Amazing Race Vietnam starts again

The third season of The Amazing Race Vietnam has started.

The pre-cast was launched on Wednesday at https://www.facebook.com/cuocduakythuvn

The reality television game show, based on the American TV series – The Amazing Race, will also hold mini bus trips starting from April 28, to cities and provinces nationwide including Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, Hue, Quang Nam, Long An, Vinh Long, Tien Giang, to search for potential candidates.

Audition rounds will be held in Ha Noi, Da Nang, Can Tho, and HCM City to finalise the eight teams for the third season.

The game show will keep the same format including the participation of celebrities as with last year, with one minor change- the competition will include eight teams, instead of nine. Each celebrity is able to choose a family member, lover, colleague, friend, as a partner or from the pre-cast.

Puppetry to mark World Theatre Day

Traditional puppetry will be performed in Hanoi to celebrate World Theatre Day, which falls on March 27.

Puppeteers from the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre and the Thang Long Water Puppetry Theatre will showcase Vietnamese water puppetry.

A seminar by the Vietnam Theatre Artists Association will be held on the same day with the aim of attracting audiences to the show.

World Theatre Day was launched in 1962 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI). The message of this year's Theatre Day is "Wherever there is a human society, the irrepressible spirit of performance will manifest" - famous words by playwright Bret Bailey.

This year, the Vietnam Theatre Artists Association plans to organise a festival to promote cultural and art exchanges with the ITIs in China, Singapore and Laos and to strengthen ties with other ITI members.

Musical talents features Earth Song 2014

A live musical and dance production on March 23 entitled “Earth Song 2014 – Skyline” took center stage in Hanoi in celebration of environmental preservation.

The event, the fourth of its kind, featured the musical talents from an array of famous music composers and singers, including pianist Trang Trinh, singer Dinh Manh Ninh, DaLAB rappers, Big Toe band, and the disadvantaged children’s Miracle Choir.

Visitors to the event had the opportunity to join in on an entertaining role-play in which they were imaginary passengers on a journey into the future and listened to stories telling about the impact of humans on the earth’s environment and the negative consequences that followed.

The production was performed in three parts, with the first showing the everyday struggle of people in their daily lives and their plight to escape from poor living conditions, serious diseases, and domestic violence.

The second part focused on natural disasters, environmental pollution, and animal hunting, while the third part revealed people’s active engagement in environmental protection in the hope of saving nature and preserving the planet for a better life for future generations.

A photo collection was also held casting the spotlight on several high profile social projects supporting the needs of disadvantaged people.

All collections from the Earth Song 2014 will be used to purchase books for rural areas, develop a choir for underprivileged children, and provide much needed support for poor cancer patients.

Ngoc Anh crowned at Popstar to Operastar 2014

Singer Ngoc Anh won the gold prize at Popstar to Operastar 2014 at Giai Phong Film Studio in Ho Chi Minh City on March 23.

The silver prize went to Singer Khanh Linh, and bronze prizes were awarded to Nathan Lee and Kasim Hoang Vu.

Popstar to Operastar 2014 is a British television program singing competition from ITV Studios Global Entertainment. Celebrity pop singers participate with professional opera singers to compete in opera-style performances.

Launched in December 2014, the Vietnamese version of the contest attracted eight pop stars including Bui Anh Tuan, Kasim Hoang Vu, Ho Trung Dung, Nathan Lee, Ngoc Khue, Khanh Linh, Ngoc Anh and Vo Ha Tram.

Vietnamese culture on display in Switzerland

An exhibition casting the spotlight on the uniqueness of the metaphorical cultural identity of Vietnam was recently wrapped up at the International Conference Centre in Geneva.

The event, held to coincide with the 130th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, aimed to facilitate intercultural communications and help international friends better understand the subtleties of Vietnamese culture.

Covering more than 50 square metres, the space was divided into a variety of categories for handicrafts, lacquer paintings, publications introducing the inherent beauty of the landscape, and attractive tourist destinations.

Visitors also had the chance to enjoy traditional Vietnamese cuisine and a series of art performances featuring traditional Vietnamese instruments such as monochord, t'rung, and klongput.

"The musical performances deeply communicated the nonphysical aspect of Vietnamese culture. This is the harmony between nature, humans, and sounds,” said Mansoori, an IPU delegate from Kazakhstan.

“I really love the cultural space here. I will come to Vietnam next year to explore the country’s art and culture," he said.

Vietnam attends Int’l Francophone Day in Argentina

The Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina, in coordination with other foreign embassies, has launched a number of cultural activities in Buenos Aires in response to International Francophone Day (March 20).

This is the third consecutive year the Argentinian Foreign Ministry has coordinated with OIF member countries to celebrate the event and the common bond of the French speaking community as well as its diversity.

The Vietnamese embassy organized a variety of activities including photo exhibitions, arts performances and movies, cuisine to introduce the image of Vietnamese land and people, tourism potential and traditional food and specialties.

Argentinian Foreign Ministry representatives and OIF member countries’ ambassadors highlighted the significance of the French language for connecting all member nations for the sake of peace, cooperation and development

They also hailed the role played by the OIF in promoting cultural diversity, freedom, democracy, sustainable development and human rights.

