Book delves into Nguyen apparel

There is no trace of the paintings that vanished three years ago, but Nguyen Van Nhan's works can be seen in the nation's first book on ceremonial costumes of the Nguyen Dynasty released last week.

Researcher Tran Dinh Son's Dai Le Phuc Viet Nam Thoi Nguyen (Vietnamese ceremonial clothes under Nguyen Dynasty) (1802-1945) is divided into four parts: historical documents on Nguyen Dynasty costumes; photos of painter Nguyen Van Nhan's 54 works on ceremonial costumes at the An Nam Court; an index in French with illustrations of costumes for civil and military mandarins; and a picture collection of the dynasty's emperors, queen and courtiers.

Nhan's paintings are said to offer the most systematic and detailed picfures of costumes worn during the reign of the Nguyen Dynasty - from the emperor, prince, princess, consorts, civil and military mandarins, to the uniform of royal music bands and servants.

The paintings were taken overseas and eventually auctioned by Eric Chaim Kline Bookseller, Santa Monica, California in 2011. Their current whereabouts are not known.

A Hue native, Tran Dinh Son is a well-know researcher of ancient Viet Nam's culture and art.

His previous books include Nhung Net Dan Thanh (Exquisite Brushstrokes) and Thuong Ngoan Do Su Kieu Thoi Nguyen (1802-1945) (Appreciating the Custom-made Pattern Porcelains During the Nguyen Dynasty).

General Giap literature gets addition

A book on the late General Vo Nguyen Giap's great vision on business and economic development will be published next month by the People's Police Publishing House.

The book will include General Giap's reports and articles on economic issues, his view on the role of businessmen in society and his letters to enterprises. The book will also have a few illustrated images that have never been published before.

It is the brainchild of the general's family, the general's office, the Club of Vietnamese Industrialists and Traders and the Centre for Economic Training, Advising and Information.

Vo Nguyen Giap (1911-2013) was a general of the Viet Nam People's Army and a politician. He first rose to prominence during World War II, when he served as the leader of the military for the Viet Minh resistance movement against the Japanese occupation of Viet Nam.

Giap was also a principal commander in two wars: the First Indochina War (1946-54) and the American War (1960-75).

Top hairstylist contest launches

The 2015 Viet Nam Top Hairstylist contest has been officially launched in Ha Noi.

The second season of the hairstylist contest follows a successful debut in 2013 and will include four rounds. The first round will take place from March 15 to May 15, with the final round to run from January 15 to April 20 next year.

The top four hairstylists in each round will qualify for the final round, which will take place in Ha Noi or HCM City in next year.

Finalists will compete for a lavish prize pool, including a diamond prize worth VND100 million (US$4,700), two gold prizes of VND30 million each, three silver each worth VND20 million and ten bronze (VND10 million each).

More information is available online at www.thegioitoc.vn.

Thua Thien-Hue moves to protect specialties

The central province of Thua Thien-Hue will select 3 or 4 of its products to register collective marks under a strategy to promote local specialties during the 2014-2015 period.

Collective marks - a type of protection – allow association, rather than individuals to register a mark. They are useful for communities in which individuals produce similar products, such as me xung (sesame candy), which is renowned in Thua Thien-Hue.

Recently, Vietnam's record book named several Hue dishes among the nation’s best foods: bun bo (beef noodles), com hen (rice with mussels), banhbeo (rice cake with grilled shrimp), banh bot loc (dumplings with shrimp), banh khoai (fried rice crepes), ruoc (shrimp paste), me xung (sesame candy), che hat sen (sweet lotus seed pudding), tom chua (pickled shrimp), and thanh tra (a grapefruit variety that was served to the king).

Of the products, bun bo (beef noodles) and me xung (sesame candy) will be supported to register abroad.

Phan Ngoc Tho, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said apart from mirroring cultural identities of Hue and Vietnam in general, the targeted products are expected to contribute to the development of services and tourism in the locality.

Several owners of household-based production workshops in Hue agreed that the strategy is necessary, creating protection opportunities for small-scale individual producers and associations as well as their products.

The strategy also encourages businesses to take an active part in building their own brands while protecting other well-established names in the province.

The province has recently decided to establish the Hue sesame candy association in an effort to protect and further promote the brand name of the candy, a favorite gift of each visitor to the imperial city.

Besides collective marks, certification marks and geographical indication are other useful alternatives for protection, experts advised.

Festival to highlight Bac Ninh province’s culture

The Festival Bac Ninh 2014 will be held from March 13-17 with various fascinating cultural and sport activities, said a senior official of the hosting northern province of Bac Ninh.

Nguyen Nhan Chien, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the festival, organised every four years, is expected to draw the participation of more than 100,000 people, including 7,000 artisans and local performers, as well as artists from various localities nationwide.

Themed “Bac Ninh – Kinh Bac Spirit”, the festival will be held in eight districts, town and the city of Bac Ninh.

A series of activities will be organised, including a Quan Ho (love duets) singing contest, the 2014 sports festival, an ornamental plant and creature contest, a youngsters’ camp, and performances of folk music and dance, said Chien.

Exhibitions, fairs will be held, as will free tours, in Bac Ninh city and famous historical relic sites and trade villages across the province to promote Bac Ninh’s tourism, he added.

Cua Ong Temple Festival remembers Tran Dynasty general

The Cua Ong Temple Festival opened yesterday in northern Quang Ninh Province’s Cam Pha City in honour of Tran Quoc Tang, a famous general of the Tran Dynasty.

The festival began with the procession of General Tran Quoc Tang’s palanquin and his memorial tablet from the Cua Ong Temple to a statue of the general. The procession represents his journey across the northeastern waters.

The third son of the brilliant military strategist, Tran Hung Dao, Tran Quoc Tang is believed to have died in the Cua Ong area, and a temple was built by the locals to honour his major contributions during the resistance wars against the Mongol invaders.

In addition to the prescribed rituals, the Cua Ong Temple Festival features folk games such as human chess, boat racing and cockfighting, as well as art performances and a re-enactment of Tran Quoc Tang’s military feats.

The Cua Ong Temple is recognised as a national cultural and historical site and is one of the most important sites related to the Tran Dynasty (1226-1400) in Vietnam.

HCM City holds photo exhibitions on Border Guards

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in HCMC and Border Guards Force held a photography exhibition on March 3 celebrating the 55th Traditional Day of Border Guard and 25th anniversary of Whole People Border Day.

The exhibition showcased 195 color, black and white photos and two large displays with themes ‘Vietnam Border Guard Force - 55 Years of Construction, Combat Mission and Growth’ and ‘Beauty of Vietnam Border, Sea Island and City Border Guards’.

The displays show the history of Vietnam Border Guard Force’s establishment, development, soldier’s achievements, success, and trade in sea ports.

An additional Border Guard photography exhibition was held at Lam Son, Chi Lang Park in District 1, HCMC. It will end on March 6.

HCMC Border Guard Command and HCMC Television hosted a program featuring the Border Guards at the theatre on March 3.

The program was attended by soldiers and composer Tran Long An and Nguyen Quang Vinh who shares experiences with Border Guard units through their music.