Contestant withdraws from Miss Vietnam under suspicion of cosmetic surgery

Pham My Linh has withdrawn from Miss Vietnam 2014 after she was accused of having had a nose job.

Linh said in the letter sent to the organising board that she wanted to withdraw from the contest because she could not bear the pressure of public opinion and because her family was opposed to her participation.

Before a press conference to announce the final round, the organisers received an anonymous letter denouncing Linh for violating the contest regulations by having comestic surgery. Upon entering the contest, Linh affirmed that she had not had such procedures done.

The orgnising board asked that she be examined by a doctor, who found no suspicious signs. Nonetheless, they set up an investigative panel to look into the case further. Linh agreed to cooperate, so her withdrawal letter came as a surprise to many.

Another candidate, Huynh Thi Thuy Van, also withdrew from the contest for health-related reasons. So, the final round will see the participation of only 38 contestants.

The final round will be held on December 6, and will feature a performance by Kelley Clarkson.

Israeli exhibition shows VN's beauty

Israeli lawyer Alon Samuel, who travelled all over Viet Nam in 2011, is displaying photos from the trip at an exhibition on Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Road.

Over one month, Samuel set foot in almost every province. Amazed by the country's "incredible " beauty, the lawyer captured thousands of photos.

Anyone who has been to Viet Nam will recognise many of the sights he photographed, from the imposing mountains in the northwestern region to the nostalgic Hoi An ancient town, and from historic Ha Noi to bustling HCM City.

However, Samuel said that he was most impressed by the "friendly and active" Vietnamese people, "especially the young ones, who are very open-minded and curious about learning new things."

All his friends and other international tourists knew about Viet Nam was that the country defeated both French and American invaders, he said.

"However, when I travelled to every corner of this country, I didn't see any hostility towards the people who come from the countries that were once their enemies."

He wanted to do something to show international friends a more accurate picture of Viet Nam. Back in Israel, he had the idea to open an exhibit of photos of Viet Nam.

His idea became reality thanks to the support of a friend who agreed to let Samuel use his gallery.

"I want more Israeli people to visit Viet Nam and get the same amazing feeling that I had," the photographer said at the exhibition opening.

The exhibition will run until December 10.

The Nutcracker ballet returns

The ballet The Nutcracker will return to the stage of the Opera House on November 28 and 29, performed by the HCM City Ballet and Symphony Orchestra (HBSO) under the instruction of conductor Tran Nhat Minh.

Choreographed by Johanne Jakhelin Constant, the ballet was a resounding success with the general public and critics when it made its debut in the country in 2011.

"The choreography exploits the strengths and skills of Vietnamese artists. Combined with costumes and sparkling stage scenery, it takes audiences into the world of romantic tales," a press release from HBSO said.

The Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is famed for his musical scores for the ballets The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty.

Loved around the world, the popular ballet has been choreographed and performed over the years with many different versions, and is usually staged during the Christmas holidays.

Norwegian choreographer Constant staged the ballet when she was the art director for Ballet Quad Cities in the US for 10 years.

Paintings to help wildlife protection

Education for Nature Viet Nam (ENV) has launched a painting contest to raise awareness about protecting wild animals.

Participants are encouraged to ask others to look after wild animals and ask people not to use poached animal products.

Many Vietnamese species, such as elephants, pangolins and tigers are under threat of extinction from poaching – and the last Vietnamese rhinocerous was killed only a few years ago.

Entries should be sent to the ENV before March 1. Entrants should not be professional painters.

Prizes will be divided into categories for children and adults and will be worth a total of VND10 million (US$500) each.

Sa Pa photo wins heritage contest

Tuyet Sa Pa (Sapa in Winter) by Pham Bang won the first prize in the single photo category for the subject of nature in the Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards 2014.

The first prize in the single photo category for the subject of life went to Anh Den Dem Hoi (Festive Hoi An lights) by Le Trong Khang.

For intangible and tangible cultural heritage, Gai Thuong Phong (Boat Racing) by Nguyen Thanh Vuong and Banh Hoi ra Lo (Making Noodles) by Tran Dinh Thuong received the first prize.

