Buddhist ritual music, dance to be presented in Hue Festival 2016

The 9th Hue Festival featuring Buddhist ritual music and dance for the first time is expected to attract a large number of devotees, according to the organization board.

The 2016 event entitled “710 years of the founding of Thuan Hoa-Phu Xuan; cultural heritage with integration and development” will take place in Hue ancient capital in Thua Thien- Hue Province from April 29 to May 04, 2016.

Many art troupes from around 20 countries and territories throughout the world have registered to take part in the festival, such as the L’Homme Debout, Hip hop Par Terre and Fuzeta of France; the Cancer of Denmark; Amurskie Zori of Russia; Della Mae of the U.S.; singer Anna Calvi from the UK and more.

As an international event, the festival will offer a number of cultural activities presenting Hue royal art and folk art, including “Dem Hoang Cung” (Royal Night), street festival, exhibitions on Hue’s art of kite flying and calligraphy, a concert marking musican Trinh Cong Son's death anniversary.

Book street festival features city's 40 year achievements

The annual book street festival 2016 themed "Ho Chi Minh City: Peace, Prosperity and Development" will be scheduled to launch from February 5-12.

The event will take place on main streets in the heart of city, Mac Thi Buoi, Nguyen Hue, Ngo Duc Ke.

The book fair will be divided into five areas. The “Ho Chi Minh City: Peace, Prosperity and Development” section will include books, maps, projects and others featuring the city’s achievements after 40 years after liberation.

The “President Ho Chi Minh” area will present local and international publications on Uncle Ho.

The “Fatherland's sacred sea and islands” section will display maps, photos, documents and artifacts which affirm Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes.

There will be a sector honoring the great poet Nguyen Du and his world-famous masterpiece; and an area introducing ASEAN community.

The book show will also have an area of children book, books for the blind and electric books.

The festival will display thousands of copies of publications of various genres such as politics, culture, history, literature and economics, and universal knowledge by leading publishers in the country.

The event that has been held for 12 consecutive years and attracted more than one million visitors each year, is aimed to highlight Vietnamese’s traditional Tet .

Annual architecture prizes awarded

The Loa Thanh Award ceremony held in the imperial citadel of Thang Long on Sunday presented nearly 50 outstanding graduation projects of students majoring in architecture and construction.

The first prizes went to four projects: Ly Son-Quang Ngai Cultural Center; Interior and Exterior design of HCMC University of Architecture in Da Lat; Luxury apartment design incorporating a 15-storey business center in District 2 in HCMC; and the preparation of investment projects for the construction of high-rise buildings at 16B Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ha Dong, Ha Noi.

The Loa Thanh Award has been co-organised for the past 27 years by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Viet Nam Federation of Civil Engineering Association, the Ministry of Construction and the Vietnam Association of Architects.

The annual award has attracted the participation of students from 23 universities with nearly 2,400 projects submitted since 1988.

Global artists perform at HCM City annual concert

International musicians yesterday shared the stage with promising young local talents at the seventh H-artistry, an annual concert held to inspire young people to overcome challenges and pursue their dreams.

Among the stars who performed at the Nguyen Du Indoor Stadium in HCM City were British singer Rita Ora and South Korean hip-hop band Lucky J.

Ora, 25, started performing at a very young age and has worked with artists like Craig David, Tinchy Stryder, and James Morrison.

Besides her own albums, she has also collaborated with stars like Madonna (Bitch I'm Madonna), Iggy Azalea (Black Widow) and the band Coldplay (Mylo Xyloto Tour).

She has been invited to the coaching panel of reality shows "The Voice" and "The X-factor 2015".

The three members of Lucky J, Jessi, J'kyun, and J-yo, have different personalities but share a passion for hip-hop. They have established a unique style for their band by mixing various musical genres.

The concert also featured Ngoc Tram and Bao Kun, the winner and runner-up of the season 2 of "Dare to Pursue Your Dream", and guest artist Cuong Seven, a popular dancer and singer.

The event was also an opportunity for young people to interact with famous artists and successful people with a passion for music and the determination to pursue their dreams.

New releases to launch at Christmas Book Fair

The 2015 Christmas Book Fair, organised by Nha Nam Culture and Communications Company in co-operation with 17 publishers, will begin in HCM City tomorrow.

The five-day fair at the HCM City Exhibition House on 92 Le Thanh Ton Street in District 1 aims to "create an opportunity for readers to find new and interesting publications at preferential prices," according to a release from organisers.

The fair will offer discounts of 25 per cent to 50 per cent on a variety of publications besides a parity book price ranging from VND10,000 to VND35,000.

The fair will also see the launch of several publications, including the novel Sai Gon, Bao Nho (Sai Gon, Miss) by Dam Ha Phu, reportage novel Xom Ra (Ra Hamlet) by Ngoc Giao, and detective novel Co Gai Tren Tau (The Girl on the Train) by Paula Hawkins on the opening day of the fair.

South Korean novel Ca Hoi (Salmon), colouring book Bep Nha Lua Do (Warm Home Kitchen) by Truong Xuan Bach on Friday, and Viet Nam Su Luoc (Viet Nam Summary History) by Tran Trong Kim, are expected to each be launched on three consecutive days.

Signing of books will take place on Saturday and Sunday at 9:30-11:30am, and 4-6pm with authors Vu Lap Nhat, Dinh Hang and Dam Ha Phu.

Author Dinh Hang of the autobiography Qua Tre De Chet – Hanh Trinh Nuoc My (Too Young to Die – American Journey), will sell her book collections and donate all proceeds for the programme helping kidney patients with dialysis.

Readers can join the programme by sending books to Nha Nam Book Store at 43 Ho Van Hue Street, in Phu Nhuan District.

Street festival to bring back what Hanoi used to be

Tourists visiting Hanoi in late December and early January will be able to indulge in sweet memories during a six-day cultural festival where long-gone trade villages and markets will be recreated.

The event organized by the Department of Tourism will include several entertainment shows and cultural exhibitions from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, starting December 30.

The whole precinct of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Ba Dinh District will be transformed into 36 trade streets, featuring flower vendors, small tea shops, electric trains and rickshaws.

Visitors could also enjoy traditional dishes of the northern city, or try the famous draft beer in the mid-winter cool breeze.

Music lovers will be satisfied with a series of street music shows.

All events are free.

Pham Huong says proud, happy despite undesired Miss Universe result

Vietnam’s biggest hope to shine at one of the world’s top beauty contests was eventually shattered on December 21 (Vietnam time), but Pham Huong just left the 2015 Miss Universe with her chin up high.

While millions of her supporters, both from Vietnam and other parts of the world, were saddened to see their belle fail to make it to the Top 15, the Vietnamese beauty queen said she was neither upset nor disappointed.

“So everything just had a gentle ending and [I] am always happy and proud of all my efforts,” the 24-year-old told her 462,000 followers on Facebook from Las Vegas, Nevada.

Huong, who won Miss Universe Vietnam in October 2015, had been well expected to advance into the last-15 competition round by polls and beauty and fashion experts, but her name was never called out.

Still, the Vietnamese girl said she has much grown up after the journey, and what is most important to her is “all the other contestants love [me] and recognize our Vietnamese beauty,” she said in the Facebook post that has garnered nearly 148,000 likes.

“That’s what makes me feel so proud. Let’s never give up our faith.”

In another Facebook post shortly after being eliminated from the Top 15, Huong also mentioned nothing about her failure, but called on fans to support her best friend, Clarissa Molina, who represented the Dominican Republic.

She also revealed in a follow-up status update that she and her Dominican friend will “go to Vietnam together.”

Pham Huong can totally feel proud of her fans, who have never let their queen down.

“Don’t be sad, Miss. You are already the queen in the hearts of millions of Vietnamese people,” a Facebook comment liked by thousands of people reads.

Another supporter said, “You failed to advance into the Top 15, but you are here in the hearts of 90 million Vietnamese people. We love you.”

Nguyen Hong Thuan, who has written many Vietnamese hit pop songs, also said Huong has claimed the biggest award from the competition – the support and love of millions of Vietnamese and other people around the world.

“You have tried your best, girl. Congratulations!” he wrote.

Huong said she finally found the time to eat Vietnamese food during the remaining stay in the U.S., and is now able to “spare more time for [herself].”

“Thank you all for your love, which makes me feel warm even from a distance from home,” she wrote.

“I long for the day to come back to your arms.”

Huong will surely be greeted with love on her day back, as a number of fans have asked to take their beloved beauty to their hometowns and treat her to the best local dishes.

The 64th Miss Universe crown went to Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, a Filipino-German actress and model born in Stuttgart and raised in Cagayan de Oro.

The Filipina was at first mistakenly named the first runner-up by host Steve Harvey, who had said that the crown would be given to Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez Arévalo.

Harvey then admitted to the live audience that he had made a gaffe, and that Miss Philippines was the real winner.

Miss Universe 2014, Paulina Vega, was therefore forced to remove the crown from Arévalo’s head and give it to Miss Philippines.

Design selected for memorial dedicated to Hoang Sa soldiers

The statue design depicting a mother standing on shore with a hurricane lamp in hand has been selected for a monument dedicated to Hoang Sa soldiers in Ly Son island district, central Quang Ngai province.

The design, named ‘Mother lighting the fire of remembrance and hope’ was selected by the evaluation council prior to the construction of the facility in tribute to those who had fallen to proclaim and protect national sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

The memorial, which will cover 2 hectares, is an initiative of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and Quang Ngai province.

Organisers launched a design competition for the memorial on November 29, 2015, the organisers and evaluation council received more than 100 drawings, five models and 21 sets of simulation works for the contest.

On Sunday, the ‘The mother lighting up the fire’ design by Viet Tin Real Estate Investment Consulting JSC was selected with an overwhelming 88.9% of votes. Earlier, poll results at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City and on the Labour Newspaper’s website (laodong.com.vn) showed that the design won with 152/181 and 16,670/24,880 votes, respectively.

According to director of Viet Tin JSC architect Tran Van Dung, the design depicts a mother facing the sea, holding a heart-shaped lamp acting as a lighthouse guiding fishermen heading out to sea and lighting up the way for her children to find their way back ashore. The flame of the hurricane lamp reflects the mother’s joy at seeing her children, as well as the aspirations of Vietnamese people towards the Paracel islands. It is also to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for national sovereignty.

Construction of the memorial is expected to start on January 11, 2016 and will be finished after one year.

Campaign launched aiming at abolishing gender stereotypes

How abnormal the normal really is the key question of the #HowAbnormal campaign launched in Hanoi on December 21 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the UN Population Fund, aiming to break stereotypes to achieve equality for all in Vietnam.

The campaign sets a target for no one to be held back by any social norms and for every people to maximise their full potential.

Existing stereotypes in the country confine women and men to certain ways of being, to hold specific careers and positions. According to a UNDP report on women’s leadership in Vietnam, few women achieve senior government positions. As in the civil service, women hold very few senior positions – 9% of the ministers, 8% of deputy ministers and 7% of general directors are women.

Speaking the launch, UNDP Deputy Country Director Bakhordir Burkhanov said that in many ways, ‘normal’ gender roles are considered very abnormal, as women may not be selected to hold key positions because they are women, the prevalence of sex-selective abortion is resulted from son preference, and domestic violence against women.

As there remain gaps in implementation of policies and laws to ensure gender equality, the UN official stressed the need to raise people awareness on gender norms that hold both women and men back.

HowAbnormal campaign will be carried out within seven months, targeting universities and schools across the country.

Main actors and actresses of the video series present at the launch to share their experiences in acting in the provocative films.

The campaign will use a series of videos featuring scenarios where gender roles are flipped to raise awareness of negative gender stereotypes. The videos highlight gender norms and the double standards that public hold on expectations of women and men, boys and girls. They depict situations where traditional gender roles have been inverted, to provoke people to question “how abnormal the normal is” and to change perspective and behavior.

Along with that, the campaign also encourages women and men to make commitments to shape gender norms towards a more equal and just society, including commitments to stop sexual harassment against women, to vote for women in the upcoming elections, and to encourage daughters to be leaders.

As part of the campaign, a filmmaking contest will be held to encourage all film makers to develop creative films that help further challenge gender norms, bringing in different perspectives and promoting gender equality in the workplace, the home and public spaces.

Entries to the filmmaking contest should be sent to the organisers prior to January 29, 2016. Application forms should be downloaded via http://tinyrul.com/howabnormalvn. More information about the contest can be referred to the website www.facebook.com/howabnormal and phone number 04.39448527.

Arts programme honours Vietnamese border guards

A special arts programme, entitled ‘Singing to You – Frontier Soldiers’ was held in Hanoi on December 20 to commemorate the 71st founding anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) and the 26th celebration of the All-People’s Defence Day.

The programme featured a wide range of unique songs and dances performed by numerous well-known artists, including Song Thao and Tien Hung, as well as children from the Hanoi Children’s Palace and Hai Phong provincial Children’s Palace, youth union members from the Hanoi College of the Arts and Border Guards’ cultural and artistic troupe.

The performances expressed the profound gratitude of Vietnamese people, particularly young people, to the Vietnamese border guards.

Over the past, each generation of the Vietnamese border guards have remained vigilant, prepared to fight and ready to sacrifice their lives to protect national border sovereignty and security.

In addition, they have been a solid support for people of all ethnicities in the border areas around the country.

The arts programme was jointly held by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Central Council of the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organisation, the Border Guard Command and the Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank).

On the occasion, the organising board presented 22 scholarships worth VND1 million each and gifts to children of border guards who have gained outstanding achievements in study and moral training.

On the same day, the Ho Chi Minh City municipal Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee and Fatherland Front Central Committee held a meeting with more than 500 retired army generals, high officials in the City, as part of activities to mark the 71st anniversary of the VPA.

The Thua Thien – Hue provincial Military Command also provided free medical check-ups and medicine to over 300 policy beneficiaries from ethnic minorities in Hong Bac commune, A Luoi district.

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