Vietnamese dancers present classical ballet

Dancers from the Viet Nam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB) will perform at the Ha Noi Opera House on Thursday night.

The performance, called Sac Mau Tinh Yeu (Colours of Love), will also see the participation of VNOB's director and People's Artist Pham Anh Phuong and British conductor Graham Sutcliffe.

The first part of the performance features compositions by Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang A Mozart, Charles Gounod, Erich W Korngold, Gioachino Rossini and Gaetano Donizetti.

The second part will present the Graduation Ball, a ballet performed for the first time in Sydney, Australia, 74 years ago. It is one of the first major, classical professional ballets that has been performed by many troupes worldwide.

Last year, VNOB dancers rehearsed the ballet for the first time under the guidance of renowned Australian ballet dancer Colin Peasley.

The one-act ballet will last 40 minutes and will be performed to the music of Johann Strauss.

Village holds annual water festival

The special rotating palanquin ceremony has just been held by Hanoi residents to bring back water from the Red River.

The ceremony is one of the most ancient traditions of the people of Tho Khoi Village, currently known as Cu Khoi Ward, Long Bien District. The festival is held during February 8-10 in lunar calendar.

There are two main palanquins, one called Song Loan, for the goddess, and another called Long Dinh for the god. The porters carry these palanquins for 2 km from the village to the Red River, where they take water before returning to the village.

While walking, the porters must rotate the palanquins in every direction possible. Sometimes, it takes up to three hours to make the walk to the river because of the unpredictable routes.

According to Dao Dinh Toan, who has played drum for the ceremony for 20 years, the Song Loan palanquin is carried by single women and Long Dinh is carried by single men. The ceremony can take its toll on the young girls, but they are always proud about their assignments.

Aside from the two palanquins for the god and goddess, there are also five other palanquins for high-ranking mandarins carried by men in the village.

Ha Long Carnival to take place on April 30

The 2014 Ha Long Carnival will take place in Ha Long city, the northern province of Quang Ninh, on April 30 night, announced the provincial People’s Committee.

The event, the eighth of its kind in the province, will include a wide range of activities, including an opening ceremony, low-range fireworks, and art performances by local and foreign art troupes.

It aims to spotlight the province’s culture, tourism and cuisine, particularly the Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO-recognized World Natural Heritage site.

Last year’s annual event witnessed the participation of more than 5,000 actors and actresses, and welcomed 25,000 visitors.

International Francophonie Day celebrations announced

Various activities will be held across Vietnam to mark International Francophonie Day (March 20) to promote cultural diversity and strengthen solidarity amongst French speaking countries.

A ceremony to mark the event will be held at the Government Guest House in Hanoi on March 20 by the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Distinguished guests will include Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan and General Secretary of the International Francophone Organisation (OIF) Abdou Diouf.

The Hanoi Opera House will stage a concert, bringing together artists from Burkina Faso, Belgium, Switzerland, and Vietnam, as well as a Youth Francophonie Awards ceremony.

Other highlights of the celebration include architectural project exhibitions at Hanoi University, and a “Memory and History" seminar presented by French speaker Alain J.Lemaitre at French Cultural Center in Hanoi.

In addition, the 7th French Film Festival introducing films from France, Chad, Belgium, Luxembourg, Rumania, Switzerland and Vietnam will also be held in Hanoi, Hue, Vinh and Ho Chi Minh City.

Photo contest promotes road safety

Secondary school students nationwide have been invited to take part in a photography contest to promote pedestrian safety.

The contest, which runs from March to May, will identify good road-user habits and dangerous traffic risks to avoid.

The programne, organised by FedEx Express in cooperation with the Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation, will culminate with a photo exhibit and an awards ceremony in HCM City on May 29.

Interested students can visit the website to register, get contest details and receive guidelines on photographing examples of safe pedestrian behavior and road risks.

First career reality show launched

Online recruitment provider VietnamWorks has launched a reality television show on careers that will award more than VND1 billion (US$47,600) to the winners.

The show, the first of its kind in the country, will be broadcast on YanTV and Today TV channels this summer.

Ten candidates selected from thousands of those in the preliminary round will live together in a house for 12 weeks, and players will face 12 challenges requiring essential professional skills to resolve.

A panel of judges comprising CEOs and managers of leading companies will give marks and choose the winner who will receive three awards, including a six-month contract worth VND120 million in a top company in Viet Nam, a training course on creative thinking skills in the US, and an E-home apartment in HCM City.

Festival commemorates General Tran Hung Dao

A festival commemorating national hero General Tran Hung Dao was held in northern Thai Binh province on March 10.

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan and Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu attended the event.

The four-day festival features a number of traditional rituals and folk games, including wrestling, chess, and phao dat (clay fire-cracker).

Also on the day was an inaugural ceremony for the A Sao temple relic site which is historically associated with the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400) as well as the country’s three victorious struggles against the mighty Mongolian empire.

A Sao temple was recognised as a national historical and cultural relic site in 2012. Around 40 billion VND (1.89 million USD) were invested in restoring the temple and upgrading its surrounding landscape in the year.

