VietNamNet Bridge – A series of cultural activities will be held through November in the central city and Hoi An for delegates to the APEC Summit’s Economic Leaders’ Week and the APEC Voices of the Future Forum.

A pagoda and a 17th century house stand on a Hoi An street. — VNS Photo The Duyet

An exhibition of 28 paintings by 14 artists from the central and Central Highlands region are on display at Da Nang City’s Fine Arts Museum until November 25.

Vice director of the Museum Nguyen Thi Trinh told Viet Nam News that the exhibition debuted on October 25th after the workshop finished. Tourists can attend during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang on November 6-11.

She said the exhibition features the beauty of the land, people and culture of locals in the central and Central Highlands region.

Vietnamese-French artist Vu Trong Thuan, who joined the painting workshop two weeks ago, has launched his own studio – the Mystery – at the La Tour Eiffel gallery on the Han River bank in Da Nang. It is free for visitors.

An oil canvas painting is exhibited in Da Nang in celebration of the APEC Summit on November 6-11.— VNS Photo Nguyen Trinh

The gallery holds his own paintings created during his time living in Da Nang as well as his friends’ art creations.

Meanwhile, the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture opened the Toba Mika’s Katazome Paintings exhibition, a solo exhibition of Japanese artist Toba Mika, to public visits through the APEC Summit.

The museum, one of the top destinations for foreign tourists in Da Nang, in co-operation with An Giang Museum, introduced an exhibition of 150 original antiquities and photos of the Oc Eo Culture. The display will last until February 1.

Oc Eo is the name of an archaeological site in Thoai Son District in An Giang Province in the Mekong River Delta. Based on the artifacts unearthed, archaeologists said that the area used to be a busy port of the kingdom of Phu Nam between the first and seventh centuries. They used the term "Oc Eo Culture" to refer to the ancient material culture of the Mekong Delta region.

Japan-Viet Nam rendezvous

The historic city of Hoi An will host a two-day Japan-Viet Nam cultural event for APEC Summit delegates at the Hoai River Square on November 10-11.

A painting is on display at Da Nang city’s Fine Arts Museum. — VNS Photo Nguyen Trinh

The city also debuts the Viet Nam-Japan Cultural Space from the Japanese Bridge to the Square around 7pm on November 11.

The space will re-enact a 17th century wedding parade held for Princess Ngoc Hoa and Japanese businessman Araki Sotaro in the old quarter and celebrate trading ties between Japan and Hoi An from previous centuries.

Traditional costumes of Vietnamese and Japanese will be shown at the cultural space as well as cuisine, folk games and music performances, traditional Yukata try-ons and origami (paper folding).

Representatives of Nagasaki City, Japan, will present Hoi An City with a sample of the boat that carried the wedding couple to Japan 400 years ago.

Hoi An has hosted the annual Viet Nam-Japan cultural festival in the old quarter since 2003.

Local residents still preserve the tombs of Japanese traders who died in Hoi An in the 17th century. The oldest was Tani Yajirobei’s, who is believed to have died in 1647. His records offer a clear picture of his life, including a love affair with a local woman.

Korea day

The UNESCO-recognised world heritage city, in collaboration with the International Mask Arts & Culture Organisation (IMACO) and Andong City, South Korea, plans to host the Andong City Cultural Day in Hoi An on November 14-16 at 106 Bach Dang Street.

Cham Sculpture Museum of Da Nang offers exhibition of antiquities of Champa culture and series exhibitions of archaeological objects and paintings during the APEC Summit. — VNS Photo Cong Thanh

Korean singers Park Hye-min and Cho Choyong-min from rookie boy group RionFive will take the stage in Hoi An on November 14.

Tourism promotion and the introduction of cuisine from Andong and Hoi An will open at the city’s An Hoi Sculpture Park on the Hoai River from November 14-16.

VNS