Movie screened for World IP Day

On April 24, 2015, the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam partnered with the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and CGV Cinemas to hold a movie screening event at the CGV MIPEC Cinema to mark World Intellectual Property (IP) Day 2015.  

The workshop brought together a large collection of Government of Vietnam officials responsible for IP protection, members of Vietnam’s artistic and entertainment community and local university students, along with representatives from the U.S. Embassy and executives from MPA and CGV.  

U.S. Ambassador Ted Osius provided opening remarks, stating that “the new technology that has enabled us to share our artistic products around the globe has also made it easier for people to steal those products.  Strong IP protection is critical for Vietnamese filmmakers, musicians and other creative professionals to be successful, and is also absolutely necessary to help Vietnam reach its full potential.”  

In addition to the screening of the newly released Hollywood movie, “The Longest Ride,” the event also featured a short movie trailer promoting greater IP protection and awareness that was created by MPA and Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.  Attendees also listened to a panel discussion on the importance of IP protection to Vietnam’s entertainment industry.  The panelists included three of Vietnam’s leading actors and actresses and one of its top directors.  

Since it’s established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2001, World IP Day has been celebrated around the world every April.  The event is designed to emphasize the important role intellectual property plays in innovation and creativity in our daily life.  

Documentary shines light on Vietnamese reunification

The liberation of South Vietnam on April 30, 1975 was recounted to an Argentinean audiences as a special documentary was screened by the country’s CBA24N media on April 25.

The struggle for reunification was highlighted, with the programme highlighting the historic roles played by late President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap and the Communist Party in the national fight for independence.

Vietnam’s rapid innovation and economic achievements in peace time, despite the devastation caused by the war, was also explained.

The feature film “Don’t Burn” (Dung Dot), based on a diary kept by army doctor Dang Thuy Tram during the conflict, was also screened. The film reflects on the humanity and courage of Tram and creates a deeper understanding about the fierce battles that took place in the central province of Quang Ngai during the war.

Hung Temple Festival 2015 opens

The 2015 Hung Temple Festival casting the spotlight on the tourism potential of eight north-western localities kicked off on April 25 in the northern province of Phu Tho.

Nguyen Ngoc An, director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the fair marks the Hung Kings’ death anniversary and aims to raise public awareness about the site’s cultural and tourism potential as well as unique products to tourists.

This is the first time Phu Tho has hosted the fair, which runs through April 29.

Artists display patriotic works in Hanoi

More than 10 paintings and sculptures made on the subject of war by artists from across the country are on display in downtown Hanoi.

This exhibition is part of a project of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to encourage contemporary artists to compose artworks on the theme of patriotism.

The displayed items include works of various media, such as oil-on-canvas and lacquer paintings, as well as copper and stone sculptures, which depict patriotism, bravery, and the sacrifice made by the Vietnamese people during the war of resistance against the French and American.

"As the years pass by, the memories of the heroic battles featured in the artworks become more meaningful," Deputy Minister of Culture Vuong Duy Bien said.

"They're like reminders, praising our people's patriotism. The exhibition is dedicated to the older generations who died or were injured while fighting for our independence. I hope the artworks inspire younger generations."

Moreover, Vi Kien Thanh, the head of the ministry's Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition Department, noted that the movement of composing artworks was launched in June 2011, when the ministry commissioned 13 artists to create pieces of art on the subject.

"I highly appreciate the sculptures made by four artists, three of whom are more than 60 years old," sculptor Luu Danh Thanh, who is part of the jury, remarked

"They made the sculptures with their hearts, as I know that with such a small budget from the State (VND1 billion (US$47,000) spent for all 13 artworks), we cannot manage the cost of materials, let alone encourage creative ideas."

Thanh especially appreciated Phan Gia Huong's sculpture of Vietnamese mothers in three regions. The stone sculpture is so large that it cannot be displayed at the exhibition hall. Instead, it will be displayed later in the yard at the Vietnam Museum of Women.

Furthermore, Le Anh Van, a painter on the jury, said that four of the eight paintings were of excellent quality, while the other four were of good quality.

He added that he appreciated Dao Quoc Huy's oil-on-canvas painting, entitled Suc Manh Nguoi Linh (Strength of Soldiers), which features people at the rear of the battle, such as old mothers and children.

"Although Huy is from the younger generation that did not experience the wars, he understands that weapons were not the strength of the soldiers; it was their motherland and families," Van pointed out.

The artworks will be showcased at Exhibition House, 29 Hang Bai Street, through the end of the week.

Vietnam-China friendship celebrated in Ha Giang

A music performance praising the traditional friendship between Vietnam and China was held in northernmost Ha Giang province on April 25.

The audiences included Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Minh Khoi and representatives of Vietnamese and Chinese border provinces.

Featuring local performers, the event was intended to celebrate the success of the 7th conference of a joint working committee between Vietnam’s northern border provinces of Ha Giang, Quang Ninh, Lang Son and Cao Bang and China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

It also aimed to increase the mutual understanding and trust between the two countries towards closer relations.

The shared borderline allows Ha Giang and Guangxi to establish cooperative programmes in various fields, including cultural events to showcase the beauty of their cultures.

Paintings, calligraphy by deaf people on show

An exhibition, entitled “The Silent World”, is underway at Laguna Lang Co in central Thua Thien-Hue province's Lang Co town.

Opened on April 24, the exhibition showcased over 40 paintings and calligraphy pieces by 12 deaf and disabled young adults from Da Nang Deaf Club at Angsana Lang Co's hotel lobby.

Organisers said all proceeds from the exhibition will be given to the club.