In the photo essay category, May Nui Bac Son (Bac Son Mountain in Clouds) by Nguyen Phung Chi was given first prize.

The other 23 prizes of the contest were also announced on Sunday in HCM City.

Organised by Vietnam Heritage magazine to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the National Cultural Heritage Day on November 23, the contest that kicked off in July received a total of 4,402 entries from 477 photographers nationwide.

Selected photos from the contest will be exhibited in 11 cities and provinces in a series of 20 exhibitions across the country between October 22 through Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday in February.

Local people photograph Ho Dynasty Citadel’s vitality

Eight residents in the vicinity of world heritage site Ho Dynasty Citadel in northern central Thanh Hoa province took a chance to depict their love for the heritage as well as challenges to maintaining its vitality by cameras.

As many as 100 photos being exhibited at the Ho Dynasty Citadel Heritage Preservation Centre in Vinh Loc district from November 23 were taken out of over 1,000 photos covering six main topics including heritage life, daily life, heritage love, existence from land and water, opportunities and challenges, and expectations.

With a view to preserving Ho Citadel via photos and films, the project named Building and Displaying in the Vicinity of the Ho Dynasty Citadel using Photovoice Methods has been implemented within the area since June 2014, with support from UNESCO Office in Hanoi.

The residents in the vicinity of the Ho Dynasty Citadel participating in the project were given cameras and training on photographic and film-making skills to capture what they saw.

The project is also a means to raise the awareness of local residents and encourage them to actively take part in the preservation of the cultural heritage values.

Do Quang Trong, Director of the Ho Dynasty Citadel Heritage Preservation Centre, said that the project has helped the local people to express their own emotions, pride and responsibilities for the place where they were born and grown-up.

The centre is seeking the local community’s ideas for the preservation and development of the heritage, he said.

The exhibition will run until March 5, 2015.

Peruvian cuisine introduced in Hanoi

The Peruvian and Spanish embassies jointly hosted a Peruvian cuisine show on November 24, as part of a series of activities marking 20 years of Vietnam – Peru diplomatic ties (1994 – 2014).

Speaking at the event, Luis Tsuboyama, Charge d'affaires a.i of the Peruvian Embassy in Hanoi, said the show was held with the aim of bringing Peru’s culture closer to Vietnamese people, promoting cultural exchange and enhancing the friendship between the two nations.

The event featured a range of traditional dishes and beverages, such as Quinoa salad, Pisco Sour and Algarrobina drinks.

Peru opened its embassy in Hanoi in 2013, creating more favourable conditions to further expand Vietnam – Peru cooperation.

Vietnam martial arts captivates Mexican fairgoers

Vietnamese martial arts performances by members of the Mexico Vovinam Federation and ASEAN member states on November 22 took centre stage at a bazaar and art fair held in Mexico City.

Marta Gonzalez, on staff at the Banorte bank, said members of her family were fascinated by the performances and have plans to get more active in the sport by participating in training programmes now being offered in Mexico.

At the event, the Vietnam embassy touted traditional lacquer paintings, conical hats, and Ao dai (traditional dress)in pavilions and provided large numbers of fairgoers the opportunity to taste traditional cuisine such as spring rolls.

Vietnam Ambassador to Mexico Le Linh Lan and other ambassadors from ASEAN member states also made the rounds to every participating pavilion at the event.

Malaysian Ambassador to Mexico Jamalyah Cinti Mohamed Yosof in turn said the fair was of great significance in the context when ASEAN countries are preparing for the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015.

Vietnamese trade councillor in Mexico Hoang Tuan Viet said the Vietnam-Mexico two-way trade turnover has been forecast to surpass US$1.6 billion this year.

The annual event aimed to strengthen the cultural exchange and mutual understanding, tighten the friendship and all-round cooperation to elevate the image of ASEAN member nations.

The event attracted a large gathering of representatives from the regional grouping including Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Dang Thi Bich Lien is attending the UNESCO Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage’s 9th session which opened in Paris on November 24.

The session is scheduled to examine Vietnam’s application for UNESCO’s recognition of the Nghe Tinh Vi-Giam folk singing as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, together with 45 applications from other countries.