Since its inception in 1970, the Francophone community has numbered 57 members, 20 observers of which 31 countries have opened their embassies in Argentina.

A seminar giving an insight into history of Vietnam from the colonial period to present is taking place in Paris as part of the Vietnam Year in France 2014.

The function, from March 20 – 23, co-organised by the French Academy of Overseas Sciences, the Paris-Sorbonne University, the University of Nantes and the Jean Moulin University Lyon III, has also attracted scholars from the US, Canada, Singapore and Japan.

Some 60 reports are set to look at the Vietnamese society over 150 years, from 1858 – the time when France started invading Vietnam , the formation of the colonial administration and the Indochina war to a post-war Vietnam .

The reports and opinions at the seminar underlined the constant and strong development of Vietnam as well as sustainable growth prospects for the country.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Duong Chi Dung said he hopes participants will propose suggestions to deepen Vietnam – France relations and make the ties on par with their strategic partnership.

Rector of the Paris Academy François Weil said analyses from various angles such as politics, economics, culture, education and defence illustrate the two countries’ relations in the past, which have provided an impetus for the development of bilateral ties.

Ben Tre hosts regional Francophone Festival

The Mekong Delta region’s 17th Francophone Festival was held in Ben Tre province on March 22 and 23, providing a chance for students to take part in francophone activities and promoting the French language in the region.

This was the third time Ben Tre hosted the annual event, which is rotated around regional provinces.

Nicolas Bergeret from the General Consulate of France in Ho Chi Minh City said organising the Francophone Festival is a way for people to jointly build a more diversified world.

Nguyen Thanh Huyen, Deputy Director of the International Department under the Ministry of Education and Training, said cultural exchanges and French-themed contests and workshops are being held in Vietnam in response to the International Francophone Day. This is a chance for people to tighten their solidarity and friendship for a peaceful and prosperous world, she said.

At present, Ben Tre counts 5,009 students and 38 teachers of the French language, ranking first among Mekong Delta provinces.-

Parisian exhibition reflects on Vietnam – France relationship

As many as 150 black-and-white photographs depicting the relationship between Vietnam and France have gone on display in Paris as part of the 2014 Vietnam Year in France.

Taken between 1860 and the early 20th century by prominent French photographers, the shots were collected by the Research Centre for French National Archives, the French Academy of Overseas Sciences (FAOS) and several museums across the country, according to FAOS Permanent Secretary Pierre Geny. They will be displayed in museums across the French capital.

Ambassador to France Duong Chi Dung said that the exhibited images enrich shared memories of the ups and downs experienced in the histories of the two nations.-

Tran Huu Trang cai luong Award 2014 kicks off

The final found of the Tran Huu Tran Cai Luong Awards 2014 opened at the Ho Chi Minh City Stage Association Office on March 22-23.

A total of 35 competitors from HCMC and Mekong Delta provinces will participate in the final round at Vi Thanh City’s Children Cultural House in Hau Giang Province on March 28-30.

Many current famous cai luong artists became famous after winning the prize including Vu Linh, Thanh Thanh Tam, Phuong Hang, Kim Tu Long, Thoai My and Thanh Ngan.

The competition aims to preserve and popularize the style of cai luong.

The competition is organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Stage Association, Hau Giang Television and the organization of Bac Lieu ‘Don Ca Tai Tu’ or Southern Amateur Music Festival 2014.

Writer Nguyen Nhat Anh, Le Minh Quoc hosts book-signing event

Nguyen Nhat Anh, author of the book 'Nguyen Nhat Anh- Hoang tu be trong the gioi tuoi tho' (Nguyen Nhat Anh- Prince in childhood world), will attend the 8th Book Festival to autograph books and talk with readers at 7 p.m on March 24.

This event will celebrate the republishing of the book.

Nguyen Nhat Anh is well-known as a children writer with a large story collection, including his first book Kinh Van Hoa (Kaleidoscope) was published over 20 years ago with much popularity.

This book is a story of Anh’s life as compiled by his close friend Le Minh Quoc.

The first 50 people to attend the event will receive a free autographed book.

Martin Rama displays visual promenade around Hanoi

Photos and a photo book ‘Hanoi Promenade’ by author Martin Rama began on March 20 to go on display at Manzi Art Space, featuring attractions and charms of Hanoi.

The book is an attempt to depict the characters that make Hanoi exceptional, and to convey images and thoughts from different promenades around the city. The book has more than 20 chapters for readers to explore the charms and characters of the capital in every aspect in each chapter. The book is in both Vietnamese and English.

The photos show Hanoi’s beauty in buildings in diverse architectural styles standing harmoniously together, pagodas and churches intermingling with bustling trade centers and shady avenues alternating with tiny alleys of unmistakable Asian flavor. To the author, life unfolds on sidewalks during the day and passion blossoms on motorbikes at night.

The event runs until March 23 at 14 Phan Huy Ich Street in Hanoi.

Exhibit delves into intimacy between man and tech

Poetry behind the relationship between humans and technology is highlighted as a subject for contemplation at an exhibition by Sandrine Llouquet at Phuong My Flagship Store in downtown HCMC.

