Awards recognise contributors to culture

The 2014 Phan Chau Trinh Culture Foundation's awards for contributions to Viet Nam's culture, education, translation and research have been presented to four Vietnamese and one foreigner.

Veteran southern folk music composer Lu Nhat Vu and poet Le Giang received an award for their collection and promotion of southern folk culture.

They are co-writers of folk music works such as 300 Dieu Ly Nam Bo (300 Southern Folk Songs) and Tim Hieu dan Ca Nam Bo (Studies on Southern Folk Songs).

The translation prize was awarded to Asso. Prof. Ngo Duc Tho for his significant contribution to translating Han-Nom (old Vietnamese characters based on Han Chinese characters) monographs including Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu (Encyclopedia of Vietnamese History) and Dong Khanh Dia Du Chi (The Descriptive Geography of Emperor Dong Khanh).

Historical researcher Ta Chi Dai Truong was presented a prize for his research on the country's history, with best-selling books including Lich Su Noi Chien Viet Nam tu 1771 den 1802 (History of Viet Nam Civil War History from 1771 to 1802), and Than, Nguoi va Dat Viet (Spirits, Men and the Viet Land).

Thomas J. Vallely, chairman of Trust for University Innovation in Viet Nam and former director of the Viet Nam Programme in Harvard University, received a prize for his contribution to the country's tertiary education.

His work has focused on institutional innovation in Viet Nam's higher education and science. Under his leadership, the Fulbright Programme has become an excellence centre for public policy teaching and research in Viet Nam.

After 20 years of implementation, the Fulbright programme has trained more than 2,000 public policymakers and university's lecturers in more than 60 provinces and cities nationwide.

He also set up the Viet Nam Education Fund in 2000. Each year, nearly 40 overseas scholarships are provided to Vietnamese students in fields including science, maths and medicine.

The Phan Chau Trinh Culture Foundation with its previous name of the Phan Chau Trinh Translation Foundation was established by the Viet Nam Union of Science and Technology Associations in 2006.

The foundation's awards aim to encourage and honour domestic and foreign researchers, scientists, translators and educators.

Russian artists come to show 76 paintings

Eleven Russian artists are joining hands with three Khanh Hoa Province-based artists to display their artworks at a group exhibition in HCMC.

On the display at the ‘Handshake. Again’ exhibition at HCMC Fine Arts Museum are 110 artworks, with 76 of them from the Russians. The Russian works depict the beauty of the country and people of Russia.

The artworks are made mainly of oil on canvas and in diverse styles from traditional to contemporary art trends. Visitors can take a visual journey to explore the culture, famous destinations, daily life and portraits of Russian people.

“Art is the mute yet colorful language and we hope Vietnamese people can sense the soul of Russia as well as Russian art style,” said curator Olga Zotova at the opening of the exhibition.

The participating artists are Bui Van Quang, Le Van Duy and Le Tri from Vietnam, and Russia’s Forostovsky Sergey, Kholmogorova Maria, Kozmina Lidia, Makeev Evgeny, Medvedev Vitaly, Nikitchik Olga, Pikhtovnikov Evegeny, Pikhtovnikova Marina, Podskochin Oleg, Schegoleva Anna and Tkachenko Evegeny. The Russian artists are from the Far East, Siberia and Saint-Petersburg.

This is the third exhibition within the ‘Handshake’ project which was launched in 2012 by Russian and Vietnamese artists to bolster cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The Russian artists take this occasion to have exchanges with Vietnamese artists and students and make artworks that depicts landscapes and daily life in Vietnam. “We are living in the very cold place and the sudden change into a very warm city and many splendid attractions in the tropical country are endless inspirations for us to make works,” said Forostovsky Sergey. “We cannot miss this chance.”

The exhibition runs until March 30 at the museum, 97 Pho Duc Chinh Street in HCMC’s District 1.

Danish embassy opens third Vietnam Painting Exhibition

The Denmark-Vietnam Cultural Development and Exchange Fund (CDEF) and the Danish Embassy in Hanoi launched the third Vietnam Painting Exhibition in the capital on March 25.

The event showcases 25 paintings by 18 artists from all parts of the country, which were selected from 150 entries.

The exhibition, which will run until July, aims to promote the works of Vietnamese painters as well as enhance understanding between artists and the public.