The exhibition, which aims to help disabled persons reach out to the world and build up their hidden art talents, will last until May 23.

As scheduled, another exhibition will be organised at Da Nang's Cham Sculpture Museum in July.

Two 600-year-old trees in northern Vietnam recognized as national heritage

The Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment on Friday recognized two ancient gold apple trees planted near the Ho Dynasty Citadel, a world cultural heritage site, in Vinh Loc District in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa as national heritage.

Dr. Do Quang Trong, director of the Center for the Conservation of the Ho Dynasty Citadel World Heritage, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the two trees in Xuan Giai Village were grown very long time ago, dating back to the period of the Tran-Ho Dynasties.

They were located in the center of the village and around 30 meters away from the southern moat of the citadel.

The trunks of the two trees have a circumference of 10 meters and are around 20 meters high. Their roots extend from three to five meters around the trunks.

The two trees’ canopies are very large, creating beautiful scenery for the village. They are attractive points for tourists when visiting the Ho Dynasty Citadel.

The Tran Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in Vietnam, known as Dai Viet between 1225 and 1400.

It was succeeded by the Ho Dynasty, a short-lived six-year reign of two emperors, Ho Quy Ly in 1400-1401 and his second son, Ho Han Thuong, who reigned from 1401 to 1406.

The Ho Dynasty Citadel was recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site in 2011.

According to UNESCO, the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty built in 1397 and composed of the Inner Citadel, the La Thanh Outer Wall, and the Nam Giao Altar covers 155.5 hectares, surrounded by a buffer zone of 5078.5 hectares.

It is located in accordance with geomantic principles in a landscape of great scenic beauty between the Ma and Buoi Rivers in Vinh Loc District, Thanh Hoa Province.

Suoi Tien Park marks anniversary of country’s founding fathers

An anniversary celebration commemorating the nation's founders - the Hung Kings will be held at Suoi Tien Cultural Tourism Park in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 9 on April 28 or the 10th day of the third lunar month known as the national commemorative day.

The festival will feature a series of cultural activities, such as offering 4,000 Banh chung (square glutinous rice cake) and banh day (round glutinous rice cake) to the national ancestors; a palanquin parade reviving folk legends including Son Tinh - Thuy Tinh (the God of the Mountain and the God of the Water), AU Co- Lac Long Quan, Mai An Tiem and Lang Lieu.

More than 2,000 Vietnamese artists from 30 art troupes will join the event.

International Kite Festival wraps up in Ba Ria – Vung Tau

The sixth International Kite Festival 2015 officially wrapped up on April 26 at the Vung Tau Intourco Resort in Vung Tau city, in the southern coastal province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau.

This year’s festival drew the participation of 97 competitors from 21 countries and territories around the world including Germany, France, the UK, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Nepal, Malaysia, India, the US and Brazil.

The Vietnamese team included 44 kite artisans and featured a vast array of kites from three regions, such as flute-kites, Hue kites and aerodynamic kites.

During the festival, which commenced on April 21, visitors enjoyed unique and attractive kite performances and competitions with kites designed from various colourful and eye-catching shapes.

At the closing ceremony, the organising board gave thanks and presented medals to representatives of both domestic and international kite teams that attended the festival.

A wide variety of other interesting activities were also held on the occasion including kite making classes, kite exhibitions and an arts programmes, attracting a large number of not only participants but also visitors to the Vung Tau city.

The event offered an opportunity for kite enthusiasts to share their love for kites as well as exchange their experience in making unique and impressive kites.

Hung Yen’s historic Pho Hien complex recognised as national relic

Hung Yen provincial authorities held a ceremony on April 26 to receive a certificate honouring the province’s historic Pho Hien complex as a special national relic site.

The ceremony was attended by President Truong Tan Sang.

In the past Pho Hien was a large urban and commercial port with most of its development taking place in the 16th and 17th centuries. The area comprised of 16 complex sites such as Chuong pagoda, An Vu temple, and Xich Dang Temple of Literature, each of them holding unique historical, cultural and artistic value.

Many traditional rituals observed in Pho Hien during its most influential era, including an incense offering ceremony, a peace-praying ceremony, and a palanquin procession, have been restored and reinstated as an effort by the local authorities to preserve and promote the value of the complex.

The province has also spent billions of Vietnamese dong to upgrade and restore the complex’s construction, increase management and protection of antiquities at the site, and promote the relic’s value.

According to Vice Chairman of Hung Yen provincial People’s Committee Dang Ngoc Quynh, the province is home to more than 1,210 heritages, with 161 of them listed as national heritage sites. The local administration has targeted to improve its infrastructure to attract more visitors to its heritage sites, and raise the qualification of those working in heritage protection and restoration.

Da Nang festival features distinct international culture and cuisine

The 2015 Da Nang International Food and Cultural Festival opened in the central coastal city of Dang Nang on April 26, introducing distinct cultural characteristics and cuisine from the US, Poland, South Africa, Australia and the hosting city of Da Nang – Vietnam.

The three day event, held for the second time, has attracted the participation of over 30 stalls showcasing cultural space, cuisine and typical images of the five countries represented at the Da Nang International Fireworks Competition 2015 scheduled to take place from April 29 to May 3.

The festival is an opportunity to reproduce the common culture of each nation through images, objects, and activities in cultural and spirit life. A number of booths also introduce traditional foods and dishes made by hotels, restaurants and service units participating in the event.

Visitors to the festival also have the opportunity to soak up colorful cultural activities such as portraiture, henna painting, cosplay performances, paper-folding, folk games, and art performances.

The festival is co-organised by the Da Nang Culture, Sports and Tourism Department, the city’s Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Da Nang Events and Festivals Centre.