiful pictures created by artists Cao Tuan and Dieu Quoc Viet.

"I can improve my work by writing for children," said teacher and poet Duong, who has spent 40 years writing for newspapers and magazines for children and teenagers such as Rua Vang (Golden Turtle), Nhi Dong (Children) and Muc Tim (Purple Ink).

"My book is a gift for children on Children's Day," said the 62-year-old writer.

More than 50 Vietnamese children's books in literature, history and arts published by the Kim Dong are available for reading at the website .

The website includes information about the books, including the publishing date, number of pages, prizes and shops that sell the books.

For summer, Kim Dong plans to increase the number of books on the website and improve the website's design to make it more appealing to children.

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