The glorious moment in the history of the fight for liberation and independence, the people’s steadfast struggle in the south, and the contributions to the victory from localities nationwide, are vividly reflected at an exhibition opened in Hà Nội.

An exhibition about the fictional blue creatures created by the Belgian cartoonist Peyo, The Smurfs. — Photo courtesy of the Thăng Long – Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Centre

The exhibition to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30, 1975 - 2018) opened at the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel relic site in Hà Nội on April 26.

The event, organised by the Thăng Long – Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Centre, features more than 150 photos and artifacts capturing the atmosphere in Sài Gòn (HCM City) and Hà Nội during the historic moment on April 30, 1975.

On the occasion, the conservation centre, in co-ordination with the Việt Nam Post Corporation, introduced 48 sets of postage stamps on the emulation movements during the resistance war against the US imperialists for national salvation.

The exhibition will run until May 30.

An exhibition titled “Imperial Exams at Thăng Long Citadel under the Lê Dynasty (1428 - 1788), the height of Confucian academic exam system of Việt Nam” kicked off on the same day. It will run until July 1 at the Thăng Long Citadel relic site.

The system was divided into a regional and a national examination held at the royal capital. Provincial examinations led only to the degree of tú tài (junior bachelor) and cử nhân (senior bachelor).

The examinations themselves were composed of three or four tests, followed by a phúc hạch or control examination to confirm identity.

Aside from accrediting rank and file scholars to the court and mandarin civil service positions were gleaned from the successful regional candidates, the exams also appointed lead scholars for the court exam (thi đình) in the capital, the title of trạng nguyên, reserved for the best scholar. The title was followed by bảng nhãn – second place, thám hoa – third place and tiến sĩ – all the other successful applicants.

After each examination, a new stone stele was erected with detailed information about the process of the examination, number of participants and profiles of all laureates. Besides, engraved in each stele is a statement describing the meaning of education and talent for the country and reflecting the Confucian philosophy and tradition of Việt Nam. This public recognition of the achievements of the laureates was meant to encourage other students to serve the society in similar manner.

These stone steles are currently preserved at Văn Miếu (Temple of Literature) and was recognised as Memory of the World by the UNESCO.

Trần Việt Anh, director of the Thăng Long – Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Centre said these exhibitions are organised with aim to introduce people and tourists about the glorious history of the country.

“The exhibition of exams reflects the tradition of fond of learning of the Vietnamese people,” he said.

Another highlighted event at the Thăng Long Citadel relics is an exhibition about the fictional blue creatures The Smurfs created by the Belgian cartoonist Peyo.

The exhibition will run until June 4 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the cartoon characters. Debuted in 1958, the comic series tells a fictional story about a colony of blue, human-like creatures. Thirty-five million copies of the thirty-four books in the series have been published in 90 countries.

In addition, a number of cultural and artistic programmes, featuring puppetry, water puppetry, and folk games, will be held at the site as part of the activities to celebrate the National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1).

This original and appealing art programme is designed with a lot of efforts, combining harmoniously between light, folk music and dances, various types of water-based and land-based puppetry such as hand puppets, stick puppets, shadow puppets, masked puppets. The programme is to take place in a space of traditional puppet stage of Việt Nam. — VNS