First photo exhibition on Bhutan set for late Nov

“Peaceful” by Nguyen Thanh Hai.

Works by Vietnamese photographers Nguyen Thanh Hai and Nguyen Thanh Tung will be displayed at a photo exhibition called “My Bhutan” at TajmaSago in HCMC’s District 7 from November 26 to 28.

This is the first photo exhibition to exclusively feature the Kingdom of Bhutan. Viewers will have the opportunity to see 30 snapshots which have been captured over the past three years, including images of rice fields in the middle of the Himalayan mountain range, and beautiful villages in thousand-year-old forests, peaceful monasteries on snow-covered mountains, and gentle Bhutan people in traditional dances.

The two photographers will also share their experience in Bhutan visits. On the occasion, the duo has published the Bhutan-themed calendar of 2016 to raise funds for Help Portrait organization.

Sonam Dorji, general secretary of the Tourism Council of Bhutan, and Bhutan photographer Sonam Wangchen will show up at the photo exhibition.

TajmaSago is located at 6 Pham Van Chuong Street, District 7, HCMC.

HCM City plans ‘One amazing food experience’

After successfully serving up the city's best fare for more than a decade, the Ho Chi Minh City International Food Festival is back with bigger features and bolder flavours in its 11th year.

The legendary four-day food festival returns December 3-6 with culinary experts from in excess of 20 nations planning to participate in a vast number of culinary and other fun filled festivities.

This year's event takes festival-goers on a culinary adventure through the city's many diverse neighbourhoods by featuring the chefs and restaurants that give these communities their true personality and flavour.

Food lovers of all ages are invited to join in celebrating the dynamic energy and variety of the local restaurant scene while savouring what makes HCM City the food capital of Vietnam.

Japanese chef cuts 39kg tuna for sushi sashimi

Vietnamese visitors to a special show in Ho Chi Minh City on November 23 had an opportunity to watch a Japanese chef with 20 years on the job cutting a 39kg tuna and enjoy sushi sashimi made of it.

They were also served apricot wine, Japanese rice mixed in sushi vinegar, Okonomiyaki (a type of crepe) and others.

The event was co-organized by Yamato Logistics Vietnam and Japan’s Wakayama prefecture to introduce Wakayama prefecture’s unique culinary arts to Vietnam. Wakayama prefecture is one of nine provinces in Kansai region, south of Osaka, which is known for agri and aquacultural products, particularly tuna and different kinds of fruits like orange and apricot.

Memoirs by wife of late Party General Secretary released

The memoirs of 98-year-old revolutionary Ngo Thi Hue, wife of late Party General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh, has been released in HCM City to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Nam Ky (Southern) Uprising, November 11.

The book, Tieng Song Bua Ghenh (Waves Flapping on Reefs), includes two parts and features memories of her life in the revolution against the French.

It highlights historical events, such as the Southern Uprising in 1940 and Southern War of Resistance in 1945.

Hue's career was closely intertwined with the country's victories during the wars against the France and the US.

The work also includes her movements in the remote areas of Kien Giang, Tra Vinh, Vinh Long and Dong Thap provinces to give assistance to local people.

The book signing event, organised by Tre (Youth) Publishing House, in co-operation with HCM City's Youth Union, on Sunday, attracted many young readers in the city.

HCM City focuses on climate change

Around 1,500 young people will gather at Cargo Event Space in HCM City today for "Power Up", an event to call for action against climate change.

Organised by changevn.org and 350.org Viet Nam, it is being held in response to the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP21 at the end of November in France calling on global leaders to act against the global climate crisis.

On Saturday and Sunday hundreds of thousands of people world-wide will parade to exhort leaders to divest from fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil) and invest in renewables to achieve a target of 100 per cent clean energy by 2050.

"Power Up" will feature different areas where visitors can learn about fossil fuels and renewable energy, see meaningful films about the environment, take part in an environmental quiz, and take photos or draw portraits with posters containing messages about climate change.

Twenty well-known artists, several of them ambassadors of 350.org Viet Nam, will perform.

Participants can meet and interact with them.

Tickets priced VND50,000, and 30,000 for students, are available at www.ticketbox.vn. All proceeds generated from ticket sales will be donated to Change's Protecting and Coping with Climate Change fund.

