Research on epic of Thai ethnic group wins Folklore Arts Awards

Dr. Pham Dang Xuan Huong, a lecturer from Hanoi National University of Education, has won the first prize of the 2015 Folklore Arts Awards for her research on epic poetry of Thai ethnic people in the northest region.

Huong was awarded for her reseach entitled ‘Features of Chuong epic poetry in Vietnam: Case study of ‘Chuong Han’ at a ceremony held in Hanoi on December 12 by the Association of Vietnam Folklorists (AVF).

Eight second, 36 third and 11 consolation prizes were also presented to other researchers at the ceremony.

Addressing the event, AVF President Prof. Dr. To Ngoc Thanh congratulated the awards winners and encouraged them to conduct further research on traditional cultural heritages of Vietnamese ethnic groups which have not yet been fully explored.

He said that this year’s awards drew 70 research projects touching upon various topics of philology and theory, traditional customs, traditional performing arts and indigenous knowledge.

He noted with pleasure that many of the research studies were implemented in a new trend by exploring the changes of folk culture in the context of today’s life instead of only examining it against the general repertoire of culture.

On the occasion, the AVF conferred the ‘Folklorist’ title to 10 members for their contributions to practicing and teaching 'Dum' traditional singing in Hai Phong city.

Cultural exchange celebrates Vietnam – RoK relations

A cultural exchange was held in the central coastal city of Da Nang on December 12 to mark the 23rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) (1992-2015).

The event, co-organised by the Korean Cultural Centre in Vietnam and Da Nang city Department of Foreign Affairs, was attended by RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Jun Dae Joo, leaders of Da Nang city, local residents and students in the city.

The festival opened with an arts programme, which brought to stage famous RoK bands such as K-tiger and Bibap as well as Vietnamese Nolas dance team and pop singer Trung Quan.

Participants to the two-day event can also enjoy free screenings of RoK films and try on Hanbok (RoK traditional outfits) or visit an exhibition on RoK culture and a photography display on Da Nang.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of Da Nang city People’s Committee Dang Viet Dung noted that over the past 23 years, Vietnam-RoK relations have been continuously consolidated and developed in all fields, adding that bilateral cultural exchanges have also been promoted through various activities.

The co-operation between Da Nang city and RoK, in particular, has been robustly boosted under the framework of the two countries’ co-operation, he stressed.

He also noted the importance of the launching of the Da Nang – Incheon direct air route, which has helped increase the number of RoK visitors to the city while opening up more co-operation opportunities between Da Nang and the RoK.

A number of RoK culture and arts exchanges have been held in the city, attracting much interest from local people, particularly among the youth, he added.

For his part, RoK Ambassador Jun Dae Joo expressed his delight at the considerable achievements in the bilateral relations in all realms, particularly in economic co-operation.

RoK is currently the top foreign investor in Vietnam and two-way trade turnover in 2015 has reached nearly US$40 billion, he said. The number of RoK visitors to Vietnam this year has increased by 30% while the number of Vietnamese visitors to the RoK has seen a 15% increase over the same period last year.

The Ambassador praised Da Nang as a dynamic city with vast potentials for economic co-operation.

He also stated that the direct air route linking Da Nang and the RoK has created favourable conditions for people from the RoK to visit the Vietnamese central city as well as for businesses to invest in the city and its neighbouring provinces.

Feedback sought on designs for Hoang Sa soldiers’ memorial site

The best four designs for a memorial site dedicated to soldiers who laid down their lives to protect Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago are being displayed in Ho Chi Minh City for public feedback.

The designs are selected from a contest which was launched by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) more than two months ago.

The contest attracted the participation of 21 collectives and individuals from across the country.

Dang Ngoc Tung, VGCL President, said the contest was meant to find the best design for a memorial which must fulfill requirements of feasibility, sustainability, aesthetics and historical education values.

Based on public opinions, the organising board will select the best design, and construction on the site will begin in January next year after being approved by competent agencies, he said.

The exhibition will last until December 17.

Vietnam – Cuba Culture Day opens in HCM City

The Vietnam – Cuba Culture Day opened in HCM City on December 13 as one of events marking the 55th anniversary of the Vietnam – Cuba diplomatic relationship and the 57th anniversary of the Cuban revolutionary.

The event was also the last one of a series of Vietnam – Cuba friendship activities in 2015 in HCM City, which have been generated good results and effects.

Truong Thi Hien, President of the HCM City Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Association, emphasised the Vietnam – Cuba relationship has been substantially strengthened in the past years with visits of high-ranking leaders from the two countries.