General Tran Hung Dao, the Supreme Commander of Vietnam during the Tran Dynasty, commanded the Dai Viet army to repel the Mongol invasions in 1258, 1285 and 1288.

The General’s triple victories are considered among the greatest military feats in world history and the commander is regarded as one of the most accomplished military tacticians in history.-

Programme calls for support for fishermen

A gala night themed “The Heart for Sea and Islands ”, with the aim of honouring bravery fishermen and garnering support for them to continue taking part in protecting the country’s sea sovereignty, took place at the Hanoi Opera House in the capital on March 10.

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said the programme is a practical activity to realise the sea and island related policies of the Party and State, contributing to consolidating the nation’s determination to protect its sovereignty over sea and islands.

He highly valued the contributions of fishermen, organisations and individuals in safeguarding national sea and islands as well as the development of maritime economy.

Minh expressed his hope that media agencies continue to act as a bridge for the Party and State and fishermen, while proactively publicising policies on sea and islands and maritime economic development.

The event, organised by the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA), also honoured entrepreneurs, businesses, organisations and individuals involved in the protection of sea and island sovereignty and maritime economic development.

“The Heart for Sea and Islands ” called for support for fishermen, who suffered great losses during their operation in the waters of Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelagoes of Vietnam, to maintain their business at sea.

Kind-hearted people can also cast their support to fishermen via the VJA website at www.hoinhabaovietnam,org.vn .

Earlier the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam hosted a reception for delegates to the programme, affirming that the Party and State always pay much attention to people in remote and poor areas, especially fishermen who have overcome difficulties to contribute to the country’s development.-

Lao Cai cave listed as national relic

A cave in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai has been recognised as a national relic, bringing the total number of the locality’s national relic sites to 17.

A certificate to this effect was handed over to the local authorities by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at a ceremony on March 9.

Thien Long cave, also called Rong (dragon) cave, is part of Rong mountain in Ta Van Chu commune, Bac Ha district. It stretches about 470 metre in length and stands 1,000 metres above sea level.

Every year, local people hold a ceremony at the site to pray for favourable weather and a bumper harvest.

The cave and Rong mountain are parts of Sa Pa-Bac Ha tours which are included in the province’s tourism development project.

25 beauties enter final round of Kinh Bac pageant

Twenty-five girls will vie for the title Kinh Bac’s most beautiful in the final round of the Kinh Bac beauty pageant, scheduled to be held on March 12 in Bac Ninh province by the provincial People’s Committee.

The contestants are selected from 120 entrants from across the Kinh Bac region, an old name which refers to present-day Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces and their neighbouring districts in Hung Yen and Lang Son provinces and Hanoi.

On the final night, the entrants will walk in several different outfits: Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress), swim suit, prom dress and ‘tu than’', a four-panel dress for Quan Ho (love duet singing).

The top five will then enter a question and answer round to find out the winner, who will earn a ticket to the 2014 Vietnam Beauty Contest.

Prior to the final night, the finalists are working to study the cultural values and rich traditions of the region, by offering incenses to King Duong Vuong at his temple, visiting But Thap pagoda, Diem Xa ‘Quan Ho’ singing village, Dong Ho folk painting village and Phu Lang pottery village.

A Sao Temple Festival opens in Thai Binh

The A Sao Temple Festival dedicated to renowned historical figure General Tran Hung Dao, opened in An Thai commune, Quynh Phu district, Thai Binh province on March 10 in the presence of Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan.

The three-day event aims to honour the great contributions of Tran Hung Dao, who acted as the Supreme Commander of Vietnam during the Tran Dynasty and led Vietnamese troops to repel three major Mongolian invasions in the 13th century.

Chairman of People's Committee of Quynh Phu district Pham Tien Thao said that the festival honours a glorious period in the country's history.

The event, which runs until March 12, will include an incense offering ceremony, a boat competition, art performances, folk games and folk dances.

The organising board will set up a corner displaying documentation and images of the A Sao National Historical and Cultural Site and develop a master plan for the site to be nominated as a Special national site in the future. 

‘Fossilised’ replica of Hanoi exhibited in Italian cultural centre

The art exhibition ‘Fossilised Hanoi’ opened on March 10 at the Casa Italia No.18, Le Phung Hieu Street, Hanoi, showcasing 34 ‘fossilised’ replicas of Hanoi by the well-known Vietnamese artist Vuong Van Thao.

Thao’s work explores the preservation and conservation of cultural values, especially those of Hanoi's Old Quarter, through clay models of, for example, ancient houses, village gates and bridges, set in layers of amber and oil paint. He then cracked the blocks to resemble fossils.

When asked about this latest exhibition, Vuong Van Thao said, “A fossil is dead, but being fossilised can mean eternal life”. He added, “When standing in front of my work, I hope the onlooker will reflect on the historical value of the city and each will choose a way to preserve and conserve that cultural values.”