During the session from November 24-28, the committee will also consider eight dossiers seeking recognition as cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding.

Participants are expected to review national reports on the current status of those on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding as well as reports on the use of international assistance from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund and the selection to the Register for Best Safeguarding Practices.

A member of Vietnam’s Cultural Heritage Council said the dossier on Vi-Giam singing was submitted to the UNESCO in March this year.

This type of folk singing is popular in nearly 260 villages in the central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh.

The two provinces have 51 singing clubs with over 800 vocalists, many of whom are actively preserving the folk music.

Vi-Giam folk music, estimated to have 15 tunes of Vi and 8 airs of Giam, is a repartee sung while working. It reflects the work, cultural life and feelings of the residents in the central coastal provinces.

Vietnam now has eight cultural practices recognised by UNESCO as part of the world intangible heritage, namely Hue's royal court music, Gong space culture in Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands), the northern province of Bac Ninh's love duet singing, the Giong festival, Ca Tru ceremonial singing, Xoan singing, Don Ca Tai Tu music and the worship of Hung Kings.

28 best entries win 2014 Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards

Vietnam Heritage Magazine collaborated with Vietnam Heritage Cultural Association held the award ceremony of  the 2014 Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards and the charitable auction program in Ho Chi Minh City on November 23.

The organizers offered 28 the best valuable awards for single photos and photo series. With the theme of nature, photographer Pham Bang by “Sapa snow” artwork won the first prize. With the theme of life, the first prize belonged to Le Trong Khang with “Light in festival”.

The 7th Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards attracted participation of crowded domestic and foreign photographers. The contest was launched by Vietnam Heritage Magazine in July funded by Canon, aiming to mark the 10th anniversary of Vietnam Heritage Cultural Day (November 23).

This year’s contest received 4,402 entries, including 2, 795 single photos and 254 photo series, depicting the land, nature, people and their stories of national tangible and intangible cultural heritages.

British explorer against cable car construction in Vietnam’s Son Doong Cave

A British explorer who joined the British team which first explored Son Doong Cave – the world’s current largest – in central Vietnam back in the early 1990s urged in an article posted on a New Zealand newswire last week against the construction of a cable car system through the cave.

Andy McKenzie’s article – “Preserving Son Doong, 'the biggest cave in the world’” – was published on www.stuff.co.nz on Monday last week.

Son Doong is a part of UNESCO-recognized Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, located in Quang Binh Province.

The man precluded his article by saying that he has been lucky enough to explore new caves in New Zealand, Australia, Tasmania, Peru, China and Europe, but the time he spent with the Vietnam Caves Project back in the early 1990s was the most exciting.

The Son Doong grotto was stumbled upon in 1991 by Ho Khanh, a Vietnamese, but it only became well-known after a group of scientists from the British Cave Research Association, led by Howard and Deb Limbert, explored it in 2009.

McKenzie took part in his second expedition with the British team to Son Doong in 2007, when they discovered more caverns, including Tang Abyss.

“Tang Abyss became my life's focus until 2010 when we finally got to return to and descend its impressively wide, sunshine-lit, 255m deep vertical entrance pitch,” he wrote in the article.

McKenzie is not only held in awe by Son Doong Cave’s grandeur and resplendence, with its gorgeous landscapes coupled through massive roof collapses, or dolines; but also marvels at its own weather system, a completely unique ecosystem, and its karst – some of the oldest in the world.

He quoted a UNESCO assessment as saying that "The karst formation of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has evolved since the Palaeozoic (some 400 million years ago) and so is the oldest major karst area in Asia” and “Phong Nha displays an impressive amount of evidence of earth's history. It is a site of very great importance for increasing our understanding of the geologic, geomorphic and geo-chronological history of the region.”

The explorer pointed out in the article that Phong Nha-Ke Bang has always had entry restrictions requiring multiple permissions to gain access.

He added he himself and other explorers have supported this restricted access.

However, McKenzie expressed his astonishment and frustration that Quang Binh Province and relevant ministries are now taking into account a project to build a cable car system leading to Son Doong Cave to carry tourists to Doline 2.