According to Hien, the visits’ results and join statements of the leaders are strong evidence to the resolve of the Parties, Governments and people of the two countries in preserving and strengthening their fraternal unity, support and comprehensive cooperation.

“HCM City takes the preservation of the unity and purity in the Vietnam – Cuba relation as its own responsibility and hopes economic and trade exchange between the city and Cuba will develop strongly in the fields of hi-tech agriculture, consumer goods production, mechanic engineering for agriculture, infrastructure, and automobile production and assembling,” she said.

Cuban General Consul Bernabe Garcia Valido expressed his belief that with the long and sustainable unity, Vietnamese and Cuban citizens of today and future generations would continue to foster the friendship, comprehensive cooperation and absolute confidence between the two Parties, States and peoples.

There were many activities during the Vietnam – Cuba Culture Day such as a fact-finding contest on Cuba and the Vietnam – Cuba friendship and the performance of Vietnamese and Cuban songs. Visitors also had a chance to taste Cuban dishes such as Mojito drink and Congri rice.

National canine competition to take place in Hanoi

Around 200 dogs from over 30 breeds will partake in a canine competition in Hanoi.

The Vietnam Championship Dog Show 2015 will be organized on December 19 and 20 at 88 Le Van Luong Street, Thanh Xuan District.

This is a chance for Vietnamese dog owners to meet and exchange their experience in rearing local and foreign breeds, as well as see beautiful dogs wear colorful clothes and shoes.

Besides Vietnam’s Phu Quoc ridgeback, other dog breeds to compete in the show are Pomeranian, German Shepherd, Husky, Alaskan Malamute, and Poodle.

The dogs will have to go through several rounds that require them to have good form, bone structure, and ability in order to win “Best In Show,” the highest award.

This year, the event will welcome Eugene Yerusalimsky and Maribel Sy, two representatives from the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (World Canine Organization).

Yerusalimsky has 48 years of experience as a judge at many canine competitions in 34 countries around the world.

He is also founder of the Russian Kennel Club.

The canine competition, which is in its seventh year, will be jointly organized by the Vietnam Kennel Association and Dai Viet Kennel Club in Hanoi.

US MasterChef Christine Ha to meet fans in HCM City

Christine Ha, the visually impaired winner of reality television show MasterChef US in 2012, is poised to talk cooking with local fans in Ho Chi Minh City on December 16.

The American chef, writer and TV host of Vietnamese origin will share her personal journey to become the first blind contestant, then winner, in the history of MasterChef US, at the event scheduled at 5:00 pm.

The meeting, titled “The Making of a Master Chef, a Conversation with Christine Ha,” is organized by the US Consulate General's American Center in Ho Chi Minh City at its venue in District 1.

Besides the fan meeting, Ha will also attend many other activities on December 16.

In the morning, she will have a book signing on the Vietnamese-language publication of her cook book “Recipes from My Home Kitchen” at the Tre Publishing House in District 3.

The book, which hit bookstores in Vietnam on December 1, is titled “Nấu ăn bằng cả trái tim” in Vietnamese, literally translated as “cooking with all your heart.”

In the afternoon, Ha will take part in an event to give exchange and cook with students at the University of Technology (HUTECH) in Binh Thanh District, after which she will leave for the fan meeting.

Ha found fame after winning the third season of the US competitive cooking reality show in 2012, where she wowed the judges and viewers with her Vietnamese dishes including ca kho to (catfish braised in a clay pot) and other courses cooked with the iconic Vietnamese ingredient, fish sauce.

The 36-year-old Texas-based chef also attracted a huge number of followers and fans thanks to her friendliness, simplicity and enthusiasm for cooking.

She now has more than 245,000 followers on Facebook and over 10,600 subscribers on YouTube.

Ha was therefore invited to join the jury of the third season of MasterChef Vietnam this year, after taking part in two previous seasons as a guest judge.

The MasterChef Vietnam season three will announce its winner tonight, December 12.

Thang Long Royal Citadel and heritage promotion

The Thang Long Royal Citadel was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO five years ago. Many archaeological research activities have been carried out to evaluate, preserve, and promote this heritage.

The Thang Long Royal Citadel which was once Vietnam’s political and cultural center and embraces the cultural and historical identity of Vietnamese people in the Red River Delta.

For 13 centuries, the citadel was Vietnam’s capital city under the Ly, Tran and Le dynasties from the 11th to 18th century.