Thao, who has received various awards, such as the ‘Hanoi Fine Arts Association Award’, ‘Vietnam Sweden Cultural Fund Award’ and the ‘Bui Xuan Phai-Love for Hanoi Award’. His sculptural works are displayed permanently at ‘Asian Art Spotlight’ in China and a number of pieces from ‘Living Fossils’ are exhibited at the Modern Fine Arts Collection of SAM Singapore Art Museum and at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.

Visitors to ‘Fossilised Hanoi’, have an opportunity to contemplate fossilised replicas of nearly 20 old houses in Hanoi's Old Quarter, Thap Rua (Turtle Tower) and Long Bien bridge or village gates.

“The exhibition offers a unique journey through the past, the present and the future of Hanoi”, according to Sinh, a visitor.

Italian Vice Ambassador to Vietnam Natalia Sanginiti said that considering the works, the artist Vuong Van Thao deserves to be cultural ambassador of Hanoi.

The exhibition, part of the ‘Italian Year in Vietnam’ programme, runs until March 22.

Touring 36 old streets in Hanoi through art

Nearly 30 pieces by Hanoi-based artist Duong Viet Nam are on display at HCMC Fine Arts Museum, giving art enthusiasts the opportunity to explore 36 old streets in Hanoi.

Those big-size works are on do paper and canvas with oil and acrylic and have bold moves and bright colors. The 36 small streets in Hanoi’s old quarter are sparkling and busy in a blend of modern time and traditional values.

People will see the bustle and hustle of Hanoi in daily life, iconic landscapes and local cultural features. Hanoi in the old days with colonial French architecture, ladies in traditional dresses and folk festivals are featured as well.

“I am obsessed with my childhood in the old streets and memories have inspired me to paint,” said the artist.

The exhibition lasts until Sunday at the museum, 97 Pho Duc Chinh Street in HCMC’s District 1.

Life and teachings of Buddha come on show

A Buddhist exhibition ‘Dharam Darshan – Experiencing the Dharma’ opened at the HCMC Fine Arts Museum on Thursday last week, offering viewers a chance of exploring the life, important events and teachings of the Buddha through masterpieces and artifacts found in varied sites in India.

Among the highlights of the exhibition are the rich visuals in form of statues, bas-reliefs, mural, paintings, photo blow-ups and statues arranged in an artistic manner interspersed with sayings of the Buddha, their explanatory blow-ups, captions and other signage.

Moreover, via photos, visitors will be taken to sacred places that are evident in the remains of Buddhist art and architecture found such as in Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Sanchi, Piprahwa, Ajanta, Nalanda, Amravati and Nagarjunkoda.

Visitors can learn more about the life of Buddha such as the birth of Buddha and seven steps, footprint of the Buddha, Mahamaya’s dream, the lessons of Buddha, Buddha in the nirvana, the gift of Jatavana Vihar, Buddha’s  enlightenment, Ashokan Lion Capital, the emaciated Buddha and Buddha in Bhumisparsha Mudra and in Dharamachakrapravartan Mudra.

The show will run until March 14 at the museum, 97 Pho Duc Chinh Street in HCMC’s District 1.

Chef shares knowledge with students

Chef Le Thi Van has participated in an event called Sinh vien – Huong vi que nha (students with countryside food) to show Saigon University’s freshmen how to make traditional Vietnamese dishes.

The students also had the opportunity to learn how to trim vegetables through instructions by chefs at Saigon Professional Chefs’ Guild (SPC).

As many as 100 students were divided into small groups for trimming and cooking veggies. Van showed the steps to cook two popular Vietnamese dishes – hot and sour snakehead fish soup and braised catfish in a clay pot. Meanwhile, the guild’s chefs helped the students trim veggies.

Dr. Hoang Thi Dieu Thao, vice dean of the technical pedagogy faculty at Saigon University, said students wanted to learn to cook on their own. But most of them opt for eating out for convenience.

According to Bui Thi Suong, vice chairwoman of SPC, cooking is an essential skill to maintain family happiness. She selected traditional dishes in the program in order to uphold and promote Vietnamese cuisine. The guild is likely to collaborate with other universities in the city to introduce cooking know-how to students in the future, she added.

Nguyen Thanh Long, a freshman at Saigon University, said this is a great opportunity to learn some cooking skills. Tran Thanh Thuy, a member of Van’s cooking team, said she believed cooking is a vital soft skill which students should master.

Le Thi Van was proclaimed as an outstanding artisan in 2009. Her nickname is Ms Coconut or Ms Six. She is famous for some of her southern delighting hot pot such as lau mam and lau hoa hai san voi bun sung. She is now a lecturer at HCMC Tousism School.

Tourism and cultural week celebrates Dien Bien Phu Victory

A cultural week marking the 60th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory will be held in Dien Bien Province on March 13-15.

Late General Vo Nguyen Giap visited the Command Base of Dien Bien Phu in 1994.

The event will include a series of cultural activities, such as a seminar on Dien Bien Phu historical site and development of the relic and the northwestern region, a photography and painting exhibition on Dien Bien Phu, a display of traditional handicraft villages, a food fair, a traditional costume performance, folk festivals, and sport games.

Dien Bien tourism and cultural week is organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism; and Dien Bien Province People’s Committee.