The Danish Embassy project to promote Vietnamese paintings was initiated in 2012. Nine selected works were exhibited during the first exhibition and 18 paintings were displayed at the second one.-

Stamp designing contest to welcome ASEAN community

The Vietnam Post on March 25 launched a stamp designing contest to welcome the ASEAN community that is expected to take shape by 2015.

The activity aims to realise the commitment by member countries to issuing a set of joint stamps themed “One Vision, One Identity, One Community” next year.

Artists in and out of the corporation can send their designs to the contest until August 8. Each of them must create at least a stamp pattern and one commemorative seal design.

The organising board will select a maximum of three stamp and three commemorative seal patterns to compete at a contest in Thailand.

ASEAN groups Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

ASEAN leaders have chosen December 31, 2015 as the day to officially launch the ASEAN Community.

The Community is to be based on three key pillars: a Political-Security Community (APSC), an Economic Community (AEC) and a Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).

Festival in Dien Bien commemorates peasant hero

A festival marking the 245th death anniversary of the peasant hero, Hoang Cong Chat, began in the Dien Bien district, the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien on March 24.

Started in 1994, the Hoang Cong Chat Temple Festival is an annual event held on the 25th day of the second lunar month at the Ban Phu Citadel, Noong Het commune.

The festival, the largest in the Dien Bien Province, features a wide range of cultural, art, and sports activities, including a palanquin procession, incense offering, art performances, and a show of traditional costumes of local ethnic groups, such as Thai, Mong, Kho Mu, Lu, and Lao.

Many folk games and a cooking contest are also organised during the two-day event.

The Ban Phu Citadel was built between 1758 and 1762 by Hoang Cong Toan, the son of Hoang Cong Chat, who led the local people in the movement to protect the north-western villages from the occupation of the Phe invaders from China in the 18th century.

The citadel and temple, which were twice recognised as a national historical and cultural relic site in 1981 and 1994, have not only become an important cultural and spiritual destination for the ethnic minorities in the Dien Bien province, but are also an important tourist attraction for all Vietnamese and foreign visitors.

Flea market in Saigon

If you are looking for a place to browse for unique hand-made interior items, accessories, and on-trend fashion pieces you should head to Saigon Flea Market (SFM), a bimonthly event in HCMC’s District 7 where local and foreign artists and shopaholic come to trade and exchange ideas.

The market which was established by Moon Doan, a fashion blogger from Hanoi, takes place every second and forth Sundays of month. Those wishing to sell their creative products and old stuffs can rent a booth at VND650,000 to VND800,000 per day. Next SFM events are slated for April 13 and 27 on Level 1, Boomarang Bistro Restaurant, 107 Ton Dat Tien Street, Phu My Hung Urban Zone, District 7, HCMC.

People can have detailed information and sneak peaks on products of upcoming markets at the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ saigon.fl ea.market.

HTV to broadcasts art program ‘Young tone’

Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera in collaboration with HCMC Television will hold an art performance under title ‘Young Tone’ on 29th day of March, June, September and December.

The three-year old program has inspired many young artists. The program on March 29 is themed “Orchestra Introduction”.

Conductor Tran Vuong Thach will be directing violinist Tang Thanh Nam, oboe player Pham Khanh Toan, clarinetist Vo Minh Dong and Tran Dai Nghia, and bassoon player A Tach with a large ensemble.

Especially, this year’s program will be televised on the television program Go Cua Am Nhac (Knocking on Music’s Door) hosted by HTV.

French musician Superpoze to feature Electronic Night

The French Institute in Vietnam and Saigon Sound System will host an Electronic Night at 9 p.m. on March 27 at Cargo Bar – Q4, 7 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, District 4, HCMC, with French musician Superpoze taking part.

Superpoze is a young emerging composer/beat-maker who has been recently praised by audiences at Vieilles Charrues and Montreux music festivals. Inspired by Mondkopf, Bonobo and Mr Oizo, Superpoze gives electronic music another dimension, fetching its sounds in a strong musical culture, from jazz to hip-hop.

The 20-year-old from Caen released his first single in 2010 and his first EP “From the Cold” in 2013.

He spent seven years in a music school first learning percussion, then looking towards electronic music and the beats where everything is to be created. On stage, behind his pads and keyboard, Superpoze creates his own tunes instinctively and grooves on beats and bass lines as original as they are effective. He creates an instrumental hiphop with no boundary.

Tickets are available at www.ticketbox.vn or call 0916 001 706 at a price of VND50,000, which rises to VND80,000 at door.