Though it was seriously damaged in the 19th century, traces of its main structures and architecture remain in the North Gate, Main Gate, stone dragon stairs, Kinh Thien Palace and the Hau Lau or Princess Palace.

In the complex of the Thang Long Royal Citadel, there are relic sites like House and Tunnel D67, revolutionary relics associated with anti-US war. In recent years, several more relics of interest to both scientists and tourists have been unearthed at the site.

Nguyen Van Son, former Director of the Thang Long Royal Citadel Center, said,“Since it was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage, the number of scientists and tourists visiting the site has increased dramatically, 50,000 to 100,000 visitors each year. Most foreign visitors are from Japan, the Republic of Korea and Europe. Many events have been held at the Thang Long Royal Citadel”.

More efforts are needed to preserve and promote the site. There are still many ancient structures and relics in and around the citadel which have not yet been unearthed.

Doctor Tong Trung Tin of the Vietnam Archeology Association says traces of overlapping layers of royal palaces of different dynasties and French administrative and military facilities are invaluable historical evidence which need further research.

“It will be a long process of preservation and protection because many relics have been discovered underground. We are on the right track of preservation. Japan’s Nara palace is an example. It has been preserved since the 19th century and took more than 60 years of research," Tin noted.

"Here at the Thang Long Royal Citadel, we began our preservation in 2002. The relic site was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage in 2010. Since the government approved the preservation plan, we have followed the roadmap of research, preservation and promotion of the heritage site,” he added.

One of the challenges in preserving the Thang Long Royal Citadel is the overlapping layers of relics of different periods. Under the ground of Thang Long Royal Citadel there are 3 or 4 layers of different cultures.

Above the ground are the Kinh Thien palace and Doan Mon (Main Gate). To researchers, the French architectural structures are also important relics. Doctor Nguyen Quang Ngoc says it’s important to identify the most typical features of the site to make appropriate preservation decision.

“Thang Long Royal Citadel is the most important relic. More modern relics represent typical and prominent features that we have to preserve as well. There are also less important relics. So we need to have clear conception  of the relic to work out appropriate preservation solutions,” Ngoc shared.

Underground relics which are now just broken fragments help us understand our past. As a World Culture Heritage Site, the preservation of the Thang Long Royal Citadel, both above and under the ground, according to researchers, need to take into consideration the regulations stipulated in the World Heritage Convention.

Music night for cancer stricken kids

More than 600 enterprises and 140 artists will work together to bring happiness to children with cancer at music night Giac Mo Dem Mua Dong (Dreams at the Winter's Night) at the GEM centre in HCM City today.

Held by TTT Corporation and other organisations, the event aims to raise funds for child cancer treatment as well as create a magical Christmas night.

Inspired by Uoc Mo Cua Thuy (Thuy's Wish) programme which aims to help children with cancer, Le Ba Thong, general director of TTT Corporation, decided to hold the event.

"Six months ago, I had a chance to attend a Thuy's Wish charity programme. I found that the event really meaningful, which motivated me to put on this music night," Thong said.

"If this music night is successful, we will hold it biennially," he added.

The event not only raises funds for children, but aims to build a children's cancer hospital and set up a website where patients' parents can learn more about their children's treatment.

According to musician Duc Tri, who organised the music at the event, one important thing for musicians was using music to do good things.

The event has received support from MPU music school, HCM City Young Business Association, businesspeople, medical workers, and other volunteers, who practiced for four months.

Famous singers will perform songs including I Will Follow Him, Jingle Bells, Joy to the Word, Goi Anh (Call Him), Con Yeu (Darling Children).

Audiences will contribute VND3 million (US$130) per ticket to the fund. Apart from selling tickets, the organisation will also selling paintings and welcome all donations.

Tickets are available at giacmodemmuadong.ttt.vn/dat-ve. To book more than 10 tickets call 0938 885 657 or 0933 007 933.

Hang Da Galleria hosts photography fair

A photography fair is on at Hang Da Galleria in Hanoi, with 15 authors from different parts of the country taking part.

Unlike an ordinary photo exhibition, the fair treats artworks as products with price tags.

Visitors can attend talk shows on shooting techniques and interact with experienced photographers over matters like photography and graphics.

For admission to those talk shows, participants will have to pay a fee. The organizer of the fair, Hang Da Galleria, wants to send out a message that knowledge is not free.

The fair lasts until December 30. Hang Da Galleria is located at 1 Hang Da Street, Hanoi

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