Exhibition to recreate taste of old Tet

An exhibition of arts and handicrafts will take place at Hang Da Shopping Mall in Hanoi from January 15 to February 5 in the hope of recreating the taste of old Tet in today’s life.

The exhibition, themed “Tet in Viet’s house”, is co-organised by Hang Da Shopping Mall, Hang Da Galleria, Hanoi Old Quarter management board and a local gallery - right before the Lunar New Year holiday.

On display will be about 200 paintings, 200 hand-made potteries and 50 collections of “ao dai” - Vietnam’s traditional gown by well-known painters, pottery artisans and designers, together with hundreds of sophisticated handicraft works for Lunar New Year’s decoration.

The collection of Hue’s royal robes by craftsman Vu Van Gioi will be exhibited alongside “ao dai” created by several contemporary designers such as Nga CoCoon, Trinh Bich Thuy and Adriana Anh Tuan.

The 42-year-old embroiderer, Vu Van Gioi, will perform hand embroidery skills in front of the public, while artisan Pham Anh Dao from Bat Trang pottery village and artisan Nguyen Huu Tao from Dong Ho folk painting village are also scheduled to show off their skills at the exhibition.

Ways of making Vietnam’s traditional dishes that are popular during Tet, such as “banh chung” (square glutinous rice cake) and “gio lua” (lean pork pie) will be on display for visitors.

Art fair to welcome Lunar New Year festival

The Tet Art Fair 2016 themed “Convergence of quintessence” will run for free at the Hanoi Creative City from January 21-31 in Hanoi.

The event will introduce more than 200 artworks from over 100 Vietnamese and international painters, including some from rare private collections.

The fair, the second of its kind, aims to revive the old habit of buying paintings to decorate houses during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holidays, as well as contributing to popularising Vietnamese contemporary art to international friends.

In the framework of the event, a number of activities will be held, including fashion performances and talks among painters, painting collectors, and art-lovers.

Vietnam aims to further engage in UNESCO’s activities

The Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO will continue to actively get involved in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) - along with its important conventions in 2016.

The commission will increase the acquirement of UNESCO initiatives to serve Vietnam’s nation building, especially fundamental and inclusive education and training - in the light of international integration.

These were set at the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO’s conference in Hanoi on January 12 to review the bilateral cooperation in 2015 and initiate orientations for the following year.

In 2015, Vietnam and UNESCO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation for 2016-2020.

The country promoted its active and proactive role at UNESCO.

The Prime Minister approved a project to increase the engagement of Vietnam in the UN organisation between 2013 and 2018.

The Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO worked actively to include Vietnam in the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2015-2019 tenure - with the ever highest votes.

Vietnam’s initiatives and contributions to UNESCO were highly appreciated by other member countries.

In 2015, the commission persuaded the UN organisation to recognise “Phong Nha – Ke Bang” National Park, in central Quang Binh province, as a world heritage site for the second time, and the Langbiang Natural Reserve, in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, as a global biosphere reserve.

UNESCO also recognised the Institute of Mathematics, and the Institute of Physics, of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, as its Category 2 centres.

Nationwide film season to celebrate 12th National Party Congress

A season of films will be screened from January 18 to February 5 nationwide to celebrate the 12th National Party Congress, slated for late January.

The season is also intended to mark the Party’s 86th founding anniversary (February 3) and the Lunar New Year festival, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on January 12.

It added that the series, consisting of two films and two documentaries, will help review the Party’s glorious tradition, consolidate people’s trust in the Party and reinforce the national great unity bloc.

From January 12 to 17, Hanoi audiences will also have a chance to enjoy 11 outstanding plays in a festival which also aims to welcome the National Party Congress.

The plays will be performed in the evening at different venues such as the Hanoi Opera House, Dai Nam Theatre, Hong Ha Theatre, Au Co Arts Centre, and Kim Ma Theatre.