“Here, hundreds of thousands of tourists will have moderately restricted access to the cave environment, against all UNESCO, expert and local advice. It looks like they may get permission,” he warned.

McKenzie added that an international online movement against the development has been initiated to inform the Vietnamese authorities of the concern for the preservation of the Son Doong grotto.

“Whilst the larger community seems to support and encourage sustainable development in the national park, this type of mass, quick buck tourism is not supported,” he stressed.

The explorer concluded his article by inviting readers to visit the Facebook page “Save Son Doong” for more information on the proposed cable car plans and subsequent petition.

The Quang Binh People’s Committee said in late October this year that they are taking into careful consideration a proposed project to build a cable car system in Son Doong amidst mounting concern among the public and conservation experts regarding the potential harm the system may do to the site.

The north-central province had earlier announced it already permitted Sun Group – a local developer of tourism properties – to conduct surveys for the construction of such a cable car system.

The 10.6km long system, if built, would cost roughly US$211.8 million and have four sections and begin at the entrance to Tien Son Cavern.

The last section would extend from the mouth to the floor of the Son Doong grotto’s second pit.

Members of the public and conservation experts are worried that the cable cars will result in a sharp rise in the number of tourists to the site from the current average of 200 per year, which may bring human intervention and adverse impacts to Son Doong Cave and the park’s other attractions.

In September this year, the province began officially launching tours to the Son Doong grotto after running them on a year-long pilot basis.

The adventure tours cost $3,000-6,000 per person. Hundreds of potential customers, many of whom are foreigners, are on the waiting list for their chance to have a taste of what the world’s largest cave has to offer.

Truong An Ninh, of the provincial People’s Committee, said in an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the province is gathering public and expert opinions before reaching a final decision.

This final decision depends on whether Sun Group can meet Quang Binh’s and UNESCO’s requirements before constructing the cable car system, he noted.

Many members of the public, including Tuoi Tre readers, expressed their hopes that UNESCO will reject the plan.

The province, which is also home to the final resting place of legendary Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap, has received 2.5 million visits so far this year, a number which is expected to rise to over three million next year, according to Ninh.

Howard Limbert, head of the British exploration team that has operated in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang area over the past 24 years, earlier expressed strong concerns about the project’s feasibility.

Limbert has discovered hundreds of caves in Quang Binh and taken steps to put 200 kilometers of local caves on the global list.

“I personally find the project a bad idea. The damage to Son Doong Cave would be irreversible, and the cable cars would rob the cave of its pristine charms and the adventure thrills it has to offer. The construction would also take its toll on the cave’s surrounding areas,” Limbert noted in an earlier interview with Tuoi Tre.

‘Mass tourism’ would bring short-term benefits to the province, but would cause the number of foreign tourists to drop in the long run, he warned.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003.

The largest chamber of Son Doong is more than five kilometers long, 200 meters high, and 150 meters wide.

Youngsters bring rhapsody to symphonic music

A monthly music event is being held in the streets of Hanoi to promote symphonic music to the public by young musicians from Rhapsody Philharmonic orchestra.

The orchestra, made up of musicians aged 17-25 from the Vietnam National Academy of Music (VNAM), will bring to stage classic compositions by world renowned composers including Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart remixed in a contemporary style.

The audiences can also enjoy contemporary music, film soundtracks, game music and hit songs by popular artists such as Eminem, Rihanna and Michael Jackson remixed in symphonic style.

By blending classical and contemporary music, the programme is intended to bring classical music closer to audiences, especially young people.

The event is scheduled for 2 pm on the third Saturday of the month in open spaces such as the Hanoi Opera House’s square, Thong Nhat park and Trang Tien plaza’s ground.

The series made its debut on November 22 in front of Vincom City Towers in Hanoi, when street walkers were delighted with soundtrack from ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ film series.

Rhapsody Philharmonic was set up in 2010 to create a venue for Vietamese young musicians to exchange and play different styles of music ranging from classic, pop, rock and R&B. All of members of the orchestra have excelled at the VNAM, with some having won prizes at international musical contests.