Cargo is situated at 7 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, District 4.

Cai luong artisans awarded medals

Five gold medals were presented for the best cai luong (reformed opera) plays at 2015 National Professional Cai Luong Festival in the Mekong Delta city of Bac Lieu's Cao Van Lau Theatre on Monday.

The medals were owned by leading troupes such as Tran Huu Trang Theatre of HCM City, Viet Nam's Cai Luong Theatre and Ha Noi's Cai Luong Theatre of Ha Noi, the Traditional Art Theatre of Dong Nai, and Huong Tram Troupe of Ca Mau.

The organiser, the Ministry of Culture, presented dozens of gold and silver medals for best director, best scriptwriter, best actor, and young promising talent.

The two-week event attracted 30 cai luong theatres and troupes, including seven private troupes, mostly in HCM City and central and southern provinces of Da Nang, Binh Dinh, Long An and Can Tho.

It included forums and seminars on the art attracting traditional art and music researchers and critics.

Thai Nguyen trade and tourism fair highlights Vietnamese tea

The Thai Nguyen Trade and Tourism Fair, themed ‘Quintessence of Vietnamese tea – Connecting people’, officially kicked off in Thai Nguyen province on November 23, as part of activities during the third Tea Festival.

The fair features over 200 pavilions by trade and tourism promotion organisations and enterprises from 20 provinces and cities around the country, such as Lang Son, Ha Giang, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Hoa Binh and Binh Thuan.

On display are specialities from the localities participating in the event including Ba Be vermicelli from Bac Kan; Mau Son cinnamon, anise flowers and wine from Lang Son; Shan Tuyet tea from northern mountainous provinces; mushrooms and corn liquor from Ha Giang; Phan Thiet fish sauce, and Binh Thuan wooden furniture.

The highlight of the fair is the booths introducing different tea products from numerous localities as well as ways to preserve and make tea.

A makeshift traditional rural market of northern mountainous provinces, with old people enjoying cups of hot tea in small bamboo tea shops, attracts a large number of visitors.

The event aims to honour and promote Vietnamese tea, particularly the Thai Nguyen tea brand, to both people in the country and international friends.

It is also expected to strengthen the co-operation among participating localities in trade promotion, contributing to the industrial, trade and tourism development of the country.

The 2015 Thai Nguyen Trade and Tourism Fair will last until November 28.

Phu Tho keen to preserve Hung Kings worship ritual

The northern mountainous province of Phu Tho is implementing measures to conserve and promote the Hung Kings worship ritual, according to Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Ha Ke San.

The province and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism developed a national action programme for this purpose, which has been approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, San said.

The locality has developed a detailed plan for implementing the programme as part of activities to realise UNESCO commitments on preserving intangible cultural heritage.

A research project has been carried out in a bid to revive and standardise the ritual at relevant worshipping sites in the province, as well as nationwide.

Communication and publicity campaigns have been strengthened to promote the ritual and festival. They will also help the public understand the value of the heritage and the importance of protecting it.

According to the Deputy Director of the Hung Kings Temple Relic Site Management Board, Nguyen Duy Anh, the board has cooperated with relevant bodies to make lists of Hung Kings worshipping sites, collect related legends, relevant documents and practices, in tandem with maintenance work.

In the coming time, the locality will join hands with ministries and sectors to accelerate the implementation of the national programme on protecting and promoting the Hung Kings worship ritual in accordance with the UNESCO Convention signed in 2003.

The locality aims to mobilise different resources for the work, while focusing on enhancing the capability of local management forces.

Additionally, Phu Tho has developed tourism services that address the religion and relevant sites across the country.

Hung Kings are the ancient Vietnamese rulers of Van Lang Kingdom in the Hong Bang period (2879–258 BC).

According to Vietnamese legend, the 18 Hung Kings ruled during the first period of Vietnamese history, from 2879-258 BC.

The Hung Kings Festival is held annually from the eight to the eleventh days of the third lunar month.

The worshipping ritual of the Hung Kings is closely related to the ancestor worshipping traditions in most Vietnamese families, which forms an important part of people's spiritual lives.

It was recognised by UNESCO as part of the World Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012.

VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri