VN Idol runner-up Van Mai Huong releases Live Without Hesitance music video

Singer Van Mai Huong

Singer Van Mai Huong, popular among Vietnamese youngsters, has just launched her latest music video (MV), jointly produced by her and singer and songwriter Nguyen Duc Cuong.

Entitled Song Khong Doi Cho (Live Without Hesitance), the MV with energetic tunes shows fresh scenes filmed at a beach party attended by hundreds of young people.

Cuong, who also has a duet with Huong in the MV, said he wrote the song for Huong, whose pleasant performance style has gained popularity among young people ever since she became the first runner-up of Viet Nam Idol in 2010.

Both singers and their team took six months to complete the MV, which, they expect, will draw the interest of young people.

Live Without Hesitance is the second joint production by Huong and Cuong. They first worked together on the hit song Neu Nhu Anh Den (If You Came to Me) five years ago.

Three overseas Vietnamese painters delve into Europe migration crisis

A paintings exhibition by three Vietnamese artists who have been living in Germany will be opened from February 27 to March 13 at the Goethe-Institut Hanoi to reflect issues related to the current European migration crisis.

The “Migration and Identity” exhibition by Duong Thuy Duong, Do Tuan Anh and Thanh Long shows three artistic positions that deal with questions of identity in a personal way, the Goethe-Institut Hanoi said in a statement.

Immigrants in Europe now encounter unknown traditions in their new home. Many of them are living with two cultures, raising questions of self- and external-perception: Where do I come from? Where do I belong? How am I seen by others?

The artworks will focus on questions concerning life with and between two cultures, addressing issues of migration and identity.

Duong Thuy Duong and Do Tuan Anh will discuss these topics together with an audience during a talk at 7 p.m. on February 27 at the institute.

Do Tuan Anh studied Graphic Design at the Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts before moving to Solingen City in Germany in 2013 where he has been living and working as a freelance artist. For his earlier works, Anh has won the Juror’s Choice Award and the Encouragement Award.

Duong Thuy Duong studied at the University of Fine Arts in Hanoi and later took a degree in painting at the Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle. She is currently based in Berlin. After 2007 and 2009, this is the third time Duong will exhibit her latest works in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut Hanoi.

The Goethe-Institut Hanoi is located at 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Ba Dinh District.

Cao Dai exhibition on Vietnamese history, culture opens

The Cao Dai Church in Tay Ninh yesterday organised an exhibition on Vietnamese culture and history featuring 30 tableux in the province's Hoa Thanh District.

The exhibition titled Uong nuoc nho nguon (Gratitude to Our Root) was organised to mark the 91st founding anniversary of Caodaism.

The figurines that narrate stories about Co Loa Citadel, Lac Long Quan, Au Co , the Trau Cau legend, Saint Giong, Nguyen Huu Canh, Quang Trung, and others were created by Cao Dai followers in various places.

Speaking at the inauguration, Monsignor Thuong Tam Thanh, head of the Tay Ninh Church's executive council, said the exhibition is "an invocation to the Lord" and seeks to encourage people to practise charity and justice and contribute to building the country.

Le Minh Trieu, head of the province Party Committee's Commission for Mass Mobilisation, the church's executive council has organised several charitable activities to help people cope with their difficulties.

The anniversary of the Cao Dai religion is celebrated every year on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year with various activities including fold dance and other art performances.

Looking for luck at Vieng Market Festival

Hoang Van Thai from Kim Thai Commune in the northern province of Nam Dinh said he has sold farming tools at Vieng Market for 10 years.

Although the festival officially opens on midnight of the eighth day of the first lunar month, which was yesterday, thousands of visitors flocked to the market one day in advance.

"The venue would be overcrowded, so many people visit the market earlier and choose for themselves their favourite goods that bring luck to them all year-round," said Thai.

People believe that buying goods at the annual Vieng Market Festival, which takes place in Vu Ban District in Nam Dinh , will bring them luck. Visiting the market has become a tradition for many people during the Lunar New Year holiday.

All kinds of goods are bought and sold without bargaining. People come to the market not only to buy things, but also to wish for a prosperous and lucky new year.

Legend has it that Vieng Market is linked to Nguyen Minh Khong, who introduced copper casting to the area, so people believe it is good luck to buy something made of copper at the market on the day of the festival.

The spring market features handicrafts, antiques (both genuine and fake), household utensils, agricultural tools and many kinds of ornamental plants. Special foods sold at the market include barbecued beef and banh giay (sticky rice cakes).

The least expensive items on sale at Vieng Market are flowers and plants, which are believed to bring both the buyer and seller happiness and luck. Deals are made by candlelight or flashlight.

Phung Thi Huong from Hai Phong City selected an orchid plant to bring home. She once bought a jasmine plant at the market, and it grew well and blooms this year.

"I expect that the new plant I buy will beautify the small garden of my house and, at the same time, bring good fortune to my family," said Huong.

Shoppers can also visit pagodas and temples nearby to worship Mother Goddesses and pray for prosperity.

Reporter turned director a stage hit

A sofa and dressing table topped with roses were part of a stunning stage backdrop for a romantic play staged recently in HCM City by the The Gioi Tre (The World of Youth) Drama Troupe.

Since its initial show in 2014, the play Chuyen Tinh Bangkok (Love Story in Bangkok) has been performed 150 times.

Last Sunday, about 120 people, mostly young, cried and laughed as they watched the play at the theatre's location at 125 Cong Quynh Street in District 1.

Though the play was about a well-worn topic, love, it brought new messages and included new concepts for the theatre.

Many in the audience were focused on the young actors, but were also interested in the man behind the show, renowned director Ngoc Hung.

Hung, a reporter, theatre writer and director, had the audience spellbound during and after the performance.

"I have a deep passion for the art of drama. I have worked as a cultural reporter and columnist for newspapers and magazines aimed at youth like Muc Tim (Purple Ink) and Dat Mui Cuoi Tuan (Ca Mau Weekend)."

"After being involved in management, I began to understand how knowledge and experience in my reporting have helped enhance my ability on both stage and business," he said, referring to his migration to the stage in 2009 when he and his partner, a businessman, formed his troupe.

"A stage is a channel for dreams. A director should be a mason building his own house," he had said after celebrating the sixth birthday of his troupe on New Year's Day.

To mark the day, his troupe staged the musical play, Trot Yeu (Love), which examines social problems in an urban setting.

Hung uses both Eastern and Western styles."I dreamed of owning a theatre even as a student at university," he said.

"I wanted to write and direct plays on stage filled with light, sound and visual effects," he has said in past interviews with the press.

A graduate of the city's University of Theatre and Cinematography in 2004 in directing, he worked as a director at his school's theatre.

"Our theatre was a place for young actors to improve their skills at school. We offered tickets for only VND15,000 (US$0.7) to attract audiences," he recalled.

In 2006, he and female author Nguyen Thu Phuong opened Tao Dan Drama Troupe. A year later, their troupe failed to attract audiences and had to close.

"We could be the best in theatre, but were nothing in doing business," said Hung, adding that he refused to give up, despite the failure.

Today, the The Gioi Tre troupe is one of the city's leading private drama troupes. It has offered dozens of quality plays and has been able to earn profits.

Young audiences have enjoyed his plays based on conflicts in life and love such as

Chuyen Tinh Bangkok, Dream Boys, Hoa Hon (Painted Soul) and Trai Yeu (Men in Love).

His comedies include Cong Me Di Choi (Carrying Mom on Your Back for Travelling) and Doi Nhu Y (Such is Life).

Most of his works are stories about urban youth. They have helped young actors like Thu Trang, Hoang Phi, Kha Nhu and Anh Tu become popular among theatre lovers.

Training through performing is another feather in Hung's cap.

His troupe uses only students and graduates from art schools.

"I'm very interested in working with young actors. Some of them will be new stars, so they need help from professionals like me," Hung said.

Visitors flock to spiritual destinations in Mekong Delta this year

Thousands of tourists travelled to spiritual destinations in Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta for Tet (Lunar New Year) this year.

The Tay An pagoda, Hang pagoda, Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb and Ba Chua Xu Temple in An Giang Province received more than 350,000 visitors between February 8-14, said Tran Thi Tuyet Em, head of the Sam Mountain Monuments Management Board.

Compared to last year's holiday period, there were 100,000 more visitors this year, Em said.

Traffic congestion was worse this year because of the influx of visitors.

More than 175,000 pilgrims visited Cam (Forbidden) Mountain in An Giang's Tinh Bien District between February 8-14, said Pham Van Dung, head of the Management Board of the tourist area of Cam Mountain.

Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery in Can Tho City's Phong Dien District was also crowded with foreign and domestic visitors during the holiday.

More than 40,000 tourists travelled to Dat Mui cape, the southernmost point of the country in Ca Mau Province, during Tet, four times higher than last year's figure, said Ly Hoang Tien, chairman of Ngoc Hien District's People's Committee.

The number of tourists to Dong Thap Province also sharply rose to 300,000 visitors, with Sa Dec Flower Village and Nguyen Sinh Sac relic site receiving most of the tourists, according to Ngo Quang Tuyen, deputy director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Ho Chi Minh City flower fest draws 700,000 visitors during Tet

Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to a spring flower festival in Ho Chi Minh City during Tet (Lunar New Year) earlier this month.

The event, which was held in Tao Dan Park in District 1, attracted over 700,000 visitors, 20% more than last year, said Tran The Ky, head of the festival’s organizing board.

The two-week-long event, which began on February 3, concluded on February 14 with 332 artisans awarded prizes, including two special honors and 41 gold ones.

The winners of the special awards were Trinh Van Si, an orchid artist from Bao Loc, a city in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, and Pham Tan Tai, an apricot artist hailing from an ornamental flower club in An Giang, a province in southern Vietnam.

The flower festival, themed ‘Ho Chi Minh City – Peace – Prosperity – Development,’ not only featured splendid and grand pieces of art, including exotic flowers, bonsai and rock sculptures, but also showcased some 3,000 floral exhibits from 20 southern provinces.

With 2015 marking the 20th year Vietnam has been an official member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), there was a section at the festival dedicated to the display of photos from the other members of the ten-nation bloc.

The Lunar New Year celebration, which is deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture, fell on February 8 and included plenty of ceremonial preparations as well as festive exhibitions, customarily beginning one week before and continuing one week after.

1,000 antiques auctioned for charity in Nam Dinh

Nearly 1,000 antiques are on display at an auction in the northern province of Nam Dinh on February 14 as part of Lunar New Year (Tet) celebrations.

The event, hosted by the Thien Truong Antiques Association and the UNESCO Vietnamese Antiques Research and Collection Club, aimed to raise funds for charitable activities.

The activity also gave antique lovers across the country an opportunity to share their experience and learn the origins and dates of ancient objects.

The objects included glazed terra-cotta, ceramic, wood and iron, dating back to the Ly, Tran and Le dynasties.

In recent years, organisations and individuals in Nam Dinh donated nearly 100 antiques with historical and cultural values to State agencies. Members of the Thien Truong Antiques Association added nearly 9,000 antiques to their collection, including more than 4,600 Vietnamese ones.

New year means new coffee options in Saigon

With Tet just finished, it’s time to enjoy some of the fruits of 2016 including some new coffee destinations worth a look in the year of the monkey.

A new arrival at 26 Ly Tu Trong is Cong Caphe, an import from Hanoi where their first communist-themed coffee shop was established in 2007. After expanding rapidly through the capital, they have headed southward with branches in Danang and now HCMC.

With overflowing bookcases, somewhat garish upholstery and staff dressed like they’re heading to a nearby factory, one might wonder if this was such a good idea. But the tangy and sweet yogurt coffee for VND40,000 should assuage any worries you may have. There are also coconut and sticky rice coffees, as well as snack fare including instant noodles, fruit plates and jerky. With nearly a dozen locations nationwide, it’s clearly popular for a reason.

Also, give yourself a reason to check out the new book street on Nguyen Van Binh Street, adjacent to the downtown Post Office. The street itself is worth a look, but you can also sit and enjoy a ca phe sua nong (VND33,000) at Dep Cafe, an open-air “reading cafe” which comes with an array of magazines and books you can enjoy in an open-air atmosphere. Of course, if you don’t speak Vietnamese, you might want to bring some of your own reading.

They also offer sandwiches and juices. A similar vibe awaits you at Book Cafe, offering similar fare with a standard coffee at VND25,000 but with a more varied menu, a few meters away. All to ensure that there are plenty of options available as you welcome the Year of the Monkey.

Vietnamese music show in German trade fair

A music show titled “Melodies of Homeland Spring” took place at the Leipzig Trade Fair in Germany on February 14 to popularise Vietnam’s traditional culture to foreign friends.

Addressing the event, Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Leipzig Bui Quang Huy recalled that 2015 left a significant imprint on cooperation between Vietnam and Germany, including the establishment of twinning ties between Leipzig and Ho Chi Minh City.

Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung, for his part, said President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to Germany last year has openned up new opportunities for bilateral coordination.

He expressed his hope that the Vietnamese community will foster a bilateral strategic partnership to build their second homeland in Germany.

The fair was concurrent with the Garten – Freizeit Fair that lures in hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Mong ethnic cultural festival attracts crowds

Cultural values of the Mong ethnic group in Ha Giang’s Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark were the highlight of a festival held in the northern mountainous province’s Meo Vac district from February 13 to 15.

Chairman of the district People’s Committee Nguyen Cao Cuong said the event aimed to preserve traditional cultural values and develop tourism.

Art performances featuring the diversified culture of Mong people living in Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark took place during the festival.

Visitors to the event were offered a chance to enjoy Khen (pan pipe) performances, experience local life and participate in folk games.