At ‘Daisy, Daisy – Ode of digits’ show, large hand drawings by French artist Sandrine Llouquet about sci-fi characters and landscape installations emerge from an aluminum background, and shine with a mysterious red luster.

Using motifs of the science-fiction genre, such as metallic materials, the red light of a spaceship control center, precise laser-cut components and 3-D drawn figures, she depicts various persona of her ideal futuristic woman whom both humans and machines fall in love.

Each persona appears as a graphic 3-D drawing inside the window and on the surface of the glass of Phuong My Boutique, resembling the various stages of metamorphosis of the female body, which parallels the cycle of construction and deconstruction in developing technology.

This exhibition at 81 Le Thanh Ton Street in HCMC’s District 1 proposes a magical futuristic landscape where human desire for transformation pushes the limits of technology and Llouquet responds with awe of its potential.

Born in 1975 in Montpellier, Llouquet has been living in Vietnam since 2005.

She graduated from Ecole Pilote Internationale d’Art et de Recherche – Villa Arson in 1999. A dynamic contributor to the development of contemporary art in Vietnam, she is a founding member of Wonderful District, a project that promotes contemporary art through exhibitions, concerts and theater pieces, as well as a member of Mogas Station, a Vietnam-based artist collective.

Llouquet’s works have been exhibited in numerous venues including the Palais de Tokyo, Paris, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, California and Tate Modern, London. She has also participated in a number of biennales with Mogas Station such as the Shenzhen Biennale (2007), the Singapore Biennale (2006) and in Migration Addicts – a collateral event of the 52nd Venice Biennale. Her drawings, objects and videos are in private collections around the world.

The exhibition runs until April 25.

First Int’l German Olympics in Vietnam calls for competitors

Vietnamese students will have a chance to show off their skills of the German language at the first International German Olympics in Vietnam which will be launched on March 23.

Two top winners of the national round will represent the country to compete in the global final in Frankfurt am Main in Germany from August 3 to 16.

The Vietnam qualifying round will take place online at the media center of the Hanoi University German Department on March 23 with a computer-based test designed by Goethe-Institute Copenhagen. Contestants have to prove their German reading and listening skills as well as their knowledge of vocabulary and grammar.

The best ‘language athletes’ of the qualifying round will go on to the Vietnam finals on April 6 at the Goethe Institute Hanoi. Apart from skills of the German language and culture, competitors will have to show their team spirit and creativity by doing presentations about Germany among other activities.

The third winner can look forward to a German course at the Goethe Institute in Hanoi.

In Frankfurt, contestants will work in groups of mixed nationalities on projects and present them to a jury and winners will get back to Germany for study at the Goethe Institute.

While contestants compete, their accompanying teachers can participate in workshops and educational training.

In Vietnam, the contest is co-organized by the Vietnamese Association of German Teachers in cooperation with the Goethe Institute Vietnam and supported by the Coordinating Agency for German Schools Abroad (ZfA).

The contest is open for youngsters born in 1995 to 2000, able to speak German on level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (GER), having not lived more than six months in Germany or having not yet received or applied for another scholarship to Germany, and having not begun studying in Germany.

Cham lecturer Inrasara to talk about Cham culture

Cham poet Inrasara, the recipient of Sorbonne CHCPI Award of France, literature critic and editor of Tagalau Journal, will give two public lectures about Cham culture at the HCMC University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Hoa Sen University on April 8 and 10, respectively.

The first lecture delves into the ‘Mystery of Cham - An Ancient Journey’ with many untold stories. For this lecture, Inrasara will share his research, such as contributions of the Cham to Vietnamese culture from ancient culture during the Champa Kingdom (from the seventh century to 1832). For Inrasara, uncovering myths and the integrity of literature is not a process of destruction but to recognize their value in providing meaning and guidance to contemporary life.

In the second lecture, Inrisara will discuss the role of religion in the open ethos of the Cham, particularly how its beliefs provided means for openness towards differences. He will share stories about ancient trade of the gypsies, the relationship between architecture and human behavior, and why the Cham were good at business yet humble with their profits.

Inrasara was born in 1957 in Chaklen village, the oldest of Cham people in Ninh Thuan Province. He started writing poems and collecting traditional literature since his high school years, and published his first research project ‘Cham Literature Outline’, which earned him Sorbonne CHCPI Award, and his first poetry collection ‘The tower of sunlight’, which won Vietnam Poets Union Award.

He also works with several intellects to publish Tagalau, a unique publication comprising of writings, collections and researches about Cham to preserve the essence of traditional culture.

Inrasara works primarily with poetry but in recent years he has taken up essays and literature critiques.

The event is part of the artistic project called ‘Conscious Realities’ sponsored by a Network Partnership between the Prince Claus Fund and San Art. The project seeks to stimulate creativity in Vietnam, thus engaging different ideas of contemporary artistic process through lectures, closed-workshops and an artist-in-residency program.

The HCMC University of Social Sciences and Humanities is located at 10-12 Dinh Tien Hoang Street in HCMC’s District 1 and Hoa Sen University is at 6 Nguyen Van Trang Street in HCMC’s District 1.